Best Heavy Rock and Metal Festivals in Europe
A Guide to Mainland Europe's Biggest Summer Metal and Rock Festivals
Apr 1, 2009
While there are dozens of European music festivals featuring rock and metal bands in their line-ups, this guide looks at those catering exclusively for fans of metal and the heavier end of the rock music spectrum.
Wacken Open Air: Line-up and Details
What: The biggest dedicated metal festival in Europe, Germany's Wacken Open Air (or W.O.A) has grown from a small event hosting local bands in 1990 to a huge festival – there were 70,000 attendees in 2008 – that attracts both major bands and metal fans from all over the world.
When: July 30th – August 1st
Where: Wacken, Germany
Headliners: TBC
Best Of The Rest: Amon Amarth, Airbourne, Bullet For My Valentine, Cathedral, Dragonforce, Epica, Gwar, Hammerfall, Heaven And Hell, In Flames, Kampfar, Kingdom Of Sorrow, Korpiklaani, Lacuna Coil, Machine Head, Motorhead, Napalm Death, Nevermore, Testament, Tristania, Turisas, UFO
Hellfest Summer Open Air: Line-up and Details
What: Not to be confused with the defunct American hardcore punk festival called Hellfest, the French Hellfest Summer Open Air is a relatively new event. Launched in 2006, the festival aims to cover various aspects of extreme music, with a strong metal slant but also featuring a number of hardcore and punk acts.
When: 19th-21st June
Where: Clisson, France
Headliners: Motley Crue, Marilyn Manson, Manowar
Best of the Rest: Heaven And Hell, WASP, Papa Roach, Down, Anthrax, Saint Vitus, Voivod, Deicide, Machine Head, Soulfly, Gojira, Misfits, Sacred Reich, Enslaved, Dream Theater, Europe, Queensryche, Hatebreed, Suicidal Tendencies, Moonspell, Brutal Truth
Tuska Open Air: Line-up and Details
What: Now into its 12th year, Nordic Europe's biggest metal festival runs the gamut but with an emphasis on extreme metal bands and Scandinavian acts in particular.
When: 26th-28th June
Where: Helsinki, Finland
Headliners: Immortal, Bullet For My Valentine, Volbeat
Best of the Rest: Neurosis, All That Remains, Gojira, Ensiferum, Amorphis, Gama Bomb, Sabaton, My Dying Bride, Eluveitie, Firewind, Rotten Sound
Gods Of Metal Festival: Line-up and Details
What: Held this year at the Arena Parco Nord in Bologna, the weather is far more likely to be sunny than at, say, Download in the UK, while the bill itself is also suitably scorching.
When: 27th-28th June
Where: Stadio Brianteo, Monza, Italy
Headliners: Motley Crue, Slipknot
Best of the Rest: Heaven And Hell, Tesla, Queensryche, Epica, Edguy, Marty Friedman, Blind Guardian, Cynic, Carcass, Down, Napalm Death, Black Dahlia Murder
Sonisphere: Line-up and Details
What: A brand new touring festival, Sonisphere will make five one-day stops throughout mainland Europe before culminating with a two-day event at Knebworth, England. Metallica headline at all dates, with variations in the rest of the bills. See the Sonisphere website for individual details and line-ups.
When: June - August
Where: Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Finland, UK
Headliners: Metallica, Linkin Park (headlining in UK only)
Best Of The Rest: Lamb Of God and Mastodon at every date plus Slipknot, Korn, Kamelot, Die Toten Hosen, In Extremo, Cradle Of Filth, Meshuggah, Bullet For My Valentine, Alice In Chains, Airbourne and more spread through the various dates.
Click here for a guide to the UK's hottest rock and metal festivals.
