Azkena Rock Festival

Spanish underground rock festival

The Azkena Rock Festival (a.k.a. ARF) is one of the most relevant Spanish rock festivals. It is celebrated in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Álava) organized by Last Tour International. ARF is notorious due to its diverse cartel of groups and for the submerse 'chill' environment of the festival. It is aimed to underground public, escaping commercial mainstream agenda.

In 2006, the festival sold over 44,000 tickets, the most in its history, due to the presence of Pearl Jam. Some other bands included Iggy & The Stooges, Wilco, Alice Cooper, Social Distortion, Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, Ray Davies, Bad Religion, Sex Pistols, Deep Purple, The Black Crowes, Hanoi Rocks, Fun Lovin Criminals, Kiss, Slash, Imelda May or Bad Brains. In 2011 the festival celebrated the 10th anniversary with the "rocker" topic: Las Vegas.

## Editions

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### 2002 edition

[edit]

The inaugural festival was celebrated in the Azkena Gasteiz and was organized by Muskerra (an organization of the Basque Country). The duration was of three days:12–14 September 2002.

First edition of the ARF September 12 | September 13 | September 14

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|

Backyard Babies | Supersuckers | Mudhoney
The Revolvers | The Bellrays | Five Horse Johnson
Sex Museum | Racing Slabs | Diamond Dogs
| Federation X | Bonzos

### 2003 edition

[edit]

The second edition of the festival was the big jump it needed to become as good as it was planned to be. Three new things made the festival a great rock place where people could enjoy very different things always with this rock music. The first one was that took plaze in Mendizorroza, Vitoria-Gasteiz. The best point of that year was that there were two different stages and all the concerts took place one after other with little gap between performances. The Stooges were chosen as the headline act that year. In total 12,000 fans attended to the little city of Vitoria so they could enjoy the Azkena Rock Festival. This made money and they used that for the next editions.

Second edition of the ARF September 12 | September 13

|

Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 1 | Stage 2
| Fireballs Of Freedom |  | The Dictators
Iggy & The Stooges |  | Ray Davies |
| Cracker |  | The Hellacopters
The Cramps |  | Steve Earle & The Dukes |
| The Jayhawks |  | Teenage Fanclub
Ben Vaughn |  | Hermano |
| Jason Ringenberg & The Nashville Allstars |  | The Jeevas
La Secta |  | Cherry Valence |
| Zein? |  | Jet Lag
Paniks |  | Petti & Etxeko Utza |

### 2004 edition

[edit]

This was the most accidented[check spelling] edition in the history of the festival. Some names were known in May 2004 that were: Urge Overkill, Redd Kross, The Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies, Turbonegro, The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart, Josh Rouse Band, Hoodoo Gurus. In the most important or the heads was the group from NY, DKT/MC which were the heads of the first edition in Spain. In late June it was confirmed the rest groups which were: Velvet Revolver,[1] Bide Ertzean, Five Horse Johnson, Jonny Kaplan & The Lazy Stars, Mark Lanegan Band, Matthew Sweet, The Mooney Suzuki which finally did not attend.

On 12 July it was said on the radio that the New York Dolls were coming and this made the festival even more attractive. This was confirmed in the news and newspapers. The festival took place over four days rather than the previous two. The first day was 9 September, with performances by the New York Dolls, Five Horse Johnson and Urge Overkill.

Third edition of the ARF September 9 | September 10 | September 11 | September 12

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|
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Carpa Mondosonoro | Stage San Miguel | Stage Azkena | Stage San Miguel | Stage Azkena | Carpa Mondosonoro
New York Dolls | Radio Birdman |  | Turbonegro |  | Roger McGuinn
Five Horse Johnson | DKT/MC5 |  | Flamin' Groovies |  | Mike Farris
Urge Overkill | Ryan Adams |  | Violent Femmes |  | Walter Salas Humara
|  | Fun Lovin' Criminals |  | Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies |
| Mark Lanegan |  | The Wildhearts |  |
|  | Urge Overkill |  | Matthew Sweet |
| Josh Rouse |  | Obligaciones |  |
|  | Mother Superior |  | Backyard Babies |
| Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart |  | The Silos |  |
|  | Bide Ertzean |  | Jonny Kaplan & The Lazy Stars |
|  |  | Kuraia |  |

### 2005 edition

[edit]

4th edition of the ARF September 1 | September 2 | September 3

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Stage Heineken | Stage Azkena | Stage Heineken | Stage Azkena | Stage Heineken | Stage Azkena
| Wilco | The Dwarves |  | Monster Magnet |
| The Steepwater Band | Deep Purple |  | Queens of the Stone Age |
| Los Deltonos | Social Distortion |  | The Pogues |
| The Soulbreaker Company |  | Wilco |  | Bad Religion
|  | Gov't Mule |  | Television |
|  |  | Drive-By Truckers |  | Beasts of Bourbon
|  | Masters of Reality |  | Juliette & The Licks |
|  |  | Rose Hill Drive |  | Electric Six
|  | Towers of London |  | Brant Bjork & The Bros |
|  |  | Split 77 |  | Hash

### 2006 edition

[edit]

5th edition of the ARF August 31 | September 1 | September 2

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Stage Heineken | Stage Azkena | Stage Heineken | Stage Azkena | Stage Heineken | Stage Azkena
The Misfits |  | New York Dolls |  | Nick Oliveri and the Mondo Generator |
Iggy & The Stooges |  | Buckcherry |  | Pearl Jam |
| Green On Red | Redd Kross |  |  | My Morning Jacket
The Waterboys |  |  | Big Star | Wolfmother |
| Young Fresh Fellows | Eagles of Death Metal |  |  | Supagroup
Guarro |  |  | Gang of Four | The Nomads |
| Sharon Stoner | The Bottle Rockets |  |  | Kim Salmon & The Surrealists
|  |  | Marah | Berri Txarrak |
|  | Uzzhuaia |  |  | Kriston

### 2007 edition

[edit]

The 6th edition of the ARF August 31 | September 1

|

StageHeineken | Carpa Rock Heineken | Stage Heineken | Carpa Rock Heineken
Heavy Trash |  | The Answer |
Tool |  | DKT/MC5 |
Diamond Dogs & The Silver Cats Horns |  | Hoodoo Gurus |
Roky Erickson & The Explosives |  | The Mooney Suzuki |
| Giant Sand |  | The Cynics
Brant Bjork & The Bross |  | Quique González y la Aristocracia del Barrio |
| Two Gallants |  | Super 400
Josele Santiago |  | Clawfinger |
| Los Coronas | Sexty Sexers |
| Las Furias |  | Hoey & The Mussels

This year was considered to be a transition year because of the many rumors of the abolishment of the festival. But finally 40,000 people attended over the three days duration. It was not until summer that it was decided that the headline act was Tool. It was not as successful as it was supposed it was going to be.

### 2008 edition

[edit]

This year was again rumored that the Azkena was lost because the bad organization of the festival and also because of the constant changes they made with the choices. But this year the Ayuntamiento of Vitoria-Gasteiz made an effort and paid €500,000 so it would last three days. The first groups were known before the local government had given approval to do the Azkena for these days. The headliner was Dinosaur Jr. and that was the reason why many people attended this year.

7th edition of the ARF September 4 | September 5 | September 6

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Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 1 | Stage 2
The Lemonheads |  | The Quireboys |  | The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion |
Marky Ramone |  |  | Blind Melon |  | Los Lobos
| The BossHoss | Sex Pistols |  | Dinosaur Jr. |
Radio Moscow |  | Ray Davies |  | The Jayhawks |
| Hayseed Dixie |  | Danko Jones |  | The Gutter Twins
Yawning Man |  | The Sonics |  | Duff McKagan's Loaded |
| Lagartija Nick |  | Blue Cheer |  | Orange Goblin
|  | Hanoi Rocks |  | John Cale & Band |
|  |  | Truly |  | Sex Museum
|  | Animal Alpha |  | Baby Woodrose |
|  |  | Sorkun |  | The Royal Cream
|  |  | Viaje a 800 |  | Las Culebras

### 2009 edition

[edit]

In 2009 the Azkena Rock again gaining strength with one of his best posters in years thanks to the introduction of big-name legends like The Black Crowes or Alice Cooper. The performance of the band of brothers Robinson was one of the most anticipated and did not disappoint, giving a real lesson in excellence. Electric Eel Shock were perhaps the only band that could have followed such a show and close the main stage in outstanding fashion. Alice Cooper's concert was full of old tricks and classic, leaving a big smile on her fans old and new.

8th edition of the ARF Line Up [2] May 14 | May 15  | May 16

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Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 1 | Stage 2
Hardcore Superstar |  | Electric Eel Shock |  | The Toy Dolls |
Juliette & The New Romantics |  |  | The Zombies |  | TSOOL
The Breeders |  | The Black Crowes |  | Alice Cooper |
The Freaks |  | Soul Asylum |  | Fun Lovin Criminals |
White Denim |  |  | El Paperboy Reed |  | Mike Farris & TRRR
Burning |  | Bad Brains |  | Molly Hatchet |
The Inspector Cluzo |  |  | Dr Dog |  | Woven Hand
Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents |  | The Fabulous Thunderbirds |  | The New Christs |
|  |  | Howlin Rain |  | Jonny Kaplan and The Lazy Stars
|  | Elliot Blood |  | Dan Auerbach |
|  |  | Jon Ulecia & Cantina Bizarro |  | Reverend Parker

### 2010 edition

[edit]

9th edition of the ARF Line Up [2] June 24  | June 25  | June 26

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|

Stage 'Alex Chilton' | Stage 'Doug Fieger' | Stage 'Alex Chilton' | Stage 'Doug Fieger' | Stage 'Alex Chilton' | Stage 'Doug Fieger'
The Black Lips |  | Kiss | Imperial State Electric | Bad Religion | Toilet Boys
Airbourne |  | Slash featuring Myles Kennedy | The Damned | The Hives | NRQB
Gov't Mule  |  | Imelda May | Teddy Thompson | Chris Isaak | The Cubical
The Hold Steady |  | Dan Baird & Homemade Sin | El Vez | Bob Dylan | Maggot Brain
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis  |  |  | The Hot Dogs | Robert Gordon & The Gang They Couldn't Hang | Audience
The Jim Jones Revue |  |  | '77 | The Russian Roulettes |
The Legendary Shack Shackers  |  |  |  |  |
Baskery  |  |  |  |  |
Bronze |  |  |  |  |

### 2011 edition

[edit]

10th edition of the ARF Line Up [2] June 23  | June 24  | June 25

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|

Solomon Burke Stage | Solomon Burke Stage | Ben Keith Stage | Monster Stage | Solomon Burke Stage | Ben Keith Stage | Monster Stage
Ozzy Osbourne | Queens of the Stone Age | Clutch  | This Drama | Danzig | Bright Eyes  | Arizona Baby
Kyuss Lives! | Primus | Bad Brains  | Rival Sons | Paul Weller | Band of Horses  | The Whybirds
Rob Zombie | Cheap Trick | Atom Rhumba | Dirty York | Brian Setzer' Rockabilly Riot | New Bomb Turks  | The Knocknouts
The Cult | Reverendo Horton Heat | Blue Rodeo  |  | Gregg Allman |  |
Black Country Communion | The Riff Truckers |  |  | The Aves Brothers |  |
EELS |  |  |  | Juke Box Racket |  |
Bizardunak |  |  |  |  |  |

### 2012 edition

[edit]

11th edition of the ARF Line Up [2] June 14  | June 15  | June 16

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|

Levon Helm Stage | Robin Gibb Stage | Levon Helm Stage | Adam Yauch Stage | Robin Gibb Stage | Levon Helm Stage | Adam Yauch Stage | Robin Gibb Stage
Dropkick Muphys  | Steel Panther  | Ozzy Osbourne & Friends  | Danko Jones  | Drick Brave & The Blackbeats  | The Darkness  | Brian Jonestown Massacre  | Triggerfinger
Pentagram  | Graveyard  | The Mars Volta  | Black Label Society  | Luger  | My Morning Jacket  | Hank 3  | Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires
Status Quo  | Porco Bravo  | Rich Robinson Band  | Gun  | Gallows  | Lynyrd Skynyrd  | M. Ward  | The Union
Twisted Sister  | Israel Nash Gripka  | Lisabö  | Willis Drumoond  | The Screaming Tribesmen  | Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls  | North Mississippi Alistars Duo  | Ben Kweller
Blue Öyster Cult  | Maha's Miracle Tonic  |  |  | The Amazing  |  |  | Lee Fields & The Expressions
Si Craunston  |  |  |  | Pontus Snibb 3  |  |  | Sallie Ford & The Sounds Outside

### 2013 edition

[edit]

June 28  | June 29

|

The Black Crowes

The Smashing Pumpkins

M Clan

Alberta Cross

The Sword

The Sheepdogs

Horisont

Sex Museum

The Socks

Quaoar

| The Gaslight Anthem

Gov't Mule

Rocket from the Crypt

Los Enemigos

Walking Papers

JJ Grey & Mofro

Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats

Troubled Horse

Heaven's Basement

Los Zigarros

### 2014 edition

[edit]

Concerts

June 20  | June 21
Scorpions

The Stranglers

Seasick Steve

Unida

Turbowolf

Marah

Hudson Taylor

Monster Truck

Bombus

13 Left to Die

Attikus Finch

Bourbon

The Midnight Travellers

Vucaque

| Blondie

Violent Femmes

Wolfmother

Joe Bonamassa

The Strypes

Deap Vally

Kadavar

Royal Thunder

The Temperance Movement

Niña Coyote eta Chico Tornado

The Soulbreaker Company

Niño y Pistola

Arenna

Bluenaticos

### 2015 edition

[edit]

Concerts

June 19  | June 20
ZZ Top

Television performing Marquee Moon

D-Generation

Black Mountain

The Dubrovniks

JD McPherson

The White Buffalo

The Last Internationale

Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires

Nico Duportal and His Rhytim Dudes

Sven Hammond

Mad Martin Trio

Highlights

| Mastodon

Ocean Colour Scene

Red Fang

Cracker

Kvelertak

Eagles of Death Metal

Woven Hand

OFF!

Reigning Sound

John Paul Keith

Powersolo

The Outside Hours

Black Horde

### 2016 edition

[edit]

June 17  | June 18

|

Danzig

The Hellacopters

Lucinda Williams

Gutterdämmerung feat. Henry Rollins

Blackberry Smoke

Vintage Trouble

Jean Beauvoir

Daniel Romano

Jared James Nichols

Luke Winslow-King

The London Souls

The Sex Organs

Los Brazos

The Flying Scarecrow

| The Who

Imelda May

Radio Birdman

Refused

091

Supersuckers

The Scientist

Fields of the Nephilim

Marky Ramone's blitzkrieg 40 years of punk

The Vintage Caravan

Raveneye

Cobra

The Milkyway Express

Sumisión City Blues

### 2017 edition

[edit]

Concerts

June 23  | June 24
John Fogerty

Cheap Trick

The Hellacopters

Graveyard

King's X

Hellsingland Underground

The Meteors

The Shelters

Tygers of the Pang Tang

The Godfathers

Crank County Daredevils

The Soulbreaker Company

Fetixe

Los Mambo Jambo

King Automatic

The Cyborgs

Vurro

Shakin' Brothers

Reyes Torío

Billie & the Kids

| Chris Isaak

The Cult

Union Carbide Productions

Michael Kiwanuka

Loquillo

Thunder

Bloodlights

Inglorious

Psycotica

Pat Capocci

Buck & Evans

SCR

Wyoming & Los Insolventes

Bob Log III

Pelo Mono

The Devils

Lost Angeles

Bob Cosby

Trashville
June 23  | June 24
King Automatic

The Cyborgs

Vurro

Shakin' Brothers

Reyes Torío

Documental Rocknrollers

Lucha Extrema. Sin Indulto y Sin Empate

Dj Mr.Howard

The Old Fox & The Hen

The Bears

| Bob Log III

Pelo Mono

The Devils

Lost Angeles DJs

Bob Cosby DJs

Proyección documental Rocknrollers

Lucha Extrema Sin Indulto y Sin Empate

Pat Briggs (Psychotica)

DJs

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Velvet Revolver, finalmente, no actuaron. Cf. crónica de Rockdelux.
2. ^ a b c d "Alice Cooper". Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2013-09-20.

## External links

[edit]

* Página oficial del festival
* Foro Azkena Rock Festival
* Página de noticias de Last Tour International
* Página web de Muskerra

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz series

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