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
2002 edition 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 Backyard Babies Supersuckers Mudhoney The Revolvers The Bellrays Five Horse Johnson Sex Museum Racing Slabs Diamond Dogs Federation X Bonzos
2003 edition 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 This was the most accidented 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,Velvet Revolver, finalmente, no actuaron. Cf. crónica de Rockdelux. 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 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 + 4th edition of the ARF September 1 September 2 September 3 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 + 5th edition of the ARF August 31 September 1 September 2 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 + 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 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 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 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 May 14May 15 May 16 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 + 9th edition of the ARF Line Up June 24June 25June 26Stage 'Alex Chilton'Stage 'Doug Fieger'Stage 'Alex Chilton'Stage 'Doug Fieger'Stage 'Alex Chilton'Stage 'Doug Fieger'The Black LipsKissImperial State ElectricBad ReligionToilet BoysAirbourneSlash featuring Myles KennedyThe DamnedThe HivesNRQBGov't MuleImelda MayTeddy ThompsonChris IsaakThe CubicalThe Hold SteadyDan Baird & Homemade SinEl VezBob Dylan Maggot BrainKitty, Daisy & LewisThe Hot DogsRobert Gordon & The Gang They Couldn't HangAudienceThe Jim Jones Revue'77The Russian RoulettesThe Legendary Shack ShackersBaskeryBronze
2011 edition + 10th edition of the ARF Line Up June 23June 24June 25Solomon Burke StageSolomon Burke StageBen Keith StageMonster StageSolomon Burke StageBen Keith StageMonster StageOzzy OsbourneQueens of the Stone AgeClutchThis DramaDanzigBright EyesArizona BabyKyuss Lives!PrimusBad BrainsRival SonsPaul WellerBand of HorsesThe WhybirdsRob ZombieCheap TrickAtom RhumbaDirty YorkBrian Setzer' Rockabilly RiotNew Bomb TurksThe KnocknoutsThe CultReverendo Horton HeatBlue RodeoGregg AllmanBlack Country CommunionThe Riff TruckersThe Aves BrothersEELSJuke Box RacketBizardunak
2012 edition + 11th edition of the ARF Line Up June 14June 15June 16 Levon Helm Stage Robin Gibb Stage Levon Helm Stage Adam Yauch Stage Robin Gibb Stage Levon Helm Stage Adam Yauch Stage Robin Gibb StageDropkick MuphysSteel PantherOzzy Osbourne & FriendsDanko JonesDrick Brave & The BlackbeatsThe DarknessBrian Jonestown MassacreTriggerfingerPentagramGraveyardThe Mars VoltaBlack Label SocietyLugerMy Morning JacketHank 3Charles Bradley & His ExtraordinairesStatus QuoPorco BravoRich Robinson BandGunGallowsLynyrd SkynyrdM. WardThe UnionTwisted SisterIsrael Nash GripkaLisaböWillis DrumoondThe Screaming TribesmenFrank Turner & The Sleeping SoulsNorth Mississippi Alistars DuoBen KwellerBlue Öyster CultMaha's Miracle TonicThe AmazingLee Fields & The ExpressionsSi CraunstonPontus Snibb 3Sallie Ford & The Sounds Outside
2013 edition June 28June 29The Black Crowes The Smashing Pumpkins
M Clan
Alberta Cross
The Sword
The Sheepdogs
Horisont
Sex Museum
The Socks
QuaoarThe 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 ConcertsJune 20June 21Scorpions The Stranglers
Seasick Steve
Unida
Turbowolf
Marah
Hudson Taylor
Monster Truck
Bombus
13 Left to Die
Attikus Finch
Bourbon
The Midnight Travellers
VucaqueBlondie 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 Concerts June 19June 20ZZ Top Television performing Marquee Moon
L7
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
HighlightsMastodon 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 June 17June 18Danzig 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 ScarecrowThe 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 ConcertsJune 23June 24John 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