List of heavy metal festivals

Last updated

List of heavy metal festivals
Brutal Assault 2012 main stages.jpg
General Information
Related genres Heavy metal, punk rock, rock
LocationEurope and United States (origin)
Worldwide (current)
Related events Punk rock festival, rock festival

This is an incomplete list of heavy metal festivals. The genre of heavy metal (or simply metal) is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United States and the United Kingdom. [1] [2] [3] With roots in blues rock and psychedelic rock, the first heavy metal bands such as Black Sabbath and Deep Purple attracted large audiences, and during the late 1960s and mid-1970s these bands and others in their genre were featured at a number of historic rock festivals. [4] Judas Priest helped spur the genre's evolution by discarding much of its blues influence. [5] [6]

Contents

After the genre fused with other related genres such as punk rock in the late 1970s, bands in the new wave of British heavy metal such as Iron Maiden and Saxon followed in a similar vein. Before the end of the decade, heavy metal fans became known as "metalheads" or "headbangers", and there were festivals worldwide, both touring and stationary, dedicated to heavy metal subgenres and heavy metal itself. During the 1980s, glam metal became a commercial force, while Underground scenes and extreme subgenres of metal such as death metal and black metal remained subcultural phenomena, though they have their own dedicated festivals as well. Since the mid-1990s, popular styles have further expanded the definition of the genre.

Historical heavy metal festivals

Historically notable heavy metal festivals held since the 1980s
Festival nameLocationYearsDetails
Monsters of Rock Flag of England.svg England 1980-1996music festival held in Castle Donington (later it branched into other locations)
Dynamo Open Air Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands 1986–2005biggest annual metal festival during the 1990s, with 118,000 visitors in 1995
Moscow Music Peace Festival Flag of Russia.svg Russia 1989part of an era of momentous change in the Soviet Union
Wacken Open Air Flag of Germany.svg Germany 1990–presentlarger heavy metal festival
Sweden Rock Festival Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 1992–presentclassic rock, hard rock and metal
Graspop Metal Meeting Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium 1996–presentlarger heavy metal festival
Download Festival Flag of England.svg England 2003–presentHard rock, heavy metal, punk
Bloodstock Open Air Flag of England.svg England 2001–presentHeavy Metal festival
Hellfest Summer Open Air Flag of France.svg France 2006–presentlarger heavy metal festival
Welcome to Rockville Flag of the United States.svg United States 2011–presentThe hard rock and heavy metal music festival is the largest rock festival in North America. [7] [8]
Mangualde Hard Metal Fest Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal 1997–presentOldest heavy metal festival in the Iberian Peninsula. It's also in the top 10 of the oldest heavy metal festivals in the world. Heavy metal, hard rock and punk. [9] [10]

Current heavy metal festivals

Africa

Botswana

Festival nameLocationActiveApproximate time of yearNotes
Overthrust Winter Metal Mania Festival [11] Ghanzi2010–presentMayfeaturing local and African metal bands

Asia

India

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Bangalore Open Air Karnataka2012–presentJuly
Thunderstrock Festival Ranchi, Jharkhand 2008–presentSeptember

Indonesia

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Hammersonic Festival Jakarta2012–presentMarch–Aprilall heavy music
Hellprint Bandung2011–presentNovember–Marchall heavy music
Rock In CelebesMakassar2010–presentNovemberrock genres
Rock in Solo Surakarta2004–presentOctober–Novemberheritage metal

Japan

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Loud Park Festival Saitama City or Chiba City2023-presentOctober

Europe

Austria

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Kaltenbach Open Air [12] 2003–presentAugust
Nova Rock Nickelsdorf 2005–presentJune

Belgium

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Graspop Metal Meeting Dessel 1996–presentEnd of JuneOne of the biggest metal festivals in Europe
Alcatraz Hard Rock & Metal Festival [13] Kortrijk 2008–presentBeginning of AugustStarted indoor but changed to an outdoor festival in 2013
Hell's Balls Kortrijk 2023-presentBeginning of NovemberIndoor festival organized by the organization of Alcatraz
Huginns Awakening Fest Oostende 2009–presentApril/MayThrash Speed Heavy metal festival
Headbanger's Balls Fest Izegem 2012–presentBeginning of May
Blast from the Past Festival Kuurne 2013–presentDecemberOld school heavy metal festival
Ieper Hardcore Fest Ypres 1992-presentBeginning of JulyHardcore
Durbuy Rock Bomal 1997-presentBeginning of May
Hell Open Air Diest 2023-presentBeginning of MayHeavy metal and cover festival

Bulgaria

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Hills of RockRowing Canal in Plovdiv, Bulgaria2017 - currentJulyrock, metal, crossover punk

Czech Republic

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Brutal Assault Jaroměř1996–presentAugustextreme metal, heavy metal, hardcore punk, experimental music
Masters of Rock (festival) Vizovice2003–presentJulyheavy metal, power metal, rock
Metalfest Pilsen2007–presentJuneheavy metal, power metal, death
Obscene Extreme Trutnov1999–presentJulygrindcore, death metal, hardcore punk
Rock CastleMoravský Krumlov2021-presentAugustmetal
Basin Fire FestSpálené Poříčí2003-presentJunemetal, punk, international + local bands

Denmark

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Copenhell Copenhagen2010–presentJunefeaturing death, thrash, black, doom, heavy, power metal and hard rock
Aalborg Metal FestivalAalborg2002–presentNovemberfeaturing death, thrash, black, doom, heavy, power metal and hard rock
Royal Metal FestAarhus2008–presentAprilfeaturing death, thrash, black, doom, heavy, power metal and hard rock
Viborg Metal FestivalViborg2014–presentMarchfeaturing death, thrash, black, doom, heavy, power metal and hard rock
Metal Magic Festival Fredericia2008–presentJulyfeaturing death, thrash, black, doom, heavy, power metal and hard rock

Estonia

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Hard Rock Laager Vana-Vigala2002–presentJuneThe biggest metal festival in Estonia [14]
Howls of Winter Tallinn2014–presentFebruaryblack metal

Finland

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Dark River FestivalKotkaAugustall subgenres of metal
Hellsinki Metal FestivalHelsinki2023-presentAugustall subgenres of metal
John Smith Rock Festival [15] Laukaa2016–presentJulyThe best rock festival in Finland [16]
NummirockKauhajoki1987–presentJuneall subgenres of metal
SaarihelvettiTampereAugustall subgenres of metal
Steelfest Open AirHyvinkää2008–presentMayblack and death metal
Turku SaatanalleTurku2011–presentMarchblack metal
Tuska Open Air Helsinki1998–presentJulyall subgenres of metal

France

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Hellfest Summer Open Air Clisson2006–presentJuneup to 60.000 people; all subgenres of Metal
Motocultor Festival Brittany2007–presentAugustdeath, black, thrash metal
Plane'R FestColombier-Saugnieu2012–presentJulyall subgenres of Metal
Sylak Open AirSaint-Maurice-de-GourdansAugustall subgenres of Metal, hardcore

Germany

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. monthAudienceNotes
Chronical Moshers Open AirHeinsdorfergrund1982–presentJuneUp to 1.000Death, Black and Thrash Metal
Dark Troll FestivalBornstedt2009-presentMayEst. 1,200Pagan, Black, Folk, Post, Melodic Death, Death Metal, Celtic Metal
Dong Open Air Neukirchen-Vluyn2001–presentJulyup to 5,000All subgenres of Metal
Elbriot Hamburg2013–presentAugustup to 12,000Metal Festival in Hamburg [17]
Euroblast Festival Cologne2008–presentOctoberup to 12,000Progressive and Avantgarde Metal
Full Force Löbnitz1994–presentJulyEst. 25,000Hardcore, Metalcore, Punk and Metal
Impericon FestivalsLeipzig, Hamburg, Munich, Oberhausen2011-presentMarchup to 11,000Biggest indoor festivals in Europe; Metalcore
In Flammen Open AirTorgauJulyup to 6,000Death, Black and Thrash Metal
Mammut FestivalKönigsbrunn2022-presentMarchmin. 500Audience increasing fast; all subgenres of Metal
Metal Frenzy Open Air FestivalGardelegen2014–presentJuneup to 5,000Metal and Hard Rock
Party.San Metal Open AirSchlotheim1996-presentAugustup to 10,000All subgenres of Metal
Ragnarök Festival Lichtenfels, Bavaria 2004–presentAprilup to 4000Black, Pagan, Viking, Death Metal
Rock am Ring and Rock im Park Nürburgring1985-presentJuneup to 92,000Biggest rock festival in the world; Metalcore, Death Metal, Thrash, Heavy Metal, Punk Rock, Rock
RockXplosionLeonberg1984-presentJulyup to 2,000Death Metal, Metalcore, Hardcore Punk, Punk Rock
Rock Hard Festival Gelsenkirchen2003–presentJune7,000Heavy, Power, Thrash and Death Metal
Rockharz Open AirBallenstedt1993/94-presentJulyup to 24,000All subgenres of Metal
Rock um zu helfenFreiberg, SaxonyOctoberRock genres
Reload FestivalSulingen2006-presentAugustup to 15,000Metal, Hardcore, Punk & Party
Summer Breeze Open Air Dinkelsbühl1997–presentAugustup to 40,000Death, Black, Thrash Metal
Under the Black SunFriesack near Berlin1997-presentJune or Julyup to 1000Black Metal
Wacken Open Air Wacken1990–presentAugustup to 85,000Largest metal festival in Germany; all subgenres of Metal

Latvia

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Zobens un LemessBauska2014–presentJunefolk, pagan, metal subgenres; 3 day festival
munky pride Vandāni2021–presentJulygrindcore, goregrind, trash, brutal death metal, punk

Lithuania

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Kilkim Žaibu Varniai1999–presentJune (end)black, Viking metal and folk music

Netherlands

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Dynamo Open Air Eindhoven1986–presentJuly
Into the GraveLeeuwarden2010–presentJune
MidsummerProgValkenburg2017–presentJune
ProgPower Europe Baarlo1999–presentOctoberfeaturing power, progressive metal
Roadburn Festival Tilburg1999–presentAprillarge festival featuring doom, stoner, death, black metal
Metalyard Arnhem2015–presentAprilindoor festival featuring thrash, heavy metal, death, black metal and so on.

Norway

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Inferno Metal Festival Oslo 2001–presentAprilfeaturing black, death, thrash, doom metal
Tons of Rock Oslo 2014-presentJunewide range of metal subgenres
Karmøygeddon Metal Festival Kopervik 2004–presentMaywide range of metal subgenres
Garasjefestival Reinsvoll 2017–presentJulyblack, death, trash and other subgenres of metal

Portugal

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
HARDMETALFESTMangualde1997–presentJanuaryfeaturing power, death, black, thrash, doom metal
Laurus Nobilis MusicFamalicão2015–presentAugustfeaturing power, death, black, thrash, doom metal
Rock in Rio Lisboa Lisboa2004–presentMayfeaturing various genres
SWR Barroselas MetalfestBarroselas1998–presentAprilfeaturing power, death, black, thrash, doom metal
Vagos Metal Fest Calvão 2016–presentAugustfeaturing power, death, black, thrash, doom metal
Evil LiveLisboa2009–presentJunefeaturing power, death, black, thrash, doom metal

Romania

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Artmania Festival Sibiu2006–presentAugustart festival featuring heavy metal
Metalhead MeetingBucharest2013–presentJune/Julydeath metal, black metal, heavy metal
Rockstadt Extreme FestivalRasnov2013–presentAugustdeath metal, black metal, heavy metal
Metal Gates FestivalBucharest2017–presentNovemberdeath metal, black metal, doom metal
Posada Rock FestCampulung Muscel1986–present

Russia

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Metal Over RussiaMoscowJuly3-day doom, death, black, dark, pagan, folk metal

Slovenia

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Tolminator Tolmin 2023–presentJulyall styles of metal, attendance capped at 5000 visitors. Spiritual successor to Metaldays and MetalCamp

Spain

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Barcelona Rock FestBarcelona2014–presentJulyfeaturing hardcore, metalcore, thrash, death, black metal, punk
Leyendas del RockVillena2006–presentAugustmostly traditional, thrash, power and gothic metal
Resurrection Fest Viveiro2006–presentJulyfeaturing hardcore, metalcore, thrash, death, black metal, punk
Rock ImperiumCartagena2022-presentJunemostly traditional, glam, power metal.
Z! Live Rock FestZamora2016-presentJunemostly traditional, thrash and power metal.

Sweden

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
House of Metal Umeå2007–presentFebruary or Marchall subgenres of metal
Sweden Rock Festival Sölvesborg1992–presentJuneclassic rock, hard rock and metal
Huskvarna Metal FestJönköpingSpring and fallblack, death, thrash metal

United Kingdom

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Bloodstock Open Air Walton-on-Trent, Derbyshire2005–presentAugustoutdoor festival featuring death, black, thrash, folk metal, with attendance of 13,000 (2013)
Damnation Festival Manchester, England2005–presentNovemberone-day festival featuring death, black, thrash, doom metal
Download Festival Donington Park, Leicestershire2003–presentJunelarge rock festival featuring hard rock, nu-metal, metalcore, death metal, black metal and pro wrestling from NXT UK
Hard Rock Hell Gwynedd, North Wales2007–presentNovemberThree day metal festival held at a resort [18]
Incineration FestivalLondon, England2014–presentMayextreme metal festival for fans of death metal, black metal, doom metal, thrash metal, and slam
Slam Dunk Festival [19]
Stonedead FestivalNewark, Notts, England2018–PresentAugustOne Day, One Stage, One Monster Rock Show [20]

North America

Canada

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Gaspesian Metal Fest Matane JuneUnderground metal festival
Hyperspace Metal Festival Vancouver AprilCanada's premier melodic & power metal festival

Mexico

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
Candelabrum Metal FestLeónSeptember
Hell & Heaven Metal Fest Mexico City (Toluca)2010–presentNovember - December3 Day Open-Air Metal Festival, featuring death, thrash, black, doom, heavy, power metal & hard rock
México Metal FestMonterrey2016–presentNovember1 Day
Total Death Over MéxicoMexico City2018–presentMay3 Day Underground Death, Black Metal Festival

United States

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
98RockFest Tampa, FL 2007–presentAprilMetal, grunge and hard rock festival [21]
Aftershock Festival Sacramento, CA 2012–presentOctoberHard rock and heavy metal festival [22]
AURA Fest [23] Savannah, GA 2017–presentJuneAll Underground Rock All Day [24]
Full Terror Assault [25] Cave-In-Rock, IL 2021–presentSeptemberEuropean style Open Air Festival for extreme music fans [26]
Hell's Heroes [27] Houston, TX 2018–presentMarchThrash and epic metal festival [28]
INKcarceration [29] Mansfield, OH 2018–presentJulyRock music and tattoo festival [30]
Legions of Metal Fest [31] Chicago, IL 2017–presentJune
Louder Than Life Louisville, KY 2014–presentSeptemberHard rock/heavy metal festival [32]
Mad With Power Fest [33] Madison, WI 2018–presentAugustPower Metal/Traditional Heavy Metal festival [34]
Maryland Deathfest Baltimore, MD 2003–presentMayExtreme Music [35]
Mass Destruction Metal Fest [36] Atlanta, GA 2017–presentNovemberExtreme Metal Festival [37]
Milwaukee Metal Fest [38] Milwaukee, WI 1987–2004, 2023–presentMay
New England Metal and Hardcore Festival Worcester, MA 1999–2018, 2023–presentSeptember
ProgPower USA Atlanta, GA 2001–presentSeptemberProgressive and Power Metal [39]
Rocklahoma Pryor, OK 2007–presentSeptemberHard rock and metal festival [40]
Sick New World Festival [41] Las Vegas, NV 2023–presentAprilNu-Metal Fest [42]
Sonic Temple Columbus, OH 2019, 2023–presentMayHard rock and metal festival [43]
Welcome to Rockville Daytona Beach, FL 2011–presentApril/MayHard rock and heavy metal music festival [44]

Tours

The following is an incomplete list of traveling metal festivals, both active and defunct:

Heavy metal festivals that are no longer active

Europe

Slovenia

Festival nameLocationActiveApprox. time of yearNotes
MetalCamp Tolmin 2004–2012Augustreplaced by Metaldays, featuring death, black, folk, thrash, doom metal
Metaldays Velenje 2013–2023Augustreplaced Metalcamp and previously held in Tolmin, featuring death, black, folk, thrash, doom metal

See also

References

  1. Du Noyer (2003), p. 96; Weinstein (2000), pp. 11–13.
  2. "The History of Heavy Metal". musicianwave.com. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  3. Weinstein (2000), pp. 14, 118.
  4. Fast (2005), pp. 89–91; Weinstein (2000), pp. 7, 8, 23, 36, 103, 104.
  5. Walser (1993), p. 6.
  6. "As much as Sabbath started it, Priest were the ones who took it out of the blues and straight into metal." Bowe, Brian J. Judas Priest: Metal Gods. ISBN   0-7660-3621-9.
  7. "Welcome to Rockville gives first look at 2022 lineup". clickorlando.com. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  8. "Welcome To Rockville 2025 Returns to Daytona International Speedway with North America's Largest Rock Festival and Its Biggest Lineup Ever". gratefulweb.com. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  9. "Portuguese Mangualde Hardmetalfest 28th Edition is Getting Ready to Rock". atmostfear-entertainment.com. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  10. "Hardmetalfest 2025". masqueticket.com. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  11. "African Heavy Metal Bands Give Back to their Communities". BORGEN. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  12. "Kaltenbach Open Air". kaltenbach-openair.at. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  13. "History". alcatraz.be. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  14. "Live Report: HARD ROCK LAAGER 2017 Festival: "A Hidden Treasure In Deep Forests Of Estonia"". metalshockfinland.com. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  15. "John Smith Rock Festival 2023 in Laukaa (FI)". festivalsunited.com. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  16. "John Smith Rock Festival". johnsmith.fi. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  17. "Elbriot Festival 2016". tilogo.com. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  18. "Hard Rock Hell 2002". musicfestivalwizard.com. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  19. "Slam Dunk Festival". slamdunkfestival.com. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  20. "One Day, One Stage, One Monster Show". stonedeadfestival.co.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  21. "98ROCKFEST lineup". tampabay.com. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  22. "Aftershock Festival Featuring Guns N' Roses, Queens of the Stone Age, Megadeth, Tool, Incubus, Pantera, and More Taking Place This Fall". 955klos.com. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  23. "AURA Fest announces". savannahnow.com. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  24. "AURA Fest announces". savannahnow.com. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  25. "Full Terror Assault". fullterrorassault.com. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  26. "About". fullterrorassault.com. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  27. "HELL'S HEROES Festival Reveals Full 2025 Band Lineup". knac.com. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  28. "Hells Heroes Festival 2025". musicfestivalwizard.com. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  29. "INKcarceration". mansfieldnewsjournal.com. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  30. "Inkcarceration announces lineup for 2022 rock festival at Ohio State Reformatory". richlandsource.com. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  31. "Legions of Metal Fest". reggieslive.com. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  32. "REVIEW: Here's What We Experienced At Louder Than Life 2022". leoweekly.com. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  33. "Mad With Power Fest". madwithpowerfest.com. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  34. "Mad With Power Fest". madwithpowerfest.com. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  35. "About Deathfests". deathfests.com. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  36. "Mass Destruction". massdestructionmetalfest.com. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  37. "MASS DESTRUCTION METAL FEST". earsplitcompound.com. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  38. "Milwaukee Metal Fest". milwaukeemetalfestival.com. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  39. EvilG. "Heart of Steel: Interviews Glenn Harveston Organizer of ProgPower USA". Metal-Rules. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  40. "Rocklahoma To Include MEGADETH, ROB ZOMBIE, DEVILDRIVER And More This Year!". metalinjection.net. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  41. "Sick New World Festival". sicknewworldfest.com. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  42. "Sick New World Festival Announces 2024 Lineup". stereogum.com. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  43. "Sonic Temple 2023". consequence.net. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  44. "Welcome to Rockville gives first look at 2022 lineup". clickorlando.com. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  45. "Headbangers Boat". headbangersboat.com. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  46. "Monsters of Rock Cruise 2024". monstersofrockcruise.com. Retrieved 17 January 2024.