Rock Hard Festival

Last updated
Rock Hard Festival
Rock Hard festival (logo).png
Genre Heavy metal
Datesweekend of Pentecost
Location(s) Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Years active2003–present
Website www.rockhardfestival.de

Rock Hard Festival is a heavy metal festival organized and sponsored by the Rock Hard magazine. First established in Lichtenfels, Bavaria, Germany, in 1990 on an irregular basis, [1] mostly for magazine anniversaries, it is held annually in Gelsenkirchen, since 2003. Its 2016 edition was taken place on 1315 May 2016.

Contents

The 2003 festival was also initially planned for the 20th anniversary of the magazine as a single event. But the fans voted it as the best metal open-air in Germany and so they continued. The festival is still held at the amphitheater which is located directly at the Rhein-Herne-Kanal in the Nordsternpark in Gelsenkirchen. The amphitheater has a maximum capacity of 7,000 people. The festival was the only festival with international metal bands in the Ruhrgebiet area [2] until the Rock am Ring offshoot Rock im Revier, which was organized by the Nürburgring operating company Deutsche Entertainment AG (DEAG), took place in Gelsenkirchen in 2015. [3] Kreator canceled the show at Rock im Revier for their headlining appearance at the smaller Rock Hard Festival. [3]

Lineups

2016

Friday 13 MaySaturday 14 MaySunday 15 May

Sodom

Turbonegro

Blind Guardian

2015

Friday 22 MaySaturday 23 MaySunday 24 May

Venom

Kreator

Black Star Riders

2014

Friday 6 JuneSaturday 7 JuneSunday 8 June

Triptykon

Carcass

Testament (replacing Megadeth )

2013

Friday 17 MaySaturday 18 MaySunday 19 May

U.D.O.

Queensrÿche

King Diamond

2012

Friday 25 MaySaturday 26 MaySunday 27 May

Turbonegro

Bolt Thrower

W.A.S.P.

2011

Friday 10 JuneSaturday 11 JuneSunday 12 June

Triptykon

Iced Earth

Down

2010

Friday 21 MaySaturday 22 MaySunday 23 May

The Devil's Blood

Kreator

Rage & Lingua Mortis Orchestra

2009

Friday 29 MaySaturday 30 MaySunday 31 May

Opeth

Children of Bodom

Saxon

2008

Friday 9 MaySaturday 10 MaySunday 11 May

Testament (replacing Celtic Frost )

Immortal

Iced Earth

2007

Friday 25 MaySaturday 26 MaySunday 27 May

HammerFall

Amon Amarth

Thin Lizzy

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