Sweden Rock Festival

News - 8th February - SABATON TO PERFORM NATIONAL ANTHEM AT SWEDEN ROCK 2012!
Since Sabaton were not available for this year's festival, due to other obligations the same weekend, organisers proceeded with other bookings. Later, when it became clear that Sabaton would in fact be able to make a quick stop in Sölvesborg on the opening day on their way to their European tour, no fitting slots were available on that day and it was impossible to fit a full show with the band into the schedule. Then came the idea to repeat the success of 2009: to have Sabaton perform the national anthem on Sweden's national day! So, if you want to see one of the biggest metal Swedish metal bands in the world perform "Du gamla, du fria", you should get a ticket that gives access to our opening day, Wednesday June 6th.

Sabaton will do a slightly longer set than last time, so even though this will by no means be a full concert, they will at least be able to perform one song from their new album "Carolus Rex" (released in late May) and possibly also one of their more classic tracks!

In addition, the band has promised to stick around after their show to sign their new album. "...And we will bring loads of pyrotechnics", promises bassist Pär Sundström!

News - 7th February - FROM THE US - FEAR FACTORY JOIN THE SWEDEN ROCK LINE UP
Fear Factory is one of the most influential metal bands of the 90s. Their hybrid of death metal and industrial metal was unprecedented and influenced the likes of Machine Head, Strapping Young Lad and Pain. Following a suite of classic albums like ”Soul of a new machine” (1992), ”Demanufacture” (1995) and ”Obsolete” (1998), rifts appeared in Fear Factory. Guitarist Dino Cazares jumped ship in 2002 and the following releases divided the band’s fanbase.

However, in 2009 it was revealed that Dino Cazares and vocalist Burton C Bell had reconciled and formed a new incarnation of Fear Factory, completed by bassist Byron Stroud and drum legend Gene Hoglan (ex-Dark Angel, Death, Strapping Young Lad, Testament et al). The impending album ”The industrialist” supposedly is everything a Fear Factory-fan could want. And now, as an added bonus, the fans have the band’s Sweden Rock Festival-debut to look forward to.

News - 2nd February - THE FLOWER KINGS REUNITE FOR SWEDEN ROCK 2012
"All," said the same thing in the 90s: symphony rock was dead. Swedish band Flower Kings became one of the most telling evidence that "everyone" was wrong.

Guitarist Roine Stolt (ex-Kaipa) released a solo album in 1994 titled "The Flower Kings". Encouraged by the warm response he formed the year after Flower Kings, among others Kaipakollegan Tomas Bodin (keyboards) and vocalist / guitarist Hasse Fröberg (ex-Spellbound). With albums like "Retro Police" (1996), "Stardust we are" (1997) and "Flower Power" (1999) became the Flower Kings spearheads a new generation influenced by artists such as Yes, King Crimson, Emerson Lake & Palmer and Pink Floyd .

It was not worse in the 2000s when the band embarked on a more easy listening, but just as ambitious tracks. Ten studio albums into their career is Flower Kings one of the really big names of today's progressive rock scene - you who like music that is in the queue but has bite should not miss this show.

News - 24th January - KING DIAMOND TO SWEDEN ROCK - ONLY SHOW IN SCANDINAVIA IN 2012!
One of the most iconic heavy metal-musicians in Scandinavian history is Danish vocalist King Diamond. He made it big in the early 80s with the now legendary Mercyful Fate, and moved on in 1985 to his own namesake constellation.

The wait has been long and hard, but now it’s finally over. King Diamond are back to enter the stage at SRF in 2012. There has rarely been a comeback more eagerly anticipated!

The show at Sweden Rock will be the only one in Scandinavia during 2012!

News - 22nd January - AUSTRALIAN BLUES POWER TRIO VDELLI ADDED TO SWEDEN ROCK LINE UP!
The bluesy power-trio Vdelli was formed in Perth, Australia in 1997. They quickly acquired a local following and got to open for acts like ZZ Top, BB King, Buddy Guy and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

Through intense touring they also gained an audience in Europe, and their eighth album ”Ain’t bringing me down” (2009), produced by Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Iron Maiden etc) was their first to see a European release. On the follow-up ”Take a bite” (2010), Vdelli displayed a harder rocking side of their personality.

It has become time for the SRF-audience to get acquainted with the trio’s famously intense live show, with vocalist/guitarist Michael Vdelli as the obvious focal point.

News - 20th January - FISH IS COMING TO SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL 2012
Derek William Dick, better known as FISH, went down in rock history as the lead singer of Marillion - the great heroes of the 80th neo progressive rock scene.

After several years of big-selling albums and hit singles like "Kayleigh", "Lavender" and "kept incommunicado" Fish left the band in 1988 and began a solo career. His solo debut "Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors" (1990) was an immediate success and in 2012 he releases his tenth album. Fish - whose nickname for the rest, of his weakness for long baths - is known and loved by prog rock fans and his bittersweet vocals (often in conjunction with Peter Gabriel) and for its diverse music that combines elements from prog rock, hard rock, pop and folk music.

News - 19th January - REFORMED HARD ROCKERS AXE CONFIRMED FOR SWEDEN ROCK 2012!
In the early 80s, Florida’s Axe was one of the true cult bands of hard rock. They made four albums, each one more successful than the last, reminiscent of Rainbow, Magnum and MSG with a piquant American flavor.

In 1984 Axe split up, following a car accident that killed guitarist Mike Osborne. Over the years the myth surrounding the band has continued to grow, and they have been reactivated several times in different incarnations.  However, in 2012 we are talking about a TRUE reunion: Axe’s original frontman and leader Bobby Barth (also known from Blackfoot) is back, to the fans’ delight. Have you also dreamt about experiencing songs like ”Rock’n’roll party in the streets”, ”Heat in the street” and ”Silent soldiers” live at SRF, interpreted by their very creator? In June your wish will be fulfilled.

News - 15th January - MASTODON ADDED TO SWEDEN ROCK LINE UP!
America’s most important metal band at present? One thing’s for sure, the ten years that have passed since Mastodon released their debut album ”Remission” in 2002 have been one continuous honeymoon with both audience and critics!

The quartet from Atlanta combines aggression, groove, unpredictability and skill in a totally unprecedented fashion. They have also managed to keep their status as a connaisseurs band and still get increasingly popular with ”regular” fans with each consecutive album: ”Leviathan” (2004), ”Blood mountain” (2006), ”Crack the Skye” (2009) and most recently ”The hunter” (2011).

News - 11th Janaury - UK BAND BLACK SPIDERS ADDED TO SWEDEN ROCK 2012 LINE UP
Black Spiders from Doncaster are rising stars on the British rock’n’roll horizon. Their sound has been described as a blend of AC/DC and Turbonegro and their more renowned admirers include Duff McKagan and Ozzy Osbourne – after seeing the band at a festival where they both performed the latter was so impressed that he offered the band a slot for the UK leg of Ozzfest.

To make it even cooler, Black Spiders have taken the long, ”proper” road to success: relentless touring, a couple of ep:s, and as the grand finale the debut album ”Sons of the North”, released last year to stunning reviews. If you like your rock’n’roll traditional, raunchy and just a little spaced out, you don’t want to miss Black Spiders.

News - 5th January - UGLY KID JOE CONFIRMED FOR SWEDEN ROCK 2012!
The jolly boys of the 90’s! Ugly Kid Joe (the name is intended as the ”opposite” of Pretty Boy Floyd) were an immediate success with their debut single ”Everything about you” in 1992.

Singer Whitfield Crane announced, with great humor, that he hated absolutely everything and the song became a smash hit. The subsequent album ”America’s least wanted” was dominated by glam-tinted, raunchy hard rock, except for ”Cat’s in the cradle”. Said ballad and Harry Chapin-cover was a huge hit, in retrospect one of the 90s’ most recognizable songs.

Sadly, Ugly Kid Joe were somewhat dismissed by the less than humor-friendly prevailing movements. The next two albums sold poorly and the band folded. However, they have since achieved cult-status with a new generation, and now they have finally reunited: Whitfield Crane, guitarists Klaus Eichstadt and Dave Fortman, bassist Cordell Crockett and drummer Shannon Larkin – Ugly Kid Joe.

News - 23rd December - GOTTHARD IS BACK AT SWEDEN ROCK 2012!!
1992 seemed like the worst possible year to be a traditional, melodic hard-rock debutante. Still, Swiss band Gotthard were an instant and tremendous success. From their second album ”Dial hard” (1994) and onwards, all their records hit the #1-spot – all in all eleven of them. After over a million albums sold domestically, it was obviously time to look abroad, including memorable appearances at SRF.

Everything was brought to an abrupt and tragic halt in October 2010, when singer Steve Lee died in a traffic accident. The support of their fans and the blessing of Steve’s parents encouraged the surviving members to continue. After auditioning a multitude of candidates, Nic Maeder has been chosen to take Gotthard into the future. A new album will be released this spring, and SRF 2012 represents a cherished reunion for band and fans alike – the new Gotthard’s first appearance on Swedish soil.

News - 21st December - SOUNDGARDEN'S FIRST RETURN TO SWEDEN SINCE 1996 TO PLAY SRF 2012!
Obviously there was great enthusiasm in 2010, when the mythical band declared the reunion of it’s classic line-up: Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil (guitar), Ben Shepherd (bass) and Matt Cameron (drums). Not only is there a new album in the making, in 2012 Soundgarden are coming to Sweden Rock Festival! This is the band’s first Swedish concert since 1996 and also their only one in Sweden this summer. Definitely one of the rock’n’roll highlights of the year!

Not only thrash metal has its ”Big Four”. The same goes for the grunge scene of the early 90’s. Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains rewrote the rules for the entire rock business and temporarily made Seattle the new rock capital of the world.

Soundgarden were the first of the four to reach a wider audience, earning a Grammy nomination already for their debut ”Ultramega OK”. The bands second album, Led Zeppelinesque ”Louder than love” was followed by the Black Sabbath-influenced ”Badmotorfinger” (1991) and ”Superunknown” (1994) – two of the most important and successful hard rock releases of the 90’s. Songs like ”Rusty cage”, ”Black hole sun”, ”Spoonman” and ”Jesus Christ pose” are distinguished by inventiveness, odd time signatures and the intense singing of Chris Cornell.

News - 19th December - MOTÖRHEAD BACK AT SWEDEN ROCK AFTER 3 YEARS AWAY!
In 2012, an impressive 20 years have passed since singer/bassist Lemmy Kilmister, guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee (ex-King Diamond) gathered as Motörhead.

This makes the trio the longest lasting constellation by far in the band’s long history. Since their formation in 1975 Motörhead have recorded, so far, 21 studio albums and innumerable mega-historical hard rock classics like ”Ace of spades”, ”Killed by death”, ”Bomber” and ”Overkill”. The band’s unique combination of rawness, speed and groove has captured the hearts of not only metalheads but punks and rockers as well.

Therein lies, of course, a big part of the explanation why so many want to see Motörhead at SRF so often!

News - 18th December - KATATONIA CONFIRMED FOR SWEDEN ROCK 2012!
Ever since their debut album ”Dance of December souls” (1993), Stockholm’s KATATONIA have been on a long and progressive journey in the land of melancholy. The black- and death metal-roots of the Dan Swanö-produced ”Jhva Elohim Meth”-demo have gradually been replaced by heavy and atmospheric doom- and goth metal, as well as a more straightforward song structure.

If darkness in music is your thing you should make sure not to miss Katatonia’s debut at Sweden Rock Festival.

News - 12th December - SEBASTIAN BACH JOINS THE SWEDEN ROCK 2012 LINE UP!
Sebastian Bach’s colourful career started for real when he as a nineteen year old singer with a golden voice and rebellious nature joined the New Jersey-based group Skid Row. The bands impact was immediate as their self titled debut album featured several now classic anthems such as “18 and life”, “Youth gone wild” and “I remember you”. The follow up “Slave to the grind” saw the band rub elbows with megastars Guns N’ Roses, but Bach and Skid Row eventually parted ways.

Soon the singer made himself a name as a highly acclaimed Broadway performer, while still maintaining a more low-key solo career as a rock singer. With big parts in long running musicals such as “Jekyll & Hyde”, “Rocky horror show” and “Jesus Christ superstar” Bach perfected both his musical skills as well as his acting skills and later acted in several TV-shows.

In 2007 he made a highly prolific return to the metal scene when he released the solo album “Angel down”, featuring Bach’s friend Axl Rose on three songs. The follow up “Kicking & screaming” was released last fall and contains all the trademarks that have made Sebastian Bach one of the world’s most charismatic entertainers: hard and melodic rock/metal with a couple of beautiful ballads thrown in for good measure.

News - 8th December - BAY AREA THRASH LEGENDS EXODUS ARE COMING TO SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL 2012!
If you ask metal fans who the originators of the Bay Area thrash metal scene are, most people will not just say, but shout out ”Exodus!”.

The band was formed in 1980 with a certain Kirk Hammett in the line-up, but the debut album ”Bonded by blood” didn’t see the light of day until 1985. The album is now widely considered to be one of the best and most important albums of thrash metal history and not to forget one of the most aggressive ones.

Several killer releases followed – the commercially successful ”Fabulous disaster” (1988) to name one, before Exodus folded in 1993. 2004 saw thrash fans positively shocked when the band released the brilliant comeback album ”Tempo of the damned”, and since then another three hard-hitting albums have been unleashed.

Original members Gary Holt (guitar) and Tom Hunting (drums) are today joined by Jack Gibson (bass), Lee Altus (guitar) and Rob Dukes, the brutal heir to Exodus’ legendary past frontmen Paul Baloff (1960-2002) and Steve Souza.

News - 5th December - DOOM METAL US STYLE FROM ST. VITUS AT SWEDEN ROCK 2012!
Los Angeles’ Saint Vitus were first formed under the name Tyrant in 1978, but soon changed their name and released a self titled debut album six years later. With one foot firmly placed in the roots of Black Sabbath’s down tuned doomsday heaviness and the other in the punky aggression of Black Flag, Saint Vitus (with colleagues such as Trouble and Pentagram) soon found themselves in the frontlines of the early doom metal movement, releasing now classic albums such as ”Saint Vitus” (1984) and ”Born too late” (1986). The quartet continued to spread the genres gospel up until their break-up in 1996 and were laid to rest as a true cult act.

2003 the original members Dave Chandler (guitars), Mark Adams (bass) and Armando Acosta (drums) temporarily reunited their classic line-up with Scott ”Wino” Weinrich (The Obsessed) on vocals. Five years later the group decided to get back together on a more permanent basis with the drummer Henry Vasquez replacing Acosta who sadly passed away in 2010.

Saint Vitus have been working on new material for an album titled ”Lilly F65” (named after a barbiturate), the groups first since 1995’s ”Die healing”. The release is set for early 2012, just in time for the doomsters first visit to Sweden Rock Festival.

News - 27th November - ELECTRIC BOYS ARE COMING TO SWEDEN ROCK 2012!
With an original hybrid of funk and the mighty distorted riff, Swedish Electric Boys debut album ”Funk-o-metal carpet ride” paved the way for all sorts of bland copies. Songs like ”All lips n’ hips” and ”Electrified” even had the hugely successful producer Bob Rock feeling so sure that Electric Boys were going to make it big that he produced an American version of the album in 1990.

The musical content of the follow up, ”Groovus maximus”, backed up it’s title and songs like ”Mary in the mystery world” and ”Knee deep in you” cemented the fact that Electric Boys had carved themselves a very own chapter in rock history.

News - 27th November - NATIONALTEATERN JOIN SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL 2012 LINE UP!
Nationalteatern (the National Theatre) is one of the greatest phenomena in Swedish rock history. Starting out as a theatre group they debuted on record in 1972. Over the years they delivered a round of classic albums with even more classic songs like ”Livet är en fest” (Life is a party), ”Jack the Ripper” and ”Speedy Gonzales”.

Traditionally, the band is considered part of the so called progg-movement, though their catchy songs really are more traditional rockers influenced by the likes of Bob Dylan and Lou Reed. The music that Nationalteatern created is still just as popular among today's listeners, and band-leader Ulf Dageby with cohorts still play to packed venues – or in this case, packed fields.

NEWS - 26th November - NWOBHM WITH TYGERS OF PANG TANG JOIN SWEDEN ROCK 2012 LINE UP!
The industrial city of Newcastle is the birthplace of many a royalty from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Venom, Raven and obviously Tygers Of Pan Tang. The latter band was one of the movements first to become truly successful and their three first albums ”Wild cat” (1980), ”Spellbound” (1981) and ”Crazy nights” (1981) are genuine genre classics.

Today’s Tygers Of Pan Tang, with unflagging guitarist Robb Weir in command, are still in fantastic shape, which they proved on the excellent ”Animal instinct” (2008). However, their performance at SRF 2012 will be of a nostalgic nature – the menu will mainly consist of songs from the above mentioned three first albums. A true feast for friends of traditional,melodic heavy metal!

NEWS - 25th November - GIRLSCHOOL BRING SOME FEMALE METAL TO SWEDEN ROCK 2012!
After more than 30 years, Girlschool is the longest lasting and definitely one of the most respected all-female heavy metal bands ever. Without a doubt, this is largely because Girlschool on their arrival didn’t use gender as a marketing ploy, but let future album classics like ”Demolition” (1980) and ”Hit and run” (1981) speak for themselves.

The band’s raw, gritty heavy metal tinted with blues as well as punk is quite capable of holding its own, and to be referred to as ”the female Motörhead” could hardly be described as an insult! In short, Girlschool is one of the most important bands from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and it gives us great pleasure to welcome Kim McAuliffe (vocals/guitar), Enid Williams (bass/vocals), Denise Dufort (drums) and Jackie Chambers (guitar) to SRF 2012.

NEWS - 24th November - LEGENDARY GLAMSTERS SLADE JOIN SWEDEN ROCK 2012 LINE UP
In the 70s, Slade were one of the mostbarrier-transcending bands. A colorful glam act as well as working class heroes, greatly successful both with their ambitious albums and as an extremely productive hit-single factory.

The 80s saw their second golden age, not least in Sweden, with such massive hits as ”My oh my” and ”Run runaway”. Today, Slade is still a hard-working and entertaining live-act, centered around originalmembers Dave Hill (guitar) and Don Powell (drums). Along with bassist John Berry (ex-Mud) and vocalist Mal McNulty (ex-Sweet) they constitute something of a glam rock supergroup – armed with countless lethal hits, such as ”Cum on feel the noize”, ”Mama weer all crazee now” and ”Far far away”.

NEWS - 23rd November - GRAVEYARD ADDED TO SWEDEN ROCK LINE UP FOR 2012!
Of the numerous Swedish bands waving the flag for 70s hard rock, Graveyard must be the very hottest at present. The eponymous debut of these Gothenburgers arrived in 2007 and was met by a favorable reception.

However, that pales in comparison to the sensation stirred by its sequel, ”Hisingen blues”, in spring 2011. The album was a huge success and was bombarded with superlatives by ridiculously unanimous reviewers. Graveyard came off as the band no one could resist, with their bleak, unspeakably genuine style rooted in the likes of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and psychedelic overlords Blue Cheer and Captain Beyond.

In short: it’s the biggest Swedish sensation of 2011 that will be appearing at SRF in 2012.

NEWS - 23rd November - SACRED REICH ADDED TO SWEDEN ROCK LINE UP FOR 2012!
Sacred Reich from Phoenix, Arizona is one of the classic bands of the ”second generation” of American thrash metal, alongside the likes of Testament, Forbidden and Vio-lence. Their breakthrough came with the ”Surf Nicaragua” EP (1988), an impressive union of powerful metal riffs and the uncompromising aggression and political commitment of punk. More classic releases, like ”The American way” (1990) and ”Independent” (1993) followed, before Sacred Reich folded in the year 2000. Happily, the band returned to the live scene seven years later and will be making their highly anticipated SRF-debut in 2012 – still featuring their classic line-up of vocalist/bassist Phil Rind, guitarists Wiley Arnett and Jason Rainey and drummer Greg Hall.

NEWS - 7th November - SYMPHONY X ADDED TO SWEDEN ROCK LINE UP FOR 2012!
Since the early 90’s, many a progressive metal band has tried to repeat the success of Dream Theater. There is no doubt as to who have been the most successful: Symphony X. The band was formed by guitarist Michael Romeo in 1994, released their debut the following year and got their break in 1997 with their third album ”Divine wings of tragedy”.

As it turned out, this was only the beginning. Today, Symphony X are actually bigger than ever. Their two most recent albums, ”Paradise lost” (2007) and the most recent release ”Iconoclast” (2011) in particular, have broadened the band’s fanbase most impressively. Then again, these are two of the very strongest progressive metal releases in recent years – imagine a darker, rougher Dream Theater with classical influences and Russell Allen’s brilliant vocals as the icing on the cake.

NEWS - 6th November - BONAFIDE CONFIRMED FOR SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL 2012
Bonafide is one of the hottest names on the contemporary hard rock scene in Sweden. They were formed in 2006 and released their eponymous debut the following year. The sound was traditional, groove-based hard rock, according to many reminiscent of AC/DC, albeit rooted more strongly in traditional blues. The follow-up ”Something’s dripping” (2009) was a great commercial success in Sweden, with audiences abroad starting to take notice as well.

Through intense touring the quartet have kept gaining momentum all across Europe, and in early 2012 we will finally get to hear what Pontus Snibb – currently one of Sweden’s most soulful rock vocalists, by the way – and cohorts have accomplished for their third album.

NEWS - 2nd November - LEGENDARY SOUTHERN ROCKERS LYNYRD SKYNYRD JOIN SRF 2012 LINE UP
Lynyrd Skynyrd have not been in Sweden since they headlined Sweden Rock in the year 2000, and this summer’s concert will be their only in Sweden this year.

They’re not just the world’s biggest Southern Rock act, they’re the ones who all but singlehandedly defined the genre. Since their debut in 1973, Lynyrd Skynyrd have produced some of the most immortal songs in rock, like ”Sweet home Alabama”, ”Freebird”, ”Saturday night special” and ”Gimme back my bullets”. Sadly, their name is also associated with tragedy. A plane crash in 1977 claimed the lives of several members and triggered a ten-year hiatus, and since then yet more members of Lynyrd Skynyrd have passed away. However, the band itself lives on, prospers and keeps making excellent music (like their most recent album, ”God & guns” from 2009), with indefatigable original guitarist Gary Rossington and longtime singer Johnny Van Zant at the frontline.

FIRST BANDS ANNOUNCED FOR SWEDEN ROCK 2012!
Taking place from the 6th - 9th June 2012 Sweden Rock Festival organizers have revealed the first 7 bands for next year's festival - check them out : Mötley Crüe, Blue Öyster Cult, Dimmu Borgir, Gamma Ray, Egduy, Danko Jones & Pentagram

The 3-days and 4-days tickets to Sweden Rock Festival 2012 will be released on October 24 at 09.00 CET. The price will be the same as last year. 1-day tickets will be released in the spring of 2012.

If you are one of the 5000 first buyers you will get a t-shirt that you will not be able to buy anywhere else.

NEWS - 20th September - TICKETS TO GO ON SALE 24TH OCTOBER!
Festival organisers have revealed today that 3 and 4 days tickets for SRF 2012 will go on sale at last year's prices on the 24th October at 9am CET!

With the added bonus that if you are one of the 5000 first buyers you will get a t-shirt that you will not be able to buy anywhere else.

1-day tickets will be released in the spring of 2012.

 
NEWS - 20th June - SWEDEN ROCK DATES FOR 2012 - 6TH - 9TH JUNE!

Line up 2012

Mötley Crüe
Soundgarden
Lynyrd Skynyrd
King Diamond
Motörhead
Sebastian Bach
Exodus
Mastodon
Blue Öyster Cult
Dimmu Borgir
Gamma Ray
Ugly Kid Joe
Egduy
Danko Jones
Pentagram
Hell
Bonafide
Symphony X
Sacred Reich
Graveyard
Slade
Girlschool
Tygers of Pang Tang
Nationalteatern
Electric Boys
St Vitus
Katatonia
Gotthard
Black Spiders
Axe
Fish
Vdelli
Flower Kings
Sabaton
Fear Factory

HISTORY

Sweden Rock Festival is an annual rock/metal festival held in Sweden since June 6, 1992. While having a clear rock/metal focus, the festival is noted for its diversity across these genres, having featured southern rock bands such as Molly Hatchet to death metal legends like Obituary. The first version of the festival was held in Olofström, with nine bands performing.

The next five years, the festival was held in Karlshamn, but this was changed in 1998. Since then the festival has been held in Norje, outside Sölvesborg. When the festival first began in 1992, it featured nine relatively unknown bands and it only lasted one day. The next year the festival was expanded to two days and more bands were added to the line-up.

From 1993 to 2002 the festival would last two days; over those years it would also begin to feature bigger name acts. In 2000 the festival was expanded to three days but it returned to two days the following year. From 2003 to 2006 the festival lasted three days and had by then featured some of the biggest acts in metal and rock. From 2007 the festival has been expanded to four days and will feature approximately 120 different bands/artists.

Check out our Sweden Rock Festival 2011 reviews

Check out our Sweden Rock Festival 2010 reviews

Check out our Sweden Rock Festival 2009 reviews

Check out our Sweden Rock Festival 2008 reviews 

Sweden Rock 1992 - Line Up Goda Grannar, Madgic Crowd, Nazareth, Peps, Steve & The Lloyds, Stonecake, Sweet Little Company, The Sinners, Wishbone Ash

Sweden Rock 1993 - Line Up Bachman Turner Overdrive, Backstage Queen, Björnsson, Bombyces Bryggeri, Bryngelsson Blues Blend, Clawfinger, Crossroad Jam, Dragonflies In Bloomers, Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush, Hof's, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Nine Below Zero, Peps Blodsband, Something, Stars On Mars, T For Trouble, The Boppers, The Hooters

Sweden Rock 1994 - Line Up Bazooka, Blackfoot, Blues Bag, Brainpool, Caamora, Deep Purple, Dia Psalma, Electric Boys, Emeth, Green, Joddla Med Siv, KSMB, Lisa Ekdahl, Mountain, Pride And Glory, Red Cloud, Sinn Fenn, Skintrade, Sven Zetterberg & Chicago Express, The Sweet, Underdog, Uriah Heep

Sweden Rock 1995 - Line Up Abstrakt Algebra, Billy Bremner & The Refreshments, Black Sabbath, Bob Hund, Electric Eskimoes, Fairport Convention, Flaped Forge, Fleetwood Mac, Freak Kitchen, Jukka Tolonen Band, Kashmir, Kent, Lars Demian, Led Zeppelin Jam, Los Stjärtgroggs, Mary Beats Jane, Pat Travers, Planet Waves, Rolf Wikström, Sator, Sky High, Spirutual Beggars, The Pogues, The Quill, Trouble, Urban Turban, W.E.T, Vitality

Sweden Rock 1996 - Line Up Blues Bag, Bo Wilson Band, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Deep Purple, Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, Drain, Freak Kitchen, Garmarna, Georgia Satellites, Joe D'ursu, Kent, Llashram, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Naked, Sigge Hill, Sinn Fenn, Status Quo, Stefan Sundström, Uffe Larsson

Sweden Rock 1997 - Line Up Alfheims, Chris Jagger Zydeco Band, Cross Eyed Mary, Dublin Fair, Freak Kitchen, Goda Grannar, Hellacopters, Innocent Blood, Led Zeppelin Jam, Locomotive Breath, Mick Taylor All Star Band, Molly Hatchet, M-Train, Nazareth, Nomads, Overdrive, Saxon, Simon Bolivar, Staffan Hellstrand, Ten Years After, The Blues Band

Sweden Rock 1998 - Line Up Alice Cooper, Andrew Strong, Backyard Babies, Black Ingvars, Blue Öyster Cult, Clawfinger, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, D.A.D, Dash Rip Rock, Dee Snider, Freak Kitchen, Goda Grannar, Hammerfall, Hjalle & Heavy, Håkan Hemlin, John Norum, Johnny Lang, Locomotive Breath, Motörhead, Mountain, Peps Down Home Blues Band, Push, Simple Minds, Sobsister, Speaker, Spiritual Beggars, Status Quo

Sweden Rock 1999 - Line Up Budgie, Canned Heat, Captain Beyond, Dave Hole, David Lee Roth, Dare, Deep Purple, Dio, Entombed, Freak Kitchen, Gamma Ray, Hammerfall, LA Doors, Lions Share, Lok, Lotus + special guest Brian Robertson, Manowar, Mercyful Fate feat. King Diamond, Motörhead, MSG, Scorpions, The Quill, U.D.O.

Sweden Rock 2000 - Line Up Alice Cooper, Armored Saint, Bai Bang, Bigelf, Dash Rip Rock, Dave Hole, Demon, Dio, Edguy, Evergrey, Fivefifteen, Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush, Freak Kitchen, Goda Grannar, In Flames, John Norum Group + Brian Robertson, King Diamond, King's X, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, Primal Fear, Running Wild, Saxon, Stratovarius, Street Legal, The Midnight Blues, Union, Yngwie Malmsteen

Sweden Rock 2001 - Line Up AC/DC Jam, Angel, Bigelf, Bosse, Dee Snider, Dokken, Freak Kitchen, Gary Moore, Glenn Hughes, Goda Grannar, Grave Digger, Hammerfall, Helloween, Hensley/Lawton Band, House of Shakira, Lion's Share, Lotus, Manny Charlton Band, Metalium, Moxy, Mustasch, Nitzinger, Nocturnal Rites, Pretty Maids, Rise and Shine, Rose Tattoo, Southern Rock Allstars, Symphony X, Talisman, Tang, The Flower Kings, U.D.O, Uli John Roth, W.A.S.P

Sweden Rock 2002 - Line Up 220 Volt, Aurora, Bruce Dickinson, Candlemass, Cryonic Temple, Damned Nation, Destiny, Doc Holliday, Doro, Dream Evil, Evergrey, Five Fifteen, Freak Kitchen, Freedom Call, Freternia, Gamma Ray, Girlschool, Goda Grannar, Halford, Hanoi Rocks, John Kay & Steppenwolf, Lizard, Locomotive Breath, Lost Horizon, Magnum, Manfred Manns Earth Band, Meldrum, Michael Katon, Motörhead, Rage, Reclusion, Saxon, Slowgate, Snakegod, Status Quo, Steel Attack, Ted Nugent, Virgin Steele, Wolf

Sweden Rock 2003 - Line Up A.c.t., Angra, Anthrax, Arch Nemesis, Axenstar, Blind Guardian, Budgie, Burning Point, Chrome Shift, Crystal Eyes, Danko Jones, Darkane, Demon, Dragonforce, Dumper, Fairyland, Falconer, Finntroll, Ignition, Jethro Tull, Kamelot, Krokus, Locomotive Breath med Nicky Moore, Masterplan, Motörhead, Mörk Gryning, Pagan´s Mind, Paul Dianno & Killers, Peer Günt, Platitude, Queensryche, Rob Tognoni, Sepultura, Sky High, Slow Train med Nicky Moore, Sonata Arctica, Spearfish med Svenne Hedlund, Squealer, Stormwind, Syron Vanes, Tad Morose, Talisman, Tankard, The Provenance, The Storyteller, Turning Leaf, Twinball, Twisted Sister, Uriah Heep, Whitesnake, Wishbone Ash, Y&T, Yes

Sweden Rock 2004 - Line Up Abramis Brama, April Wine, Astral Doors, Axel Rudi Pell, Beseech, Brainstorm, Carnal Forge, Children Of Bodom, Coney Hatch, Crazy Led Of Mika Järvinen, D.A.D., Danger Danger, Debase, Dr Feelgood, Eddie Meduza Tribute, Entombed, Europe, Exodus, Foghat, Grand Magus, Hawkwind, Heart, Helloween, Hirax, In Flames, Judas Priest, Kingdom Come, Lake Of Tears, Lost Horizon, Lumsk, Magic Slim & The Teardrops, Maryslim, Memory Garden, Monster Magnet, Montrose, Narnia, Nicky Moore sings Samson, Nifelheim, Nightwish, Opeth, Paragon, Pat Travers Band, Pathos, Persuader, Pink Cream 69, Raceway, Ritual, Scorpions, Slade, Spearfish, Spridda Skurars, Sun Caged, T.N.T, Testament, The Haunted, Trading Fate, U.D.O., UFO, Wasa Express, Y&T

Sweden Rock 2005 - Line Up A.C.T, Accept, Kansas, Black Label Society, Anthrax, Megadeth, Motörhead, Yngwie Malmsteen, Saxon, Magnum, Blackfoot, Hammerfall, Kim Mitchell, Within Temptation, Styx, Nazareth, Napalm Death, Candlemass, Sebastian Bach, Overkill, Crystal Eyes, Dream Theater, Face Down, Gemini5, Goda Grannar, Mötley Crüe, Sammy Hagar And The Wabos, Jug Mckenzie, Mustasch, Nightingale, Pagan's Mind, Rob Rock, Sabaton, Satanic Slaughter, Savoy Brown, Shakra, Freak Kitchen, Hellfueled, Diamond Head, Lana Lane, Crucified Barbara, Behemoth, Statetrooper, Morgana Lefay, Force Of Evil, Defleshed, Sonata Arctica, The Lizards, Status Quo, Dio, Symphorce, Ten 67, The Ring, Therion, Robin Trower, Helix, Thyrfing, Trettioåriga Kriget (Thirty Year War), We, Vixen

Sweden Rock 2006 - Line Up Alice Cooper, Anvil, Arch Enemy, Baldroom Blitz, Blitzkrieg, Bonfire, Bullet, Cactus, Cathedral, Celtic Frost, Cloudscape, Crucified Barbara, Deep Purple, Def Leppard, Doro, Dragonforce, Easy Action, Edguy, Entombed, Evergrey, Extrema, Firewind, From Behind, Gamma Ray, Gehennah, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Goda Grannar, Gotthard, Grave, Hardcore Superstar, House Of Shakira, Jaded Heart, Jeff Healey Band, Journey, Kamelot, Krokus, Leaf Hound, Lord Belial, Metal Church, Michael Schenker Group, Molly Hatchet, Nasty Idols, Neil Turbin's Deathriders, Nevermore, Obituary, Onslaught, Overdrive, Porcupine Tree, Queensryche, Raise Hell, Sleazy Joe, Sodom, Ted Nugent, The Playboys, The Poodles, The Quill, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, The Storyteller, The Sweet, Tigertailz, Treat, Vanden Plas, Venom, Victory, W.A.S.P., Whitesnake

Sweden Rock 2007 - Line Up Aerosmith, After Forever, All Ends, Amon Amarth, Andromeda, Anekdoten, Annihilator, Archer, Axel Rudi Pell, Backdraft, BadDadz & Big Bear, Baltimoore, BC & Heartkeys w Loffe, Black Debbath, Black Oak Arkansas, Blind Guardian, Bloodbound, Bluestone Co+Chris Duarte, Circus Maximus, CrashDiet, Crazy Lixx, Dark Tranquillity, Dimmu Borgir, Eldritch, Falconer, Fastway, Focus, Gov´t Mule, Hardcore Superstar, Heaven & Hell, Hellfueled, Hinder, Iced Earth, Korpiklaani, Kreator, Krux, Lion's Share, Magic Pie, Marduk, McQueen, Meat Loaf, Memfis, Motörhead, Mountain Of Power, Nocturnal Rites, November, Point Blank, Pretty Maids, Quiet Riot, Quireboys, Randy Pipers Animal, REO Speedwagon, Scorpions med Uli Jon Roth, Skid Row, Solid Ground, Sören Berlevs Gas Show, Soul Doctor, Sturm Und Drang, Suzi Quatro, Switchblade, Symphony X, Talisman, The Answer, The Australian Pink Floyd Show, Thin Lizzy, Thunder, Tiamat, Tokyo Dragons, Trail Of Tears, Trouble, Tyr, U.D.O, Vomitory, White Lion, Wolf, Zan Clan

Sweden Rock 2008 - Line Up 45 Degree Woman, Ace Frehley, Airbourne, Ammotrack, Apocalyptica, April Divine, Archer, Astral Doors, At The Gates, Avatar, Axewitch, Birth Control, Black Stone Cherry, Blue Öyster Cult, Boil, Bonafide, Carcass, Coheed & Cambria, Dampungarna, Dare, Def Leppard, Derringer, Disturbed, Eläkeläiset, Electric Light Orchestra, Faith, Fastway, Fatal Smile, Five Fifteen, Glyder, Goda Grannar / Good Neighbours, Gotthard, Graveyard, H.E.A.T., Hanoi Rocks, Happy Pill, Havana Black, Hensley/Lawton & Live Fire, Joe Satriani, Judas Priest, Korpiklaani, Lizzy Borden, Ministry, Mucc, Mustasch, Negative, Omar & The Howlers, Pain Of Salvation, Picture, Poison, Primal Fear, Primordial, Ratt, Royal Hunt, Sabaton, Satyricon, Saxon, Shakin' Street, Sister Sin, Sonic Syndicate, Stormwarrior, Svölk, Sweet Savage, Tesla, Testament, The Blues Band, The Citadell, The Poodles, Tobias Sammet's Avantasia, Triumph, Vivian, Volbeat, Whitesnake

Sweden Rock 2009 - Line Up Abramis Brama, Amberian Dawn, Amon Amarth, Axident Avenue, Babylon Bombs, Black Tooth, Blaze Bayley, Bullet, Candlemass, Chains, Covered Call, Crucified Barbara, Dan Baird, Deathstars, Demon, Deströyer 666, Electric Boys, Enforcer, Eric Sardinas, Flogging Molly, Foreigner, Fourever, Goda Grannar!, Grand Magus, H.E.A.T., Hammerfall, Helstar, Hindenburg, Hot Leg, Hysterica, In Flames, Innocent Rosie, Journey, Johnny Winter, Jon Olivas Pain, Kamelot, Kebnekajse, Lita Ford, Lujuria, Marillion, Motörhead, Neal Morse, Over The Rainbow, Pain, Pilgrimz, Powderhog, Rage, Sabaton, Sevendust, Soilwork, Stormzone, The Chair, The Outlaws, The Tubes, Thor, Torch, Tracenine, Twisted Sister, Tyketto, UFO, Unleashed, Uriah Heep, Voivod, Volbeat, Withcraft, ZZ Top

Sweden Rock 2010 - Line Up U.D.O, Michael Monroe, Alestorm, Sator, Aerosmith, Slayer, Pretty Maids, Nazareth, The Quireboys (electric), Steelwing, F.K.Ü, Gary Moore, Cinderella, Rick Springfield, M.S.G, Guns n' Roses, Bachman & Turner, Winger, Fates Warning, Mayhem, Amon Düül II, Blackberry Smoke, Death Angel, Treat, Damn Delicious, Billy Idol, Magnum, D.A.D, Grave Digger, Mastodon, Steel Panther, High on Fire, Bigelf, W.A.S.P., Opeth, Unisonic, Cathedral, Stratovarius, Anvil, Raven, Point Blank, Skyclad, Nascency, Behemoth, Suicidal Tendencies, Chicken Shack, Praying Mantis, Screaming Lords, The Itch, Bonafide (Unplugged), Pugh Rogefeldt (Unplugged), Conny Bloom (Unplugged), Warrior Soul (Unplugged), Nalle & His Crazy Ivans (Unplugged), Kitto (Unplugged), Danzig, Sabaton, Mothers Finest, Stone Sour, Jorn, Pendragon, Y&T, Dundertåget, The Quireboys (Unplugged), Johan Edlund (Unplugged), Evergrey (Unplugged), Watain, Saga, Epica, Dream Evil, Dan Reed (Unplugged), Nitzinger (Unplugged), Praying Mantis (Unplugged)

Sweden Rock 2011, Line Up
Hardcore Superstar, Five Horse Johnson, Rhino Bucket, Necronaut, Crashdïet, Black Veil Brides, Seventribe, Judas Priest, The Cult, Accept, Saxon, Joan Jett, Queensrÿche, Morbid Angel, Buckcherry, Duff McKagan's Loaded, Clutch, FM, Moonspell, The Damned, The Haunted, Gwar, Dan Reed, Groundhogs, Whitesnake, Rob Zombie, Helloween, Mr Big, Down, Stryper, Iced Earth, Steelheart, Mustasch, Overkill, Doc Holliday, Jason & The Scorchers, Electric Wizard, Agent Steel, The Brew, Ozzy Osbourne, Styx, Black Label Society, Kansas, Thin Lizzy, Molly Hatchet, Rhapsody Of Fire, Hawkwind, Spock's Beard, Destruction, Lee Aaron, Walter Trout, Angel Witch, Rage (Acoustic)

WHERE IS SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL?

The Sweden Rock Festival is located in Sölvesborg, Sweden. To get there, you can fly to Ronneby airport and take the shuttle bus to Karlskrona and there is a changeover for the train "Kustpilen" to Karlshamn. From Karlshamn, take the bus "Festivalbus" straight to the festival.

From Kristianstad airport, take the bus to Kristianstad central station and go by train to Sölvesborg and finally take the shuttle bus to Norje. From each airport to the festival it takes about 1 hour.

SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL PICTURE GALLERIES

Check out our Sweden Rock 2011 Photo Gallery

Check out our Sweden Rock 2010 Photo Gallery

Check out our Sweden Rock 2009 Photo Gallery

If you have any pictures you would like to share with us then please email us, we are also looking for reviews from 2009 & 2010 as well as fans to review one act each for Sweden Rock Festival 2011.

If you are a huge rock fan and went to Sweden Rock Festival 2009, 2010 or 2011 please send your pics and reviews to press(@)etainmentnews.com - the best will be put into our competition to WIN free tickets to Sweden Rock Festival 2012......