Rock Hard Festival
| Rock Hard Festival | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Heavy metal |
| Dates | weekend of Pentecost |
| Location(s) | Gelsenkirchen, Germany |
| Years active | Since 2003 |
| 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, Germany since 2003. Its 2016 edition will take place on 13–15 May 2016.
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 May | Saturday 14 May | Sunday 15 May |
|---|---|---|
|
Year of the Goat Sulphur Aeon |
Sorcerer Accu§er |
Black Trip Discreation |
2015
| Friday 22 May | Saturday 23 May | Sunday 24 May |
|---|---|---|
|
Space Chaser Architects of Chaoz |
Motorjesus Deserted Fear |
Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock Refuge Air Raid |
2014
| Friday 6 June | Saturday 7 June | Sunday 8 June |
|---|---|---|
|
Midnight Nocturnal |
Screamer Dead Lord Roxxcalibur |
2013
| Friday 17 May | Saturday 18 May | Sunday 19 May |
|---|---|---|
|
Denial of God (replacing Nachtmystium Hellish Crossfire |
Horisont Slingblade |
Attic |
2012
| Friday 25 May | Saturday 26 May | Sunday 27 May |
|---|---|---|
|
Ram Jex Thot Deathfist |
Portrait Motorjesus Dr. Living Dead! |
High Spirits '77 Alpha Tiger |
2011
| Friday 10 June | Saturday 11 June | Sunday 12 June |
|---|---|---|
|
Procession Contradiction |
Metal Inquisitor Atlantean Kodex Vanderbuyst |
2010
| Friday 21 May | Saturday 22 May | Sunday 23 May |
|---|---|---|
|
Necros Christos Ketzer |
2009
| Friday 29 May | Saturday 30 May | Sunday 31 May |
|---|---|---|
|
Witchburner |
2008
| Friday 9 May | Saturday 10 May | Sunday 11 May |
|---|---|---|
|
Testament (replacing Celtic Frost) The Claymore |
2007
| Friday 25 May | Saturday 26 May | Sunday 27 May |
|---|---|---|
|
Metal Inquisitor |
Dew-Scented (replacing Naglfar) |