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

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2002 edition

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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

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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

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This was the most accidented[check spelling] 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,[1] 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

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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

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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

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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

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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-Gastiz 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

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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 [2]
May 14 May 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

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9th edition of the ARF Line Up [2]
June 24 June 25 June 26
Stage 'Alex Chilton' Stage 'Doug Fieger' Stage 'Alex Chilton' Stage 'Doug Fieger' Stage 'Alex Chilton' Stage 'Doug Fieger'
The Black Lips Kiss Imperial State Electric Bad Religion Toilet Boys
Airbourne Slash featuring Myles Kennedy The Damned The Hives NRQB
Gov't Mule Imelda May Teddy Thompson Chris Isaak The Cubical
The Hold Steady Dan Baird & Homemade Sin El Vez Bob Dylan Maggot Brain
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis The Hot Dogs Robert Gordon & The Gang They Couldn't Hang Audience
The Jim Jones Revue '77 The Russian Roulettes
The Legendary Shack Shackers
Baskery
Bronze

2011 edition

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10th edition of the ARF Line Up [2]
June 23 June 24 June 25
Solomon Burke Stage Solomon Burke Stage Ben Keith Stage Monster Stage Solomon Burke Stage Ben Keith Stage Monster Stage
Ozzy Osbourne Queens of the Stone Age Clutch This Drama Danzig Bright Eyes Arizona Baby
Kyuss Lives! Primus Bad Brains Rival Sons Paul Weller Band of Horses The Whybirds
Rob Zombie Cheap Trick Atom Rhumba Dirty York Brian Setzer' Rockabilly Riot New Bomb Turks The Knocknouts
The Cult Reverendo Horton Heat Blue Rodeo Gregg Allman
Black Country Communion The Riff Truckers The Aves Brothers
EELS Juke Box Racket
Bizardunak

2012 edition

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11th edition of the ARF Line Up [2]
June 14 June 15 June 16
Levon Helm Stage Robin Gibb Stage Levon Helm Stage Adam Yauch Stage Robin Gibb Stage Levon Helm Stage Adam Yauch Stage Robin Gibb Stage
Dropkick Muphys Steel Panther Ozzy Osbourne & Friends Danko Jones Drick Brave & The Blackbeats The Darkness Brian Jonestown Massacre Triggerfinger
Pentagram Graveyard The Mars Volta Black Label Society Luger My Morning Jacket Hank 3 Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires
Status Quo Porco Bravo Rich Robinson Band Gun Gallows Lynyrd Skynyrd M. Ward The Union
Twisted Sister Israel Nash Gripka Lisabö Willis Drumoond The Screaming Tribesmen Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls North Mississippi Alistars Duo Ben Kweller
Blue Öyster Cult Maha's Miracle Tonic The Amazing Lee Fields & The Expressions
Si Craunston Pontus Snibb 3 Sallie Ford & The Sounds Outside

2013 edition

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June 28 June 29
The Black Crowes

The Smashing Pumpkins

M Clan

Alberta Cross

The Sword

The Sheepdogs

Horisont

Sex Museum

The Socks

Quaoar

The 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

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Concerts
June 20 June 21
Scorpions

The Stranglers

Seasick Steve

Unida

Turbowolf

Marah

Hudson Taylor

Monster Truck

Bombus

13 Left to Die

Attikus Finch

Bourbon

The Midnight Travellers

Vucaque

Blondie

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

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Concerts
June 19 June 20
ZZ 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

Highlights

Mastodon

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

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June 17 June 18
Danzig

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 Scarecrow

The 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

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Concerts
June 23 June 24
John 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

Vurro

Shakin' Brothers

Reyes Torío

Billie & the Kids

Chris Isaak

The Cult

Union Carbide Productions

Michael Kiwanuka

Loquillo

Thunder

Bloodlights

Inglorious

Psycotica

Pat Capocci

Buck & Evans

SCR

Wyoming & Los Insolventes

Bob Log III

Pelo Mono

The Devils

Lost Angeles

Bob Cosby

Trashville
June 23 June 24
King Automatic

The Cyborgs

Vurro

Shakin' Brothers

Reyes Torío

Documental Rocknrollers

Lucha Extrema. Sin Indulto y Sin Empate

Dj Mr.Howard

The Old Fox & The Hen

The Bears

Bob Log III

Pelo Mono

The Devils

Lost Angeles DJs

Bob Cosby DJs

Proyección documental Rocknrollers

Lucha Extrema Sin Indulto y Sin Empate

Pat Briggs (Psychotica)

DJs

References

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  1. ^ Velvet Revolver, finalmente, no actuaron. Cf. crónica de Rockdelux.
  2. ^ a b c d "Alice Cooper". Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2013-09-20.
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