Iggy Pop, Rancid and Lucinda Williams ignite the fuse for Azkena Rock Festival 2023

Steve Earle, Melvins, Calexico, Queensrÿche, Monster Magnet and many other big names are confirmed for the new date in Mendizabala from June 15 to 18  

Those who have attended previous editions will be able to purchase tickets at a special rate starting on October 24. General sale begins on October 27

The flame has been lit at the Azkena Rock Festival, the rock festival of the year. And once again, we will be able to enjoy a classic festival that is already considered an essential event—one which we must go to at least once in our lives to live out an incredible experience that extends from the now legendary Mendizabala venue to the streets of the Green Capital, Vitoria-Gasteiz.

First artists confirmed for Azkena Rock Festival 2023

Today, the first names of the lineup for the twenty-first edition are unveiled, with the return of major figures who are very dear to festival goers.

The legendary Iggy Pop—flagship of punk and a rock icon—is returning better than ever after his Mendizabala performances in 2003 and 2006.

We will once again enjoy the fascinating universe of Lucinda Williams, as we did in 2016 when she proved that she is one of the most important songwriters of the last decades and more relevant than ever in American music. 

They will perform with Rancid, one of the most important bands in the history of punk rock, who will be joining ARF on their 30th anniversary; Steve Earle, an essential musician in rock history and who is visiting us with his most special format, accompanied by his acoustic guitar; and Melvins, one of the most mythical bands of the 90s and most desired by festival goers, with whom they settle their debt after their cancellation due to illness in 2019. 

All these artists—who are essential figures—are just the tip of the iceberg of the overwhelming roster of talent who will be in Mendizabala, Vitoria-Gasteiz on June 15, 16, and 17, 2023.

We settle another debt with the most important bands in American music in the last decades by bringing Calexico and their mixture of influences from both sides of the border to Vitoria-Gasteiz. 

The wildest guitars will come from the hands of bands like Queensrÿche, authentic legends of heavy metal from the 80’s and who land in ARF for the first time; or with the return of Monster Magnet—the ultimate representatives of both the spirit of rock and of the festival—one of the most influential bands associated with stoner and hard rock with a history full of brilliant moments, rock, and extremes. 

This edition will also feature El Drogas, whose solo career is already respected in itself, but if he also comes with the repertoire of Barricada—a rock bank that sold more than a million records and that El Drogas founded 40 years ago—little more needs to be said. 

We will also enjoy the most extreme side of rock and metal with the impressive live performance of GWAR, with their distinctive dark humor, latex masks, and theatrical staging. 

We can’t hide that Lucero, an American alternative country band, is one of our favorite bands and one of those that best represents the open spirit of the festival. We enjoyed them in 2019, but last year they released a new album, When You Found Me, meaning they had to come back. 

A garage and psychedelic touch will be provided by Os Mutantes, legendary Brazilian band and living history of rock with a career spanning several decades. Since they got back together, we knew they had to be at Azkena.

With a career spanning over 40 years, the legendary British rockabillies Matchbox will land in Mendizabala with their original lineup. We can’t wait to hear their anthem “Rockabilly Rebel,” the hit with which they took the world by storm in 1979. The festival is characterized by always having young, influential bands in its scene, such as Brigade Loco, one of the most cutting-edge punk rock bands in the Basque Country. In just two years, they have recruited a huge fanbase, allowing them to become one of the Basque bands of the moment and sweeping everywhere. 

Pasadena, the new project from Vitoria-Gasteiz natives, Jon Basaguren and Libe García de Cortázar—who showed us their talent in their previous joint project, Izaki Gardenak—once again brings us two veterans of the Basque scene with a lot of experience. 

Today’s confirmations are closed with distinction thanks to Bones of Minerva, a stoner band with a lot of rage and force, led by four young women who display the new generation of rock in our country. 

ARF returns as a three-day festival

Azkena Rock Festival returns in 2023, keeping the third day that was so well received in the previous edition as an extra day for the celebration of its 20th anniversary. 

The festival is an unavoidable meeting point for lovers of live music and an event that every year brings together a combination of young and faithful veterans with a wide range of offerings and services to make everyone feel comfortable both in the programming that takes place in the Mendizabala venue, as well as in the city that hosts during the day, which is also celebrating the tenth anniversary of being awarded the Green Capital distinction. 

Azkena Rock Festival 2023 ticket sales

As a nod to our most loyal audience, the festival is launching a special pre-sale at a reduced price starting October 24, while the general public can purchase their tickets from October 28.

In addition, and as a novelty this year, the festival is offering the younger audience the Bono Gaztea—a ticket at a reduced-price of €100 for people from 15 to 23 years old. Access for children 14 and under will be free, as in previous editions, encouraging the attendance of families to the festival.

From October 24, a special pass + welcome pack will also be on sale, which will include a book full of stories from the talent that has passed through the festival in the last 20 years, as well as a very special T-shirt. 

AZKENA ROCK FESTIVAL Mendizabala, Vitoria-Gasteiz June 15, 16, and 17, 2023   #azkenarockfestival Burning since 2002 IGGY POP RANCID LUCINDA WILLIAMS BONES OF MINERVA BRIGADE LOCO CALEXICO STEVE EARLE EL DROGAS (BARRICADA – 40º) GWAR LUCERO MATCHBOX MELVINS MONSTER MAGNET OS MUTANTES PASADENA QUEENSRYCHE AND MANY MORE… Special pre-sale tickets Available at 9 a.m. on October 24 to October 27 Pass: €110   General public Available at 9 a.m. on October 28 Pass: €130 Bono Gaztea: €100 Camping: 4 nights: starting at €20   On sale at www.azkenarockfestival.com and www.seetickets.com/es