Azkena Rock Festival completes its lineup and presents the performance schedule

The Fuzillis will perform at the Virgen Blanca on Friday

The Cleopatras, Mimi & The Miseries, and Lost Cat round out the Trashville programming alongside a selection of DJs

LeBron James recently became the NBA’s all-time top scorer. A photo of that historic basket went viral and turned the world upside down, not only because of the feat but because almost everyone in the stands saw the basket through the lenses of their mobile phones instead of with their eyes. At Azkena, the world stops and all there is, is the present, a live music event to be experienced in first person, without filters, on bare skin. Azkena may have the only front row where no one records with their mobile phone; an audience who stars in their own story, immersing themselves in each concert and letting themselves be carried away.

Azkena Rock Festival‘s flame is stoked today as the lineup and concert schedule, which will be a ride of emotions, are finalised. The festival will celebrate its 21st edition on June 15, 16, and 17 in Mendizabala, Vitoria-Gasteiz. Iggy Pop, The Pretenders, Rancid, Lucinda Williams, Incubus, Melvins, Alter Bridge and El Drogas, among many other bands, have already been confirmed to be in attendance. Joining these artists will be The Fuzillis, The Cleopatras, Mimi & The Miseries, Lost Cat and a roster of DJs who are sure to get us dancing every night at Trashville. A not-to-miss date with the most all-encompassing versions of rock & roll.

THURSDAY, JUNE 15

RANCID – EL DROGAS (BARRICADA – 40º) –  STEVE EARLE – LIHER – LYDIA LUNCH RETROVIRUS – MONSTER MAGNET – OS MUTANTES Trashville: THE KAISERS – NESTTER DONUTS – MIMI & THE MISERIES –  TURISTA BANG BANG

Thursday kicks off with a bang with Rancid, who are responsible for the resurgence of punk in the 90s. Following them is El Drogas performing songs from Barricada, the virtuoso Steve Earle flying solo and acoustic, hard rock and stoner kings, Monster Magnet, the Brazilian garage rock Os Mutantes, and the countercultural agitator Lydia Lunch Retrovirus. Also on Thursday will be Basque rock Liher, the powerful Mimi & The Miseries, a new breath of fresh air on the English garage scene, the mythical The Kaisers in one of their few performances, the young multi-instrumentalist Nestter Donuts, and Turista Bang Bang‘s closing DJ session.

FRIDAY, JUNE 16

THE PRETENDERS – INCUBUS – BONES OF MINERVA – CALEXICO – CORDOVAS – EARTHLESS – THE GUAPOS – GWAR – MATCHBOX – PASADENA – S8NT ELEKTRIC – THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES – THE UNDERTONES

Trasville: THE CLEOPATRAS – HOLA GHOST – THE REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND – LOS TIKI PHANTOMS – BELLE BROWN – HOLLY NOTE vs. MAD COBRA – THE LEGENDARY SHEIKS – MEOW aka NU DJ

Virgen Blanca: THE FUZILLIS

Friday will begin in the heart of the city, in the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, featuring The Fuzillis‘ unstoppable instrumental rock & roll, who draw inspiration from Link Wray and Nick Curran. Back at the venue, the lineup features The Pretenders in their only concert in Spain, Incubus‘ indispensable alternative rock, Madrid-based Bones of Minerva‘s stoner rock, the boundary-pushing sound of Calexico, Cordovas‘ country rock, and the psychedelia of Earthless. Also on Friday is super band The Guapos headed by Leiva, the indefinable Gwar, legendary rockabillies Matchbox, Vitoria-Gasteiz-based Pasadena, S8nt Elektric‘s refreshing rock, the highly anticipated reunion of The Soundtrack Of Our Lives and debuting at the mythical festival is Undertones.

Trashville will be hopping with The Cleopatras‘ surf and garage, Danish group Hola Ghost, the redneck spirit of The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, the unstoppable Catalans Los Tiki Phantoms, and the wildest DJ sets by Belle Brown, the dual between Holly Note vs. Mad Cobra, The Legendary Shakes, and Meow aka Nu Dj.

SATURDAY, JUNE 17

IGGY POP – LUCINDA WILLIAMS – ALTER BRIDGE – THE BEVIS FROND – BRIGADE LOCO – EZPALAK – JIM JONES ALL STARS – LUCERO – MELVINS – THE NUDE PARTY – ANA POPOVIC – AMANDA SHIRES – NAT SIMONS & CHERIE CURRIE

Trasville: WILD BILLY CHILDISH & CTMF – KING SALAMI AND THE CUMBERLAND THREE – LOST CAT – STEEL BEANS – AYUKEN DJs – CARMELA MARACAS & LUPITA MAMBO – NINGÚN DJ – ROCK&ROLL POLICE DEPARTMENT

Virgen Blanca: CHUCK PROPHET & THE MISSION EXPRESS

Starting off the day is Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express, one of the most demanded names by attendees at this year’s edition. They will play a show for all audiences at the Alava capital’s most emblematic square. Back at Mendizabala, the festival will feature two myths at the forefront: godfather of punk and rock icon Iggy Pop, who is back with new material, and one of the genre’s best composers and performers, Lucinda Williams. Also in attendance will be Alter Bridge‘s hard rock featuring the renowned voice of Miles Kennedy, The Bevis Frond‘s power pop, Basque phenomenon Brigade Loco, Ezpalak’s fresh and uncompromising rock, the multifaceted cover band Jim Jones All Stars, our beloved and indispensable Lucero, and the mythical Melvins, a highly sought-after band by the festival audience. Also performing is The Nude Party, the band that great bands recommend, the virtuoso Yugoslav guitarist Ana Popovic, the American artist Amanda Shires and the combo Nat Simons & Cherie Currie, formed by the Spanish Suzie Quatro and a member of The Runaways in a unique performance.

Trashville, the wildest room within the festival, the space where audience and stage become one, will welcome one of the greatest artists who have passed through the heart of the festival, legendary Wild Billy Childish & CTMF. Also, to grace this stage will be the fun rockabilly explosion of King Salami and The Cumberland Three, 60s-inspired garage from Lost Cat members and the multi-instrumentalist creator of one of social media’s most viral jams Steel Beans. We will close out the festival by dancing until dawn to a selection of DJs: Ayuken Djs, Carmela Maracas & Lupita Mambo, Ningún DJ and Rock & Roll Police Department.

Azkena Rock Festival once again turns out to be a gourmet festival with an exquisite and eclectic musical selection that encompasses all walks of rock & roll. Good music is not the only ingredient for the weekend that attracts thousands of people from all corners. The city’s gastronomy and the atmosphere permeating the streets of the Green Capital are also part of the appeal. The festival’s originality and authenticity attract more and more fans of music and music-related experiences every year.

The Azkena Rock Festival carries on in 2023, making itself an inevitable meeting point for live music lovers. Undoubtedly, part of the magic of Azkena is the connection between loyal audience members, festival first-timers, and the newly incorporated younger generations. To this end, the organisation facilitates access to all events and provides free entrance for children 14 years and under, and reduced entry for young people aged 15 to 23 years, with the Gaztea Pass. The biggest fans will be able to purchase the special XX Anniversary Pack which includes a book with stories of central figures who have passed through the festival over the last 20 years, a t-shirt, a poster, and a deluxe tote bag. In addition, day tickets are already on sale at azkenarockfestival.com and seetickets.com/es.

AZKENA ROCK FESTIVAL Mendizabala, Vitoria-Gasteiz June 15, 16, and 17, 2023

Thursday 15

18:00 Doors Open

GOD

19:05 OS MUTANTES

21:10 EL DROGAS (BARRICADA – 40º)

23:35 RANCID

RESPECT

18:15 LIHER

20:05 STEVE EARLE

22:30 LYDIA LUNCH RETROVIRUS

01:00 MONSTER MAGNET

TRASHVILLE

20:15 MIMI & THE MISERIES

22:30 THE KAISERS

01:00 NESTTER DONUTS

02:00 TURISTA BANG BANG

Friday 16

VIRGEN BLANCA

13:30 THE FUZILLIS

MENDIZABALA

17:00 Apertura de puertas

GOD

17:30 BONES OF MINERVA

19:15 CORDOVAS

21:40 THE PRETENDERS

00:30 INCUBUS

RESPECT

18:20 S8NT ELEKTRIC

20:25 EARTHLESS

23:15 CALEXICO

02:05 THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES

LOVE

18:00 PASADENA

19:20 MATCHBOX

20:50 THE GUAPOS

23:30 THE UNDERTONES

01:50 GWAR

TRASHVILLE

Trashville A Go-Go!

18:30 THE CLEOPATRAS

20:00 LOS TIKI PHANTOMS

22:30 THE REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND

01:00 HOLA GHOST

02:30 MEOW aka DJ NU

04:30 THE LEGENDARY SHEIKS

Rat Hole

02:00 HOLY NOTE vs. MAD COBRA

04:00 BELLE BROWN

Saturday 17

VIRGEN BLANCA

13:30 CHUCK PROPHET & THE MISSION EXPRESS

MENDIZABALA

17:00 Apertura de puertas

GOD

17:30 EZPALAK

19:20 AMANDA SHIRES

21:30 LUCINDA WILLIAMS

00:20 IGGY POP

RESPECT

18:20 THE BEVIS FROND

20:25 ANA POPOVIC

23:00 MELVINS

01:55 ALTER BRIDGE

LOVE

18:00 BRIGADE LOCO

19:20 NAT SIMONS & CHERIE CURRIE

20:50 THE NUDE PARTY

23:15 LUCERO

01:50 JIM JONES ALL STARS

TRASHVILLE

Trashville A Go-Go!

18:30 LOST CAT

20:00 STEEL BEANS

22:15 WILD BILLY CHILDISH & CTMF

01:00 KING SALAMI AND THE CUMBERLAND THREE

02:30 ROCK&ROLL POLICE DEPARTMENT

04:30 CARMELA MARACAS & LUPITA MAMBO

Rat Hole

02:00 NINGÚN DJ

04:00 AYUKEN DJs

Passes:

3-day pass: €155

Gaztea Pass (for people 15 to 23 years old): €100

XX Anniversary Special Pack (pass + book + t-shirt + poster + tote bag): €175

Day Tickets:

Thursday Ticket: €50

Friday Ticket: €70

Saturday Ticket: €70

Free admission for kids 14 and under

Camping

4 nights: starting at €20

Sold at: www.azkenarockfestival.com and www.seetickets.com/es

#azkenarockfestival

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