The North American band will play their only European show of the year at Mendizabala

Mavis Staples, L7, Redd Kross, Warren Haynes and Michael Monroe’s Demolition 23 join the new confirmations.

Day tickets go on sale on 14th February

Azkena Rock Festival turns up the volume to announce new names and unveil the line-up for each day of the quintessential rock & roll festival, which will take place on the 20th, 21st and 22nd of June at Mendizabala, Vitoria-Gasteiz. Band Of Horses and the allure of their songs soar to the top of the line-up alongside the already announced Queens Of The Stone Age, Sheryl Crowand Jane’s Addiction. Also joining the 22nd edition of ARF is the major soul legendMavis Staples; L7 performing their legendary album Bricks Are Heavy; the return of Redd Kross, more active than ever; Warren Haynes Band, the solo project from the leader of the legendary Gov’t Mule; the Swedes Bonafide; the fleetingDemolition 23., a cult band formed by Michael Monroe and other ex-Hanoi Rocks members, with only one album under their belt (which is now 30 years old) and who have never performed in Spain; the rockabilly trio La Perra Blanco; the post-punk revelation that is Whispering Sons and Entropía from Vitoria-Gasteiz, with their psychedelic rock. Passes are already on sale and day tickets will be available from the 14th of February at 10:00 a.m. at Azkena Rock Web, when the price of the current ticket will also change.

AZKENA ROCK FESTIVAL 2024 LINE-UP BY DAYS

Thursday 20/06/24 

JANE’S ADDICTION / TY SEGALL / TARQUE & LA ASOCIACIÓN DEL RIFF / BONAFIDE / WHISPERING SONS / BRIGADE LOCO / TXOPET…

The festival starts off with a bang on Thursday with one of the most influential cult bands, Jane’s Addiction, with the added incentive of enjoying them live with their entire original line-up: Perry Farrel, Stephen Perkins, Eric Avery and, in case there were any doubts, Dave Navarro as well. They are followed by the eclectic Ty Segall, a restless musician unafraid of fusing genres, and the project from the two most notorious Carloses of Spanish rock, Tarque and Raya, united in Tarque & La Asociación del Riff. The city of Malmö has not only filled the world with affordable furniture but has also given birth to one of the most exceptional European hard rock bands, Bonafide, led by Swedish guitar hero Pontus Snibb. From Brussels comes the new post punk revelation, Whispering Sons, led by singer Fenne Kuppens whose voice is said to evoke the great Nico. Brigade Loco and Txopet will represent the best punk and alternative rock from the Basque Country, respectively. 

FRIDAY 21/06/24 

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE / L7 plays “Bricks Are Heavy” / ARDE BOGOTÁ / GLEN HANSARD / DEMOLITION 23 / REDD KROSS / THE RAIN PARADE / LA PERRA BLANCO / THE BLACK HALOS / DEA MATRONA / EZPALAK… 

As a festival, Azkena has a reputation for being able to showcase eclecticism within rock & roll, all the while opting for big names. Friday’s line-up supports this idea with facts as compelling as the QOTSA guitars, or Queens of The Stone Age, or simply Queens, or, in a nutshell, one of the most acclaimed rock bands of the moment. Their California desert riffs will intersect with their wild neighbours L7’s raw sound, a landmark of feminism and grunge. This historic band will perform their most successful album, Bricks Are Heavy, hailed as one of the essential albums to understand the 90s, and the perfect excuse to hear Donita Sparks sing the anthem Pretend We’re Dead in Mendizabala. 

Arde Bogotá, a phenomenon from Murcia who are taking the world by storm with their alternative rock in Spanish, and Glen Hansard, an innate and powerful performer. He must be seen live, going all out, and will take the audience in various directions that border on indie. 

For loyal fans, the glam pearl that is Demolition 23. is coming to Mendizabala, the fleeting, legendary and evanescent band formed by Michael Monroe and other members of Hanoi Rocks. They have only one album under their belt, which was produced by Steven Van Zandt from the E Street Band, and they are reuniting for an exclusive concert at the Azkena Rock Festival. This will be the first ever given by the group in Spain. 

What are Redd Kross, punk rock, psychedelia, heavy metal, power pop…? What can be agreed on is that they are a one of a kind cult band. They are putting together a new album for September this year and have just told their extensive story in the documentary ”Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story”, which was chosen by Ruta 66 magazine as the best musical documentary of the year. In it they mention Azkena, where they already performed in 2006. 

From there we go on to the psychedelia of The Rain Parade, members of the current Paisley Underground, and to the rockabilly trio La Perra Blanco, who will come out in full force at Mendizabala after turning Trashville on its head in 2022. Then there’s the Scottish folk music of The Real McKenzies closely resembling punk-rock. In addition, the Canadians The Black Halos will bring the punk of their legendary album The Violent Years, the Irish group Dea Matrona will present their classic guitar rock and Ezpalak will demonstrate why they are the benchmark for alternative rock in the Basque language to date. 

SATURDAY 22/06/24 

BAND OF HORSES / SHERYL CROW / MAVIS STAPLES / WARREN HAYNES BAND / ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES / ALL THEM WITCHES / PSYCHEDELIC PORN CRUMPETS / THE DETROIT COBRAS / LENDAKARIS MUERTOS / THE PLEASURE FUCKERS / PI L.T. / MOONSHINE WAGON / ENTROPÍA…

Saturday’s programme is a first-rate display of great performers. A divorce, line-up adjustments and many obstacles have led Ben Bridwell to focus fully on music and take Band Of Horses to a higher level where the beauty of their indie and folk-inspired songs create pure magic, live. The Seattle band will play their only European concert of the year at the festival, headlining alongside the great Sheryl Crow, a legend who goes beyond pop hits and is rooted in a deep understanding of American music. 

ARF is proud to announce the soul legend Mavis Staples. She has a powerful, one of a kind voice and a sensitivity for conveying emotions; she will undoubtedly leave those immersed in her performance with chills and bring them to ecstasy. She has often been compared to Aretha Franklyn and her passion for music has enabled her to connect with other generations and styles, collaborating with names as diverse as Prince, Sheryl Crow, Jeff Tweedy, Nick Cave, Ben Harper, Levon Helm and Gorillaz.  

Virtuoso guitarist, former member of The Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule lead, Warren Haynes returns to Mendizabala, this time as the Warren Haynes Band. From Alabama comes the retro soul of St. Paul & The Broken Bones and from Nashville, the neo-psychedelia and dark blues of All Them Witches. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets is one of the emblematic bands of the powerful Australian psychedelic rock scene. The Detroit Cobras have just added Zen Guerrilla’s Marcus Durant to their garage line-up. Historic punk band The Pleasure Fuckers are reuniting for a one-off performance at Azkena Rock Festival featuring Scott Drake on vocals, in place of the late Kike Turmix. 

And among the Basque representation, the playful Lendakaris Muertos particularly stand out; they never disappoint and always add a touch of humour and social protest. Also worthy of mention is the return of Pi L.T. whose hit Hilda jainkoa has crossed borders. From Vitoria-Gasteiz, Moonshine Wagon, a benchmark heavy-bluegrass band, and Entropía, a psych/space rock band with progressive and stoner rock influences. 

Azkena Rock Festival is the mecca of rock and roll, as confirmed by its 22 years of history. A frame of reference to experience live music, enjoy it in community and to top it all off taste the Basque gastronomy in the Green Capital Vitoria-Gasteiz. 

The Azkena Podcast 

So many concerts enjoyed, so many experiences had, so many people who have joined us along the way; it would be impossible to squeeze everything that takes place at the festival into Mendizabala park itself, and we are excited to share this love of music all year round on The Azkena podcast. It’s here where, with the help of Clara Lobo and big-name guests, we will talk about our passion for rock, and we will also review some of the best moments that have marked ARF’s history. The first episode with Yahvé M. de la Cavada, the festival’s programmer, has been very well received. And we have just released the second episode on YouTube, Spotify, Ivoox and the main platforms, with Barnaby Harrod, music promoter and member of The Pleasure Fuckers. Don’t miss it.