Iggy Pop, The Pretenders, Rancid, Lucinda Williams, Incubus, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Melvins, Alter Bridge, El Drogas, and up to a total of 55 bands make up the lineup 

The free concerts at Virgen Blanca will bring live music to the heart of the city on Friday and Saturday with Chuck Prophet and The Fuzillis

This edition includes a new gastronomic KM0 zone with a wide and varied menu

The Rock torch will be lit this Thursday as the 21st edition of the Azkena Rock Festival starts, a not to be missed event with live music, a unique experience in every way. On June 15, 16 and 17, Mendizabala will welcome the legendary Iggy Pop, undisputed punk icon, The Pretenders, Chrissie Hynde's band with a repertoire full of anthems here for one day only, and Rancid, one of the most important bands in punk rock history. Coming for the very first time to ARF and celebrating her 30th anniversary is Lucinda Williams, one of the best composers and performers of her era. Also joining in is, Incubus, an indispensable alternative rock band with more than 23 million records sold and several Grammy nominations, Melvins, a 90s legend who is highly demanded by the festival's audience, Alter Bridge, hard rock bestsellers with the renowned vocalist Myles Kennedy at the front, the historic reunion of The Soundtrack Of Our Lives and El Drogas, with a repertoire focused on 40 years of Barricada.

The wildest side of ARF is undoubtedly Trashville, a tent within the festival where the line between audience and stage is blurred and where you can experience the rawest live shows with bands devoted to rock and roll's cause. The Kaisers, The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band and The Phantom Surfers are heading up a program full of garage, rockabilly, surf, and wild rock. Joining in that day is the band Generador who is replacing Mimi & The Miseries, who have been forced to cancel their performance for family reasons.

One of the things people most look forward to at the festival is the free concert programming in the city at Virgen Blanca Square, a convergence point for the Azkena audience and the Basque capital residents. On Friday it will be time for The Fuzillis" instrumental and unstoppable rock & roll and Saturday will be Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express"s moment, one of rock's most respected guitarists and songwriters.

Everything you need to enjoy this rock & roll event

Wristbands

As usual, in order to access the venue, festivalgoers must exchange their ticket for the official wristband at the established points located in front of the Mendizorroza Sports Centre. Pick-up times will be Wednesday from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Thursday from 1:00 pm to 1:00 am, and Friday and Saturday from 3:00 pm to 02:00 am. You must personally go to exchange the entry ticket for the wristband since it is personal and non-transferable.

Cashless

All payments at the festival grounds, from food and drink to merchandising and attractions, must be made with the electronic cashless system integrated into the venue access wristbands. Each user can link their ticket to their cashless account through this link if they wish to recharge online or they can do so from their mobile phone, by card, or also in cash at the physical recharging points enabled on the premises.

Gastronomy

Azkena Rock Festival opens a unique restaurant area where there will be a wide range of gastronomic offerings made with 0-kilometer products, products that have the best flavour of our land and are sure to satisfy all palates and diets. From specialties like the Trashville burger to hotdogs, sandwiches, croquettes, artisan crisps, Asian food, desserts, and even ice cream. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options as well as allergen information are always made available.

An experience for everybody

The comfort of the venue is one of the hallmarks of Azkena, where you can choose whether to enjoy a concert from the front row or more quietly from any of the numerous green areas. The experience is rounded out with fun activities beyond the stages, including the bumper cars that were so successful in the last edition and facilities for families such as the family lane and free access for children under 14. Azkena is the connection between loyal audience members, festival first-timers, and the newly incorporated younger generations. Once again, there is free entrance for children 14 years and under to the school of rock that is the festival, and reduced entrance for young people ages 15 to 23 as a part of the Gaztea Pass.

Day trips

There are official day trips from towns and cities near Vitoria-Gasteiz to enjoy each day of the festival and then trips to get back home comfortably after each day. Trips will depart early in the afternoon and will return every day 30 mins after the last band from the main stage finishes. From Bilbao, Pamplona-Iruña, Altsasu, Donostia/San Sebastián, Zarautz, and Arrasate to the festival gate. Click this link for additional information.

Camping

ARF offers the possibility of sleeping just a few minutes from the venue, choosing between camping and glamping options, for those who prefer to have their tent pitched and their bed made prior to arriving.

XX Anniversary Special Pack

The biggest fans will be able to purchase the special XX Anniversary Pack, which includes a t-shirt, a poster, a deluxe tote bag, and a collaborative book with stories from past audiences, the true protagonists of this experience. The book shares stories with the festival itself as a backdrop.

The greenest edition to date

The festival has aligned with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals by doing the following actions: Local recruitment, with 90% of staff coming from the Basque Community. A "Green Team" that works tirelessly to fully implement measures that reduce the festival's environmental impact: 100% of the toilets are connected to the city's network, avoiding the use of chemical toilets, the festival's use of plastics has been reduced by more than 70% throughout production, and the reusable cup program has been kept, which has allowed the festival to reduce disposable cup waste by 2 tons (2,185Kg).

A festival that is accessible, safe and supports equality.

Once again, ARF has a support system device for people with reduced mobility and special needs and has in place a protocol against sexual violence and hatred through training, coordination of security devices and festival staff. ARF collaborates with several local entities, and thus for its catering services works together with the Peñascal Foundation, dedicated to training and preparing people in processes of social incorporation for the workforce. ARF also donates to the Araba Food Bank.

The festival is working for another year to maintain the ERRONKA GARBIA label. Last Tour, promoter of the festival, has been a certified B Corp since March 2023, belonging to the global movement that is transforming the economy to benefit people and the planet.

Once again, the organization thanks all the sponsoring entities and companies for their support. Without their involvement, it would not have been possible to achieve this edition of Azkena Rock Festival's development and growth goals.

AZKENA ROCK FESTIVAL

Mendizabala, Vitoria-Gasteiz

June 15, 16 and 17 2023

Thursday 15

6:00pm Doors open

GOD

7:05pm OS MUTANTES

9:10pm EL DROGAS (BARRICADA - 40º)

11:35pm RANCID

RESPECT

6:15pm LIHER

8:05pm STEVE EARLE

10:30pm LYDIA LUNCH RETROVIRUS

1:00am MONSTER MAGNET

TRASHVILLE

8:00pm GENERADOR

10:30pm THE KAISERS

1:00am NESTTER DONUTS

2:00am TOURIST BANG BANG

Friday 16

VIRGEN BLANCA

1:30pm THE FUZILLIS

MENDIZABALA

5:00pm Doors open

GOD

5:30pm BONES OF MINERVA

7:15pm CORDOVAS

9:40pm THE PRETENDERS

12:30am INCUBUS

RESPECT

6:20pm S8NT ELEKTRIC

8:25pm EARTHLESS

11:15pm CALEXICO

2:05am THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES

LOVE

6:00pm PASADENA

7:20pm MATCHBOX

8:50pm THE GUAPOS

11:30pm THE UNDERTONES

1:50am GWAR

TRASHVILLE

Trashville A Go-Go!

6:30pm THE CLEOPATRAS

8:00pm LOS TIKI PHANTOMS

10:30pm THE REVEREND PEYTON'S BIG DAMN BAND

1:00am HOLA GHOST

2:30am MEOW aka DJ NU

4:30am THE LEGENDARY SHEIKS

Rat Hole

2:00am HOLY NOTE VS. MAD COBRA

4:00am BELLE BROWN

Saturday 17

VIRGEN BLANCA

1:30pm CHUCK PROPHET & THE MISSION EXPRESS

MENDIZABALA

5:00pm Doors open

GOD

5:30pm EZPALAK

7:20pm AMANDA SHIRES

9:30pm LUCINDA WILLIAMS

12:20am IGGY POP

RESPECT

6:20pm THE BEVIS FROND

8:25pm ANA POPOVIC

11:00pm MELVINS

1:55am ALTER BRIDGE

LOVE

6:00pm BRIGADE LOCO

7:20pm NAT SIMONS & CHERIE CURRIE

8:50pm THE NUDE PARTY

11:15pm LUCERO

1:50am JIM JONES ALL STARS

TRASHVILLE

Trashville A Go-Go!

6:30pm LOST CAT

8:00pm STEEL BEANS

10:15pm THE PHANTOM SURFERS

1:00am KING SALAMI AND THE CUMBERLAND THREE

2:30am ROCK&ROLL POLICE DEPARTMENT

4:30am CARMELA MARACAS & LUPITA MAMBO

Rat Hole

2:00am NINGÚN DJ

4:00am AYUKEN DJs

Passes:

3-day pass: Eur155

Gaztea Pass (for people 15 to 23 years old): Eur100

XX Anniversary Special Pack (pass + book + t-shirt + poster + totebag): Eur175

Day Tickets:

Thursday Ticket: Eur50

Friday Ticket: Eur70

Saturday Ticket: Eur70

Free admission for kids 14 and under

Camping

4 nights: starting at Eur20

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

#azkenarockfestival