A special day, but a BIG DAY! It looks like the weather is finally on our side, so things are looking promising.
Frozen Poppyhead
My day kicked off with Frozen Poppyheads, fantastic representatives of the Czech rock scene. With their catchy melodies and “American-style” rock sound, the band put on a great show—one that, I must admit, left me wanting just a little more. Great interaction with the audience and excellent sound.
Lunarsea
This band from Italy had strong songs and melodies, and they really got the crowd going during their performance. They had great chemistry with the audience, and I think they'll be around for a while.
Queensryche
The American legends Queensryche don’t tour abroad very often. This time, however, we were able to enjoy another great show by this iconic band. They kicked off with their iconic song “Queen of the Ryche” and also played metal anthems like “Operation Mindcrime,” “Empire,” and “Revolution Calling.” They were amazing and evoked nostalgia in older fans, while newer fans realized that this band is one of the heavyweights of the metal scene.
Sleep Theory
For me, this was one of the most pleasant surprises of the festival. I wasn’t familiar with Sleep Theory because they’re an American band, and that alone makes it a bit harder to see them often. Their performance was full of adrenaline and energy. The set featured catchy melodies complemented by powerful drum fills, and I have to admit I was jumping more than my tired legs would allow. I left feeling sad that it was over, and I really wanted to see them play even longer.
Alter Bridge
The band from the U.S. East Coast, which has been active on the American rock scene for 22 years, delivered a fantastic performance lasting over an hour. With eight albums to their credit, they had a tough time choosing their setlist. In the end, though, they played songs from nearly all of their albums, delighting everyone—old and new fans alike!
Saxon
Another iconic band took the stage. The legendary Saxon delivered their usual energetic performance and proved that age is just a number. Crystal-clear vocals, great riffs, and heavy drums came together to create a 65-minute power metal spectacle. Although putting together a setlist isn’t easy, especially when you have so many albums (which we saw one after another in a brilliant presentation), Crusader was there as always.
Iron Maiden
The headliners of the final day. The mighty Iron Maiden included Rock For People in the second leg of their Run For Your Lives tour. The audience waited patiently, and after a brief delay, the leaders of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal took the stage. With the threat of a storm hanging over our heads, we witnessed a storm on stage as well. Bruce’s signature run, Eddie in a variety of digital and non-digital forms, and Janick’s guitar neck spins were all part of the two-hour performance that many will never forget. “Infinite Dreams,” “The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner,” “Fear of the Dark,” and many other legendary songs were performed superbly, and all we can say is that the crowd definitely followed the band’s instructions and… screamed at the top of their lungs for Iron Maiden.
God is an Astronaut
The Kinsel Brothers were my final highlight of the festival. Mainly because of my love for Ireland, but also because space, apocalyptic, and electronic rock is among my favorite genres. This veteran band (founded in 2002) combines atmospheric rhythms with the musical complexity of guitar riffs. Add to that some very nice visuals on the screens, and you’ve got the perfect way to end the day.
Summary of the entire festival:
198 bands, 8 stages, lots of rain, even more steps—and yet another unforgettable Rock For People. And with the announcement that Blink-182 will be the first headliner for RFP27, expectations for next year are even higher, and we at Sound-Scribe will be there.
And you should be there, too! Tickets are selling out fast!
Report by Costas Zervas
Photos by Vasilis Tiropolis (more at https://www.xp-spot.com/index.php/gallery)