Knebworth Festival
Pink Floyd in 1975
The Rolling Stones in 1976

The Knebworth Festival is a recurring open-air rock and pop concert held on the grounds of the Knebworth House in Knebworth, England. The festival first occurred in July 1974 when The Allman Brothers Band, The Doobie Brothers and other artists attracted 60,000 people.

Since then the venue has hosted numerous outdoor concerts, featuring artists including The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Frank Zappa, Led Zeppelin, The Beach Boys, Elkie Brooks, Deep Purple, Queen, Status Quo, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Phil Collins, Robert Plant, Dire Straits, Mike Oldfield, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Robbie Williams, and Oasis.

Major concerts

  • The Rolling Stones played in front of an estimated 200,000 at Knebworth in August 1976.
  • In 1979, Led Zeppelin performed at Knebworth for two gigs, their first concerts in the United Kingdom since 1975. The band reportedly played to record crowds in excess of 200,000 people, even though official admission records only list 109,000 people. The New Barbarians, Ron Wood's solo outfit with Keith Richards played at the second show on 11 August. Support bands included Fairport Convention and Chas and Dave.
  • The Beach Boys headlined the 1980 Knebworth concert, which would prove to be the last UK performance of the band's original lineup. Drummer Dennis Wilson would die in 1983 from drowning. Part of their set was released on CD and DVD in 2002 as Good Timin': Live at Knebworth England 1980.
  • The 1985 event was the first UK gig by the re-formed Deep Purple.
  • On 9 August 1986, Queen performed their last concert with their original lineup (Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon) in what was Freddie Mercury's final show with the band.[1] Biographer Mark Blake writes, "the official attendance was 120,000, but in reality the audience was closer to 200,000."[2] Queen roadie Peter Hince states, "At Knebworth, I somehow felt it was going to be the last for all of us", while Brian May recalled Mercury saying "I'm not going to be doing this forever. This is probably the last time."[2] Queen did not perform live again until after Mercury's death, at his tribute concert at Wembley Stadium in April 1992.
  • On 30 June 1990, the park was the location for The Silver Clef Award Winners Concert which was recorded with highlights released on LP and compact disc, along with home video on VHS and laserdisc later that year, with a newly remixed edition released on DVD in 2002. A Blu-ray edition with upscaled SD video and high resolution audio (LPCM stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1) was released in Europe in 2015. It included the performances of artists including Pink Floyd, Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Tears for Fears, Eric Clapton, Dire Straits, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Ray Cooper, Robert Plant (w/ Jimmy Page), Phil Collins, Status Quo and Genesis. Pink Floyd's complete set was released with newly remixed audio on multiple formats (180-gram 45 r.p.m. double LP, compact disc and digital platforms) on 30 April 2021.
Oasis at Knebworth

Concert history

DateNameArtistsAttendance (approx.)Ref.
20 July 1974The Bucolic FrolicThe Allman Brothers Band, The Doobie Brothers, Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Van Morrison, Tim Buckley60,000[6][7]
5 July 1975Knebworth FestivalPink Floyd, Captain Beefheart, Linda Lewis, Monty Python, Steve Miller Band, Roy Harper100,000[6][8]
21 August 1976Knebworth Fair10cc, Hot Tuna, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Don Harrison Band, The Rolling Stones, Todd Rundgren120,000[6][9]
24 June 1978A Midsummer Night's DreamAtlanta Rhythm Section, Brand X, Devo, Genesis, Jefferson Starship, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Roy Harper60,000[6][10]
9 September 1978Oh God Not Another Boring Old Knebworth!Dave Edmunds, Frank Zappa, Nick Lowe, Peter Gabriel, The Boomtown Rats, The Tubes, Wilko Johnson's Solid Senders45,000[6]
4 August 1979Knebworth FestivalChas & Dave, Commander Cody, Fairport Convention, Led Zeppelin, The Marshall Tucker Band, Southside Johnny, Todd Rundgren109,000[6][11]
11 August 1979Knebworth FestivalChas & Dave, Commander Cody, Led Zeppelin, The New Barbarians, The Marshall Tucker Band, Southside Johnny, Todd Rundgren60,000[6][11]
21 June 1980Knebworth FestivalElkie Brooks, Lindisfarne, Mike Oldfield, The Beach Boys, The Blues Band, Santana45,000[6][12]
15 June 1981Capital Jazz Festival 1981Benny Goodman; Chuck Berry; Ella Fitzgerald; Lionel Hampton's Big Band (without Hampton, who was ill); Muddy Waters; Sarah Vaughan; Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia; Arnett Cobb, Wallace Davenport and Ricky Ford; Illinois Jacquet; Art Pepper; Eddie Vinson; Buddy DeFranco and Terry Gibbs; Dexter Gordon50,000[12][13][14]
July 1982Capital Jazz Festival 1982Pizza Express All Stars, NYJO, Zoot Money, Bobby Lamb–Ray Premru Band, the Ronnie Scott Quintet, Nucleus, Shakatak, Morrissey–Mullen, the Breakfast Band, Carmen McRae[13]
17 July 1982Capital Jazz Festival 1982B.B. King, Jimmy Cliff, The Jazztet, Jay McShann, Tal Farlow[13]
18 July 1982Capital Jazz Festival 1982The Crusaders, Spyro Gyra, Chico Freeman, Dick Hyman, Dizzy Gillespie[13]
24 July 1982Capital Jazz Festival 1982Ray Charles, Gerry Mulligan's Big Band, Clark Terry, Freddie Hubbard–Ron Carter, Modern Jazz Quartet[13]
25 July 1982Capital Jazz Festival 1982Wynton Marsalis, Lionel Hampton's Big Band, Steps Ahead, Dave Brubeck (w/ Chris Brubeck and Jerry Bergonzi), Great Guitars[13]
August 1982Greenbelt FestivalAdrian Snell, Andy Pratt, Positive Earth, Bryn Haworth, Calvin Seerveld, Jim Wallis, Noel Paul Stookey, Paradise, Patrick Sookhdeo, Maxine and the Majestics, Rez Band, Roger Forster, Servant, Talking Drums, The Barratt Band[12]
August 1983Greenbelt Festival100% Proof, Cliff Richard, Jessy Dixon, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Sheila Walsh[12]
22 June 1985The Return of the Knebworth FayreAlaska, Blackfoot, Deep Purple, Mama's Boys, Meat Loaf, Mountain, Scorpions, UFO80,000[12][15]
9 August 1986A Night of Summer MagicQueen, Status Quo, Big Country, Belouis Some
This would be Queen's final concert with Freddie Mercury.		120,000[12][16]
30 June 1990The Silver Clef Award Winners ConcertCliff Richard & The Shadows, Genesis, Dire Straits, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Robert Plant & Jimmy Page, Status Quo, Tears for Fears120,000[17]
2 August 1992Knebworth FestivalGenesis, Lisa Stansfield, The Saw Doctors90,000[18][17][19]
10 August 1996OasisOasis, Ocean Colour Scene, Manic Street Preachers, The Bootleg Beatles, The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy125,000[17]
11 August 1996OasisOasis, Cast, Dreadzone, Kula Shaker, Manic Street Preachers, The Charlatans125,000[17]
11 August 2001Ministry @ Knebworth 2001Bent, Jamiroquai, Lo Fidelity Allstars35,000[20][21][22]
1 August 2003Robbie Williams Live at KnebworthAsh, Kelly Osbourne, Basement Jaxx, Moby, Robbie Williams, The Darkness125,000[23][24]
2 August 2003Robbie Williams Live at KnebworthAsh, Kelly Osbourne, Basement Jaxx, Moby, Robbie Williams, The Darkness125,000[23][24]
3 August 2003Robbie Williams Live at KnebworthAsh, Kelly Osbourne, Basement Jaxx, Moby, Robbie Williams, The Darkness125,000[23][24]
30 June 2007Wild in the Country 20072ManyDJs, Erol Alkan, Hot Chip, Justice, Sasha & John Digweed, Simian Mobile Disco, Tiga, Underworld
1 August 2009Sonisphere FestivalAirbourne, Alien Ant Farm, Anthrax, Björn Again, Bullet for My Valentine, Heaven & Hell, Linkin Park, Skindred, Soil, Taking Back Sunday, The Used55,000[25]
2 August 2009Sonisphere FestivalAlice in Chains, Avenged Sevenfold, Buckcherry, Feeder, Killing Joke, Lamb of God, Limp Bizkit, Machine Head, Mastodon, Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, Paradise Lost, Saxon55,000[25]
30 July 2010Sonisphere Festival65daysofstatic, Alice Cooper, Delain, Europe, Gary Numan, Terrorvision, Turisas55,000[25]
31 July 2010Sonisphere FestivalAnthrax, Apocalyptica, Corey Taylor, Family Force 5, Fear Factory, Gallows, Lacuna Coil, Mötley Crüe, Papa Roach, Placebo, Rammstein, Sabaton, Skunk Anansie, Soulfly, Therapy?55,000[25]
1 August 2010Sonisphere FestivalAlice in Chains, Bring Me the Horizon, cKy, The Cult, Dir En Grey, Fightstar, Funeral for a Friend, Henry Rollins, Iggy & The Stooges, Iron Maiden, Madina Lake, Pendulum, Skindred, Slayer55,000[25]
8 July 2011Sonisphere FestivalAnthrax, Diamond Head, Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer[25]
9 July 2011Sonisphere FestivalArchitects, Bad Religion, Biffy Clyro, Cavalera Conspiracy, Sylosis, You Me At Six, Weezer[25]
10 July 2011Sonisphere FestivalArch Enemy, Limp Bizkit, Mastodon, Motörhead, Parkway Drive, Slipknot, Volbeat[25]
23 June 2012Red Hot Chili PeppersRed Hot Chili Peppers, Dizzee Rascal, The Wombats, Reverend and the Makers.80,000
August 2013 (2–4)Eastern ElectronicsHot Natured, Moderat, Âme, Anja Schneider, Ata, Ben UFO, Blawan, Catz N Dogz, Chris Liebing, Claude VonStroke, The Climbers, Clockwork, Damian Lazarus, Dave Clarke, Deetron, Dixon, DJ Sneak, DJ Tennis, Droog, Dyed Soundorom, Eats Everything, Ellen Allien, Felix Dickinson, Francesca Lombardo, Futureboogie DJs, Gavin Herlihy, Geddes, Giles Smith, Guy Gerber, Heidi, Huxley, Infinity Ink, James Priestley, Josh Wink, Joy Orbison, Jozif, Justin Martin, DJ Koze, Krankbrother, Laura Jones, Levon Vincent, Luca Pilato, Maceo Plex, Magda, Masters at Work, Matthias Tanzmann, Maurice Fulton, Maxxi Soundsystem, Maya Jane Coles, Michael Mayer, Miguel Campbell, MK, Nick Curly, No Artificial Colours, Pan-Pot, PBR Streetgang, Prosumer, Ralph Lawson, Raresh, Richy Ahmed, Robert James, Roman Flügel, Ryan Crosson, Sasha, Seth Troxler, Shadow Child, Luke Slater, Soul Bros, Subb-an, Tama Sumo, Theo Parrish, Tommy Four Seven, Waifs and Strays12,000[26][27]
July 2014 (4-6)Sonisphere 2014Metallica, Iron Maiden, The Prodigy, Dream Theater, Slayer, Alice in Chains, Deftones, Limp Bizkit, Watain, Mastodon, Band of Skulls, Frank Turner, Babymetal, Dropkick Murphys, Chas & Dave, Glass City Vice, The Sisters of Mercy50,000[26]
3 June 2022Liam GallagherAbbie McCarthy, Pastel, Amyl and the Sniffers, Paulo Nutini, Kasabian, Liam Gallagher100,000[28][29]
4 June 2022Liam GallagherJack Saunders, Goat Girl, Fat White Family, Michael Kiwanuka, Kasabian, Liam Gallagher100,000[28][29]

References

  1. ↑ "30 years since Queen's majestic farewell tour". The Sunday Post. 21 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 Blake 2016.
  3. ↑ "Robbie Williams Live at Knebworth".
  4. ↑ "Robbie Williams at Knebworth 2003 line-up and rumours - eFestivals.co.uk". efestivals.co.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "Robbie Williams @ Knebworth". 5 August 2003.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Knebworth House Rock Concerts: The Seventies". Archived from the original on 3 January 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2006.
  7. ↑ "1974 Knebworth Festival, The Bucolic Frolic @ www.ukrockfestivals.com". Retrieved 13 June 2006.
  8. ↑ "The 1975 Knebworth Concert @ www.ukrockfestivals.com". Retrieved 13 June 2006.
  9. ↑ "The 1976 Knebworth Concert @ www.ukrockfestivals.com". Retrieved 13 June 2006.
  10. ↑ "The 1978 Knebworth Concert @ www.ukrockfestivals.com". Retrieved 13 June 2006.
  11. 1 2 "The 1979 Knebworth Concerts @ www.ukrockfestivals.com". Retrieved 13 June 2006.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Knebworth House Rock Concerts: The Eighties". Archived from the original on 3 January 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2006.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kennedy, Kevin (Summer 1982). "Capital Jazz". The Wire (1): 4.
  14. ↑ Getty Images: Berry and Waters; FitzGerald; Vaughan; Paraphernalia; Cobb Davenport and Ford; Jacquet; Pepper; Vinson; DeFranco and Gibbs; Gordon
  15. ↑ "deep-purple.net".
  16. ↑ "geocities.com". Archived from the original on 26 October 2009.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Knebworth House Rock Concerts: The Nineties". Archived from the original on 3 January 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2006.
  18. ↑ "Genesis Live at Knebworth 1992 (1992)". letterboxd.com. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  19. ↑ "Genesis". Retrieved 28 May 2006.
  20. ↑ Classic Rock Knebworth supplement, circa June 2010
  21. ↑ "Virtual Festivals: Ministry @ Knebworth 2001". Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2006.
  22. ↑ "eFestivals: Knebworth '01". Retrieved 29 May 2006.
  23. 1 2 3 "Knebworth House Rock Concerts: Robbie Williams Live at Knebworth". Retrieved 28 May 2006.
  24. 1 2 3 "Virtual Festivals: Robbie Williams @ Knebworth 2003". Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2006.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Sonisphere Festival". Archived from the original on 7 July 2009.
  26. 1 2 "Rock Concerts". Official site. Knebworth House. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  27. ↑ "FESTIVAL ALERT: EASTERN ELECTRICS 2013, LONDON". Daily Beat. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  28. 1 2 "Liam Gallagher – Concert Info". Knebworth House. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  29. 1 2 "LOCAL COMMUNITY INFORMATION – LIAM GALLAGHER AT KNEBWORTH" (PDF). Knebworth House. Retrieved 4 June 2022.

Bibliography

  • Blake, Mark (2016). Freddie Mercury: A Kind of Magic. Omnibus Press.
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