Sweden Rock Festival

Since June 6, 1992, the Sweden Rock Festival has been a staple of the Swedish music scene. Initially launched as Sommarfestivalen i Olofström, it relocated to Karlshamn in 1993 and was renamed the Karlshamn Rock Festival. By 1998, the event found a permanent home in Norje but retained its Karlshamn name until 1999 when it officially became the Sweden Rock Festival.

The inaugural festival in 1992 featured just nine bands; by the following year, it had expanded to a two-day event. Over time, the festival continued to grow, showcasing an increasing number of renowned acts. It extended to three days in 2000, reverted to two days in 2001, and settled on a three-day format from 2003 to 2006. Since 2007, the festival has evolved into a four-day extravaganza, featuring approximately 120 bands and artists.

The Sweden Rock Festival has hosted some of the most iconic names in rock and metal, including Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Mötley Crüe, and Dio. It has also served as a platform for the resurgence of bands such as Triumph and Riot. In 2010, Bachman & Turner launched their world reunion tour at the festival, and in 2013, Rush and Kiss headlined alongside Europe.

Unfortunately, like many events worldwide, the Sweden Rock Festival was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this setback, the festival's legacy of delivering outstanding rock and metal performances in Sweden endures.