Knebworth Festival Explained

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

Concert history

Date Name Artists Attendance (approx.) Ref.
The Bucolic FrolicThe Allman Brothers Band, The Doobie Brothers, Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Van Morrison, Tim Buckley60,000[5] [6]
Knebworth FestivalPink Floyd, Captain Beefheart, Linda Lewis, Monty Python, Steve Miller Band, Roy Harper100,000[7]
Knebworth Fair10cc, Hot Tuna, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Don Harrison Band, The Rolling Stones, Todd Rundgren120,000[8]
A Midsummer Night's DreamAtlanta Rhythm Section, Brand X, Devo, Genesis, Jefferson Starship, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Roy Harper60,000[9]
Oh 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
Knebworth FestivalChas & Dave, Commander Cody, Fairport Convention, Led Zeppelin, The Marshall Tucker Band, Southside Johnny, Todd Rundgren109,000[10]
Knebworth FestivalChas & Dave, Commander Cody, Led Zeppelin, The New Barbarians, The Marshall Tucker Band, Southside Johnny, Todd Rundgren60,000
Knebworth FestivalElkie Brooks, Lindisfarne, Mike Oldfield, The Beach Boys, The Blues Band, Santana45,000[11]
Capital Jazz Festival 1981Benny Goodman50,000[12] [13]
Capital Jazz Festival 1982Pizza Express All Stars, NYJO, Zoot Money, Bobby LambRay Premru Band, the Ronnie Scott Quintet, Nucleus, Shakatak, Morrissey–Mullen, the Breakfast Band, Carmen McRae
Capital Jazz Festival 1982B.B. King, Jimmy Cliff, The Jazztet, Jay McShann, Tal Farlow
Capital Jazz Festival 1982The Crusaders, Spyro Gyra, Chico Freeman, Dick Hyman, Dizzy Gillespie
Capital Jazz Festival 1982Ray Charles, Gerry Mulligan's Big Band, Clark Terry, Freddie HubbardRon Carter, Modern Jazz Quartet
Capital Jazz Festival 1982Wynton Marsalis, Lionel Hampton's Big Band, Steps Ahead, Dave Brubeck (w/ Chris Brubeck and Jerry Bergonzi), Great Guitars
Greenbelt 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
Greenbelt Festival100% Proof, Cliff Richard, Jessy Dixon, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Sheila Walsh
The Return of the Knebworth FayreAlaska, Blackfoot, Deep Purple, Mama's Boys, Meat Loaf, Mountain, Scorpions, UFO80,000[14]
A Night of Summer MagicQueen, Status Quo, Big Country, Belouis Some
This would be Queen's final concert with Freddie Mercury.
120,000[15]
The 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[16]
Knebworth FestivalGenesis, Lisa Stansfield, The Saw Doctors90,000[17] [18]
OasisOasis, Ocean Colour Scene, Manic Street Preachers, The Bootleg Beatles, The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy125,000
OasisOasis, Cast, Dreadzone, Kula Shaker, Manic Street Preachers, The Charlatans125,000
Ministry @ Knebworth 2001Bent, Jamiroquai, Lo Fidelity Allstars35,000[19] [20] [21]
Robbie Williams Live at KnebworthAsh, Kelly Osbourne, Basement Jaxx, Moby, Robbie Williams, The Darkness125,000[22] [23]
Robbie Williams Live at KnebworthAsh, Kelly Osbourne, Basement Jaxx, Moby, Robbie Williams, The Darkness125,000
Robbie Williams Live at KnebworthAsh, Kelly Osbourne, Basement Jaxx, Moby, Robbie Williams, The Darkness125,000
Wild in the Country 20072ManyDJs, Erol Alkan, Hot Chip, Justice, Sasha & John Digweed, Simian Mobile Disco, Tiga, Underworld
Sonisphere FestivalAirbourne, Alien Ant Farm, Anthrax, Björn Again, Bullet for My Valentine, Heaven & Hell, Linkin Park, Skindred, Soil, Taking Back Sunday, The Used55,000[24]
Sonisphere 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
Sonisphere Festival65daysofstatic, Alice Cooper, Delain, Europe, Gary Numan, Terrorvision, Turisas55,000
Sonisphere 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
Sonisphere 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
Sonisphere FestivalAnthrax, Diamond Head, Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer
Sonisphere FestivalArchitects, Bad Religion, Biffy Clyro, Cavalera Conspiracy, Sylosis, You Me At Six, Weezer
Sonisphere FestivalArch Enemy, Limp Bizkit, Mastodon, Motörhead, Parkway Drive, Slipknot, Volbeat
Red Hot Chili PeppersRed Hot Chili Peppers, Dizzee Rascal, The Wombats, Reverend and the Makers.80,000
(2–4) Eastern Electronics Hot 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 [25] [26]
(4-6) 50,000
Abbie McCarthy, Pastel, Amyl and the Sniffers, Paulo Nutini, Kasabian, Liam Gallagher 100,000 [27] [28]
Liam Gallagher Jack Saunders, Goat Girl, Fat White Family, Michael Kiwanuka, Kasabian, Liam Gallagher 100,000

Bibliography

External links

51.8744°N -0.2189°W

Notes and References

  1. News: 30 years since Queen's majestic farewell tour. The Sunday Post. 21 March 2018.
  2. Web site: Robbie Williams Live at Knebworth.
  3. Web site: Robbie Williams at Knebworth 2003 line-up and rumours - eFestivals.co.uk. efestivals.co.uk. 6 April 2018.
  4. Web site: Robbie Williams @ Knebworth . 5 August 2003.
  5. Web site: Knebworth House Rock Concerts: The Seventies . 2006-05-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060103173042/http://www.knebworthhouse.com/rock/the70s.htm . 3 January 2006 . dead .
  6. Web site: 1974 Knebworth Festival, The Bucolic Frolic @ www.ukrockfestivals.com . 2006-06-13.
  7. Web site: The 1975 Knebworth Concert @ www.ukrockfestivals.com . 2006-06-13.
  8. Web site: The 1976 Knebworth Concert @ www.ukrockfestivals.com . 2006-06-13.
  9. Web site: The 1978 Knebworth Concert @ www.ukrockfestivals.com . 2006-06-13.
  10. Web site: The 1979 Knebworth Concerts @ www.ukrockfestivals.com . 2006-06-13.
  11. Web site: Knebworth House Rock Concerts: The Eighties . 2006-05-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060103170525/http://www.knebworthhouse.com/rock/the80s.htm . 3 January 2006 . dead .
  12. Kennedy. Kevin. Summer 1982. Capital Jazz. The Wire. 1. 4.
  13. [Getty Images]
  14. Web site: deep-purple.net .
  15. Web site: geocities.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20091026224720/http://geocities.com/ledzeppeliner2003/k86.html. 2009-10-26.
  16. Web site: Knebworth House Rock Concerts: The Nineties . 2006-05-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060103175527/http://www.knebworthhouse.com/rock/the90s.htm . 3 January 2006 . dead .
  17. Web site: Genesis Live at Knebworth 1992 (1992). letterboxd.com. 6 April 2018.
  18. Web site: Genesis . 2006-05-28.
  19. Classic Rock Knebworth supplement, circa June 2010
  20. Web site: Virtual Festivals: Ministry @ Knebworth 2001 . 2006-05-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120817162524/http://www.virtualfestivals.com/ . 17 August 2012 . dead .
  21. Web site: eFestivals: Knebworth '01 . 2006-05-29.
  22. Web site: Knebworth House Rock Concerts: Robbie Williams Live at Knebworth . 2006-05-28.
  23. Web site: Virtual Festivals: Robbie Williams @ Knebworth 2003 . 2006-05-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120817162524/http://www.virtualfestivals.com/ . 17 August 2012 . dead .
  24. Web site: Sonisphere Festival . https://web.archive.org/web/20090707104112/http://uk.sonispherefestival.net/line-up/ . 7 July 2009 . dead .
  25. Web site: Rock Concerts. Official site. Knebworth House. 18 March 2016. 3 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131103065638/http://www.knebworthhouse.com/concerts-2/rock-concerts. dead.
  26. Web site: FESTIVAL ALERT: EASTERN ELECTRICS 2013, LONDON. 8 February 2013. Daily Beat. 18 March 2016.
  27. Web site: Liam Gallagher – Concert Info . Knebworth House . 4 June 2022.
  28. Web site: LOCAL COMMUNITY INFORMATION – LIAM GALLAGHER AT KNEBWORTH . Knebworth House . 4 June 2022.