Knebworth Festival Explained

The Knebworth Festival is a recurring open-air rock and pop festival held on the grounds of 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. It happened irregularly under several different names until 2022.

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, Iron Maiden, Metallica, the 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 concerts, 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 .
The 1985 event was the first UK concert 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." Queen roadie Peter Hince states, "At Knebworth, I somehow felt it was going to be the last for all of us", while May recalled Mercury saying "I'm not going to be doing this forever. This is probably the last time." 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, Robert Plant (with 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.

In 1996, Oasis, who were supported by the Charlatans, Kula Shaker, Manic Street Preachers, the Bootleg Beatles, the Chemical Brothers, Ocean Colour Scene and the Prodigy, played two shows with an audience of 125,000 per night.
In 2003, Robbie Williams headlined at the main stage in Knebworth over a three-day period, drawing crowds of over 375,000, and a further 3.5 million who watched live on television and online.^[2] Other acts to perform on the same stage were the Darkness, Ash, Moby, Basement Jaxx and Kelly Osbourne.^[3] This concert caused a huge traffic jam on the A1(M) as thousands of cars^[4] tried to reach the venue during Friday evening rush hour. A subsequent album, entitled Robbie Williams – Live at Knebworth, was released, and reached number two in the UK charts. A DVD entitled What We Did Last Summer, was released afterwards.
In 2009, Metallica and Linkin Park headlined the first ever UK Sonisphere Festival. Other bands included Nine Inch Nails, Heaven & Hell, and Avenged Sevenfold, whose late drummer The Rev would play his final show during the festival. The festival took place again in 2010 with Rammstein and Iron Maiden headlining plus performances from other acts such as Alice Cooper, Iggy and the Stooges and Mötley Crüe.

Concert history

Name	Date(s)	Artists	Attendance (approx.)	Ref.
The Bucolic Frolic		The Allman Brothers Band, the Doobie Brothers, Mahavishnu Orchestra, the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Van Morrison, Tim Buckley	60,000	^[5] ^[6]
Knebworth Festival 1975		Pink Floyd, Captain Beefheart, Linda Lewis, Monty Python, Steve Miller Band, Roy Harper	100,000	^[7]
Knebworth Fair 1976		10cc, Hot Tuna, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Don Harrison Band, the Rolling Stones, Todd Rundgren	120,000	^[8]
A Midsummer Night's Dream 1978		Atlanta Rhythm Section, Brand X, Devo, Genesis, Jefferson Starship, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Roy Harper	60,000	^[9]
Oh God Not Another Boring Old Knebworth! 1978		Dave Edmunds, Frank Zappa, Nick Lowe, Peter Gabriel, the Boomtown Rats, The Tubes, Wilko Johnson's Solid Senders	45,000
Knebworth Festival 1979		Chas & Dave, Commander Cody, Fairport Convention, Led Zeppelin, the Marshall Tucker Band, Southside Johnny, Todd Rundgren	109,000	^[10]
Knebworth Festival 1979		Chas & Dave, Commander Cody, Led Zeppelin, the New Barbarians, the Marshall Tucker Band, Southside Johnny, Todd Rundgren	60,000
Knebworth Festival 1980		Elkie Brooks, Lindisfarne, Mike Oldfield, the Beach Boys, the Blues Band, Santana	45,000	^[11]
Capital Jazz Festival 1981		Benny Goodman	50,000	^[12] ^[13]
Capital Jazz Festival 1982		Pizza Express All Stars, NYJO, Zoot Money, Bobby Lamb–Ray Premru Band, the Ronnie Scott Quintet, Nucleus, Shakatak, Morrissey–Mullen, the Breakfast Band, Carmen McRae
		B. B. King, Jimmy Cliff, the Jazztet, Jay McShann, Tal Farlow
		The Crusaders, Spyro Gyra, Chico Freeman, Dick Hyman, Dizzy Gillespie
		Ray Charles, Gerry Mulligan's Big Band, Clark Terry, Freddie Hubbard–Ron Carter, Modern Jazz Quartet
		Wynton Marsalis, Lionel Hampton's Big Band, Steps Ahead, Dave Brubeck (with Chris Brubeck and Jerry Bergonzi), Great Guitars
Greenbelt Festival 1982		Adrian 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 Festival 1983		100% Proof, Cliff Richard, Jessy Dixon, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Sheila Walsh
The Return of the Knebworth Fayre 1985		Alaska, Blackfoot, Deep Purple, Mama's Boys, Meat Loaf, Mountain, Scorpions, UFO	80,000	^[14]
A Night of Summer Magic 1986	9 August 1986		120,000	^[15]
The Silver Clef Award Winners Concert 1990		Cliff Richard & the Shadows, Genesis, Dire Straits, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Robert Plant & Jimmy Page, Status Quo, Tears for Fears	120,000	^[16]
Knebworth Festival 1992		Genesis, Lisa Stansfield, the Saw Doctors	90,000	^[17] ^[18]
Knebworth Festival 1996	10 August 1996	Oasis, Ocean Colour Scene, Manic Street Preachers, the Bootleg Beatles, the Chemical Brothers, the Prodigy	125,000
Knebworth Festival 1996	11 August 1996	Oasis, Cast, Dreadzone, Kula Shaker, Manic Street Preachers, the Charlatans	125,000
Ministry @Knebworth 2001		Bent, Jamiroquai, Lo Fidelity Allstars	35,000^[19]	^[20] ^[21]
Robbie Williams Live at Knebworth	1 August 2003	Robbie Williams, Ash, Kelly Osbourne, Basement Jaxx, Moby, the Darkness	125,000	^[22] ^[23]
	2 August 2003		125,000
	3 August 2003		125,000
Wild in the Country 2007		2ManyDJs, Erol Alkan, Hot Chip, Justice, Sasha & John Digweed, Simian Mobile Disco, Tiga, Underworld
Sonisphere Festival 2009		Airbourne, Alien Ant Farm, Anthrax, Björn Again, Bullet for My Valentine, Heaven & Hell, Linkin Park, Skindred, Soil, Taking Back Sunday, the Used	55,000	^[24]
Sonisphere Festival 2009		Alice in Chains, Avenged Sevenfold, Buckcherry, Feeder, Killing Joke, Lamb of God, Limp Bizkit, Machine Head, Mastodon, Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, Paradise Lost, Saxon	55,000
Sonisphere Festival 2010		65daysofstatic, Alice Cooper, Delain, Europe, Gary Numan, Terrorvision, Turisas	55,000
		Anthrax, Apocalyptica, Corey Taylor, Family Force 5, Fear Factory, Gallows, Lacuna Coil, Mötley Crüe, Papa Roach, Placebo, Rammstein, Sabaton, Skunk Anansie, Soulfly, Therapy?	55,000
		Alice 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, Slayer	55,000
Sonisphere Festival 2011		Anthrax, Diamond Head, Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer
		Architects, Bad Religion, Biffy Clyro, Cavalera Conspiracy, Sylosis, You Me At Six, Weezer
		Arch Enemy, Limp Bizkit, Mastodon, Motörhead, Parkway Drive, Slipknot, Volbeat
The Red Hot Chili Peppers		The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dizzee Rascal, the Wombats, Reverend and the Makers	80,000
Eastern Electronics	(2–4)	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 Strays	12,000	^[25] ^[26]
Sonisphere Festival 2014	(4–6)		50,000
Knebworth Festival 2022	3 June 2022		100,000	^[27] ^[28]
Knebworth Festival 2022	4 June 2022	Jack Saunders, Goat Girl, Fat White Family, Michael Kiwanuka, Kasabian, Liam Gallagher	100,000
Eddfest 2026				^[29] ^[30]

Bibliography

Book: Blake . Mark . Freddie Mercury: A Kind of Magic . 2016 . Omnibus Press.

External links

51.8744°N -0.2189°W

Notes and References

News: 30 years since Queen's majestic farewell tour. The Sunday Post. 21 March 2018.
Web site: Robbie Williams Live at Knebworth . 23 January 2011 . 19 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110719052806/http://www.knebworthhouse.com/rock/robbiewilliams/intro.htm . dead .
Web site: Robbie Williams at Knebworth 2003 line-up and rumours - eFestivals.co.uk. efestivals.co.uk. 6 April 2018.
Web site: Robbie Williams @ Knebworth . 5 August 2003.
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 .
Web site: 1974 Knebworth Festival, The Bucolic Frolic @ www.ukrockfestivals.com . 2006-06-13.
Web site: The 1975 Knebworth Concert @ www.ukrockfestivals.com . 2006-06-13.
Web site: The 1976 Knebworth Concert @ www.ukrockfestivals.com . 2006-06-13.
Web site: The 1978 Knebworth Concert @ www.ukrockfestivals.com . 2006-06-13.
Web site: The 1979 Knebworth Concerts @ www.ukrockfestivals.com . 2006-06-13.
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 .
Kennedy. Kevin. Summer 1982. Capital Jazz. The Wire. 1. 4.
[Getty Images]
Web site: deep-purple.net .
Web site: geocities.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20091026224720/http://geocities.com/ledzeppeliner2003/k86.html. 2009-10-26.
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 .
Web site: Genesis Live at Knebworth 1992 (1992). letterboxd.com. 6 April 2018.
Web site: Genesis . 2006-05-28.
Classic Rock Knebworth supplement, circa June 2010
Web site: Virtual Festivals: Ministry @ Knebworth 2001 . 2006-05-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120817162524/http://www.virtualfestivals.com/ . 17 August 2012 . dead .
Web site: eFestivals: Knebworth '01 . 2006-05-29.
Web site: Knebworth House Rock Concerts: Robbie Williams Live at Knebworth . 2006-05-28 . 4 February 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120204195707/http://www.knebworthhouse.com/rock/robbiewilliams/page1.htm . dead .
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 .
Web site: Sonisphere Festival . https://web.archive.org/web/20090707104112/http://uk.sonispherefestival.net/line-up/ . 7 July 2009 . dead .
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.
Web site: FESTIVAL ALERT: EASTERN ELECTRICS 2013, LONDON. 8 February 2013. Daily Beat. 18 March 2016.
Web site: Liam Gallagher – Concert Info . Knebworth House . 4 June 2022 .
Web site: LOCAL COMMUNITY INFORMATION – LIAM GALLAGHER AT KNEBWORTH . Knebworth House . 4 June 2022.
https://www.ironmaiden.com/run-for-your-lives-to-knebworth/
https://www.ironmaiden.com/iron-maiden-announce-eddfest/