Finally. Life back to normal. For the most parts anyway. As a visitor at Sweden Rock Festival since 2003 it really felt like something was missing when the festival was cancelled not only once but twice. I know, worse things happened to people during the pandemic, things that makes a couple of years of cancelled festivals look like a piss in the ocean which in turn really makes the removal of the pandemic tag so much more delightful. The pandemic also taught us for real that we shall take nothing for granted. That showed at this year’s festivities – people seemed happier than ever to return to Sweden Rock. For me personally, I didn’t even care which bands were booked, I was just so happy to be there at all and I think I wasn’t alone in that spirit.
This year’s festival has more or less the same line-up as the one that was booked for 2020 – a few bands cancelled and replacements were added. Unfortunately some of the bands that jumped ship were bands I really wanted to see – Stryper, Harem Scarem and The Wildhearts – and truth be told, the line-up wasn’t the strongest in the history of the festival so to speak. As always, some bands that I had planned to watch were missed for some reason or the other and some bands I stumbled upon by accident. I did watch some of Megadeth but quite frankly, even though I like the band I have never been a huge fan and I just don’t find them all that fun to watch. They did sound good but I got bored so I effed off after just a few songs.
I also had planned to watch both Dirty Honey and some of Nightwish but some good old partying made me completely forget time. Yes, folks, I drank and laughed them away. How dumb. But I did have a good time. Same with Bombus – something I hate myself for. I overslept. How amateurish. Apparently Kingdom Come was this year’s King Kobra and was a mess. I had planned to catch them but they clashed with Opeth and I wasn’t gonna miss Opeth. I’m not the least sad I missed them especially after watching some clips on YouTube.
Then there are Saxon and Hardcore Superstar. I really like both but I have already seen them on numerous occasions and at them time I just couldn’t be arsed so I skipped both of them just like that. In Flames was on my list too but I have completely lost interest in that band so I buggered off to the VIP area for drinks instead as a warm up for the mighty king of diamonds. On the other hand I hadn’t planned to see Sorcerer. Not because I don’t like them but because of other commitments. However, on my way to our home away from home, me and brother went by the Rockklassiker tent and lent them and ear and an eye for a couple songs and damn they sounded good. That is a band I have to catch live at some point.
Sweden Rock Festival 2022 was fantastic. Four days of great weather – a few raindrops joined in on Saturday but that was nothing that bothered at all – with lots of happy people, good music, beer and food were both intoxicating and arousing. The pandemic is over and to finally be back out there was close to a euphoric sensation. I’m counting the days to Sweden Rock Festival 2023.
Wednesday 8th
Thursday 9th
Friday 10th
Saturday 11th
CD & Festival reviews 