Stone Free Festival, which returns to London's O2 Arena for the second year running, has added Blue Öyster Cult, Gun, Sweet, The Answer and more to its impressive 2017 bill. Taking place on 17th June, the event is being headed up by Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow.
By Eamon O'Neill On 14th February 2017.
Stone Free Festival, which returns to London's O2 Arena for the second year running, has added Blue Öyster Cult, Gun, Sweet, The Answer and more to its impressive 2017 bill. Taking place on 17th June, the event is being headed up by Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. Taking over the whole of the arena for the day, bands will be appearing across two stages.
Playing a full headline set, and closing the afternoon festivities at Indigo at the O2 will be the iconic New York hard rockers Blue Öyster Cult, who throughout their four-decade career have garnered huge critical acclaim, in particular for the hit single ‘(Don’t Fear) The Reaper’ & other fan favourites including ‘Godzilla’ & ‘Burning For You’. They will be returning to London after a triumphant sold-out show at London’s Forum in summer 2016.
Speaking about their addition, Blue Öyster Cult say; “We’re thrilled to be returning to London for a headline set as part of Stone Free at the O2 Indigo on June 17th as we celebrate 45 years of being ‘ON TOUR FOREVER’”.
In the main arena joining headliners Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow will be legendary British glam rock giants Sweet, who during the seventies had thirteen Top 20 hits including ‘Blockbuster’, ‘Hell Raiser’, ‘Fox On the Run’ and the evergreen feel-good anthem ‘The Ballroom Blitz’.
Say Sweet; “It has been 40 years since Sweet played shows together with Rainbow in the USA. We therefore look forward to reconnecting where we left off. Both bands have gone through changes but with guitarists Ritchie Blackmore and Andy Scott still performing on stage the legacy remains intact. Most importantly the music especially the hits are still very much part of rock history today.”
Indigo at The O2 will be hosting a full afternoon of entertainment with Northern Ireland’s The Answer, who have hit new heights with their most recent album 'Solas' , and Scottish rockers Gun joining the aforementioned Blue Öyster Cult.
When the arena finishes on Saturday night, the excitement doesn’t stop there. There will be an after party with bad-ass bluegrass maestros Steve’n’Seagulls from Finland. Skillfully re-working some of metal’s finest moments into a new breed of country hoe-down guaranteed to shake you all night long!
Meanwhile, one of the must-visit destinations at last year’s event, the Speak Easy Lounge, is back to make you shed tears of laughter with a whole host of performances to be announced including comedian and singer-songwriter Phil Nichol, who found fame in the Canadian comedy music trio Corky and the Juice Pigs, comedy club regular Rich Wilson, hailed by Time Out as “Highly entertaining” and a very special live recording of Stuart Goldsmith’s Comedians’ Comedian podcast featuring a big comedy name to be announced.
In addition, the Big Entrance Stage will be there to welcome all Stone Free Festival goers with a bang as they arrive into the venue and will have performances throughout the afternoon providing a non-stop soundtrack to the variety of entertainment on offer. Headlining will be the menacing Evil Blizzard who with four basses and a singing drummer will bring their dystopian madness to proceedings. Joining them will be the rock and soul infused Buck & Evans, Australian hell-raising rockers Massive, bullish Brit rockers Massive Wagons and the heavy metal stalwarts Death Valley Knights.
With no chance of rain stopping play, there will still be the chance to bask outside in London’s summer sun. Outside the entrance to the O2 will be The Beer Garden with street food stalls and more live music to entertain fans as they eat, drink and get merry. Full Line-up to be announced.
Finally, free to the general public, VIP Record Fairs will be returning to Stone Free on Saturday 17th June. VIP Record Fairs produce more Vinyl Record Fairs than any other company in the world and at the Stone Free Festival they will present specially selected vinyl dealers from around the UK. You can browse through and buy vinyl from Prog Rock, Punk Rock and Hard Rock to Glam Rock, Classic Rock and sixties rock.
Tickets for Stone Free are available now from Axs, Ticketline, Myticket.co.uk, and Seetickets, with various upgrades available as detailed below. For details of all VIP packages, click here.
ROCK ROYALTY UPGRADE
This upgrade includes:
ROCK ROYALTY – GAUCHO DINNER – SOLD OUT!
The package includes:
Stone Free Festival, which returns to London's O2 Arena for the second year running, has added Blue Öyster Cult, Gun, Sweet, The Answer and more to its impressive 2017 bill. Taking place on 17th June, the event is being headed up by Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. Taking over the whole of the arena for the day, bands will be appearing across two stages.
Playing a full headline set, and closing the afternoon festivities at Indigo at the O2 will be the iconic New York hard rockers Blue Öyster Cult, who throughout their four-decade career have garnered huge critical acclaim, in particular for the hit single ‘(Don’t Fear) The Reaper’ & other fan favourites including ‘Godzilla’ & ‘Burning For You’. They will be returning to London after a triumphant sold-out show at London’s Forum in summer 2016.
Speaking about their addition, Blue Öyster Cult say; “We’re thrilled to be returning to London for a headline set as part of Stone Free at the O2 Indigo on June 17th as we celebrate 45 years of being ‘ON TOUR FOREVER’”.
In the main arena joining headliners Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow will be legendary British glam rock giants Sweet, who during the seventies had thirteen Top 20 hits including ‘Blockbuster’, ‘Hell Raiser’, ‘Fox On the Run’ and the evergreen feel-good anthem ‘The Ballroom Blitz’.
Say Sweet; “It has been 40 years since Sweet played shows together with Rainbow in the USA. We therefore look forward to reconnecting where we left off. Both bands have gone through changes but with guitarists Ritchie Blackmore and Andy Scott still performing on stage the legacy remains intact. Most importantly the music especially the hits are still very much part of rock history today.”
Indigo at The O2 will be hosting a full afternoon of entertainment with Northern Ireland’s The Answer, who have hit new heights with their most recent album 'Solas' , and Scottish rockers Gun joining the aforementioned Blue Öyster Cult.
When the arena finishes on Saturday night, the excitement doesn’t stop there. There will be an after party with bad-ass bluegrass maestros Steve’n’Seagulls from Finland. Skillfully re-working some of metal’s finest moments into a new breed of country hoe-down guaranteed to shake you all night long!
Meanwhile, one of the must-visit destinations at last year’s event, the Speak Easy Lounge, is back to make you shed tears of laughter with a whole host of performances to be announced including comedian and singer-songwriter Phil Nichol, who found fame in the Canadian comedy music trio Corky and the Juice Pigs, comedy club regular Rich Wilson, hailed by Time Out as “Highly entertaining” and a very special live recording of Stuart Goldsmith’s Comedians’ Comedian podcast featuring a big comedy name to be announced.
In addition, the Big Entrance Stage will be there to welcome all Stone Free Festival goers with a bang as they arrive into the venue and will have performances throughout the afternoon providing a non-stop soundtrack to the variety of entertainment on offer. Headlining will be the menacing Evil Blizzard who with four basses and a singing drummer will bring their dystopian madness to proceedings. Joining them will be the rock and soul infused Buck & Evans, Australian hell-raising rockers Massive, bullish Brit rockers Massive Wagons and the heavy metal stalwarts Death Valley Knights.
With no chance of rain stopping play, there will still be the chance to bask outside in London’s summer sun. Outside the entrance to the O2 will be The Beer Garden with street food stalls and more live music to entertain fans as they eat, drink and get merry. Full Line-up to be announced.
Finally, free to the general public, VIP Record Fairs will be returning to Stone Free on Saturday 17th June. VIP Record Fairs produce more Vinyl Record Fairs than any other company in the world and at the Stone Free Festival they will present specially selected vinyl dealers from around the UK. You can browse through and buy vinyl from Prog Rock, Punk Rock and Hard Rock to Glam Rock, Classic Rock and sixties rock.
Tickets for Stone Free are available now from Axs, Ticketline, Myticket.co.uk, and Seetickets, with various upgrades available as detailed below. For details of all VIP packages, click here.
ROCK ROYALTY UPGRADE
This upgrade includes:
- Access to the Rock Royalty VIP Lounge & Bar
- Priority Access to official Stone Free events, Stages and Official Aftershow Party
- Exclusive Stone Free VIP Gift
- Access wristbands, VIP Laminate & Lanyard
- Access to the American Express VIP Lounge
ROCK ROYALTY – GAUCHO DINNER – SOLD OUT!
The package includes:
- Access to the Rock Royalty VIP Lounge & Bar
- Priority Access to official Stone Free events, Stages and Official Aftershow Party
- Premium Arena Seat
- Exclusive Stone Free VIP Gift
- Official Stone Free Programme
- 3 Course, Set menu Gaucho Meal including welcome Glass of Chandon, ½ bottle of wine per person and water for the table and 2 choices per course
- Access wristbands, VIP Laminate & Lanyard
- Access to the American Express VIP Lounge
