With one month to go until this year’s inaugural Stone Free Festival, Kilimanjaro Live and The O2 are proud to reveal the full details of the weekend’s extravaganza.
Main Stage Arena:
With a stunning line-up in the arena, Stone Free will be headlined by Alice Cooper on the Saturday night in his only UK performance of 2016, and Rick Wakeman on the Sunday in a world exclusive performance of his flamboyant, 12-million-selling masterpiece ‘he Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table for the first time since 1975.
Saturday:
- Alice Cooper
- The Darkness
- Apocalyptica
- Blackberry Smoke
Sunday:
- Rick Wakeman
- Marillion
- Steve Hackett
- Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here Symphonic Live
The arena opens at 4:30pm on Saturday and 4:00pm on Sunday.
Indigo at The O2:
Stone Free Festival will feature performances throughout the afternoon at Indigo at The O2, including performances on the Saturday from Northern Irish alt-rock heroes Therapy? and former Hanoi Rocks frontman and revered rock ‘n’ roll icon Michael Monroe.
Sunday will feature London-based progressive, psychedelic rockers Messenger, who have recently announced their g to InsideOutMusic and their labelmates and fellow progressive rock band, Haken, who PROG magazine have described as:
One of the brightest young bands in the progressive sphere right now.
When the arena finishes on Saturday night, the excitement doesn’t stop there! There will be an after party with AC/DC UK, guaranteed to shake you all night long. And if that isn’t enough, there will be a DJ set from Thunderdome. Having likely not been to sleep since Thursday and powered entirely on the vitamins available in double bourbons, expect them to bring enough dirty rock’n’roll to make Indigo at The O2 tear itself a new emergency exit.
Saturday:
- Therapy?
- Michael Monroe
- The Virginmarys
- Jackaman
- Jared James Nichols
Sunday:
- Haken
- Messenger
- Knifeworld
- Cats In Space
Speak Easy Lounge:
Bringing more than music to the weekend’s festivities, the Speak Easy Lounge will be hosting a string of spoken word performances, featuring the ionate and charismatic Jared Christmas as Master of Ceremonies. With his ride of laughs and gasps and an edge of anger which manifests itself in his incredible rants against the small things in our lives, this is not to be missed!
Performances include BAFTA-nominated stand-up comedian Nick Helm who recently sold-out the Kentish Town Forum and regularly appears on 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Russell Howard’s Good News and his own show Nick Helm’s Heavy Entertainment.
Also for VIP ticket holders (King For A Day/King For A Weekend), the tried and tested Q&A format will be mixed up a little with freelance journalist, writer and critic David Quantick interviewing Alice Cooper in a very special and no doubt highly entertaining chat, giving fans a chance to hear first hand the stories from their idol. David will also be doing a live version of his Radio 4 Show First Impressions.
Stone Free Festival ticket holders will also be able to attend the very special event Roger Dean in conversation with Rick Wakeman. This is a chance to watch the legendary artist, designer and visionary responsible for many of the famous Yes, Asia and Uriah Heep album covers talk with Rick Wakeman about the creative process between visual and audio artists as they are both working on the new album cover for the re-recording of The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and The Knights of The Round Table.
Ticket holders will also be able to see The Darkness in an exclusive playback of their iconic debut album Permission to Land, with the band discussing the rollercoaster ride of that album and their career.
Other performances include acclaimed comedian and festival favourite John Hastings and performer Michael Livesley with his reenactment of Vivian Stanshall’s Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, and Beer and Music Matching with British writer Pete Brown who has won the “Bbeer writer of the year” award and knows that:
The right tune and the right beer together can enhance each other…
The ATP festival quizmaster general Lord Sinclair, will be bringing his Sick Things Solid Rock Quiz to test all the rock aficionados. Leading photographer and graphic artist Carl Glover will also be giving a talk about his artwork for the Marillion albums Marbles, Radiation and Somewhere Else.
Saturday:
- Jarred Christmas (MC)
- Alice Cooper in conversation
- The Darkness Permission To Land
- Nick Helm
- John Hastings
Sunday:
- Rick Wakeman in conversation
- Pete Brown “Beer and Music Matching”
- Michael Livesley
- Carl Glover: Marillion’s artwork
The Entrance Stage:
For all Stone Free Festival goers, as you enter the main entrance to The O2 complex the stage will be there to welcome you with a bang and will have performances throughout the afternoon as your soundtrack to the entertainment.
Saturday:
- The Lounge Kittens
- Dorje
- Vodun
- The RPMs
Sunday:
- Xander and The Peace Pirates
- Colour Of Noise
- Vambo
- Bad Touch
The Beer Garden:
With no chance of rain stopping play, there will still be the chance to bask outside in London’s summer sun. Just beside 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.
Rock Royalty VIP Packages including Meet & Greets:
Artist Meet & Greet tickets are available as part of the Rock Royalty VIP experience over the weekend that allows customers the opportunity to meet the headliners. The Meet & Greet with Alice Cooper is now SOLD OUT but there is still the chance to meet Rick Wakeman on Sunday. You can see all details of VIP packages here.
The Stone Free Cinema:
Cineworld at The O2, the Stone Free Cinema will be screening two cult classics. John Carpenters Prince Of Darkness, which sees Alice Cooper lead an army of zombies in the supernatural horror will be shown on Saturday, followed by John Boorman’s Excalibur on Sunday, the definitive King Arthur movie and warm up to Rick Wakeman’s Myths and Legends… performance.
Saturday 1pm:
John Carpenter’s Prince Of Darkness
Sunday 1pm:
John Boorman’s Excalibur
Classic Rock Vinyl Fair:
Free to the general public, VIP Record Fairs will host the inaugural Stone Free Festival record fair on Saturday 18th June. VIP Record Fairs produce more Vinyl Record Fairs than any other company in the world! At the Stone Free Festival they will present specially selected vinyl dealers from around the UK. You can browse and buy vinyl from prog rock, punk rock and hard rock to glam rock, classic rock and 60s rock. On Sunday 19th there will be various vinyl dealers and market stalls for you to meet some great sellers and maybe pick up a bargain?
