TONS OF ROCK 2026 (Oslo, Norway)
June 24-27, 2026
by Jorge Patacas
Wednesday, June 24th
For the first time in its twelve-year history, Tons of Rock was completely sold out nearly a month before it kicked-off, reaffirming just how massive the event has grown and how deeply the audience connects with the experience.
As every year since 2019, the event was once again held at Ekebergsletta, in the Ekeberg area of Oslo, the capital of Norway, an ideal location for a festival of this magnitude. However, there were a few changes and additions this year to enhance the overall experience, the most notable being a completely new zone called The Swamp. Here you could find, among other things, tattoos, records, and some striking visual pieces at the Tons of Art tent, which previously occupied a different spot within the grounds. At the entrance of this section, organizers set up The Swamp stage, where performances were announced only minutes before they took place, meaning that if you were nearby, you might suddenly catch a band. Many were pleasantly surprised by the local acts who showed up, including Staysman, Captain Kill, the metalcore outfit Halcyon Days, and the raw and aggressive young death metal band Nedgravd.
Another newly introduced space, The Arcade, was also part of this year’s edition. Here visitors could find games, merch, painting, musical instruments and sneak peeks of upcoming movies, such as “Jackass: Best and Last”, with none other than Chris Pontius AKA “Partyboy” himself in attendance, much to the delight of fans.
The Storm area, which was inaugurated last year, is located inside a large tent offering a substantial beverage selection alongside performances from both underground bands and stand-up comedians. As for the usual stages, the Vampire and Moonlight swapped locations, while the Scream, remained in the same one. Here, after an epic countdown reaching 1000, the Norwegian comedy act Black Debbath kicked off the festival as they’ve done every single year since its inception. This time around, the band members had their hair dyed black and were dressed in black as well, and were joined by a brass band on stage. Their signature humor was present from the first note, even starting an interactive quiz where every single correct answer was simply “Tons of Rock”.
Musically, the band delivered a mix of classics alongside their fresh, infectious new track “Bøler Rock Bydel”, a hard rock tune about the Bøler neighborhood in Oslo. In a way, the song serves as their homegrown equivalent to Kiss’ “Detroit Rock City”. Between the brass accompaniment and the unmistakable energy, they set a vibrant tone for everything that followed.
It’s been a few years now since former Sepultura brothers Max and Igor Cavalera began revisiting their classic catalog, either re-recording albums or playing them live on stage.
This time they embarked on a tour dedicated to playing the masterpiece “Chaos A.D.” (1993) in its entirety, accompanied by Igor Cavalera Jr. on bass and Travis Stone on drums.
The quartet took the stage with the crushing opener “Refuse/Resist”, while images from wars and conflicts were shown in the background. Almost instantly, the crowd was on their feet, as inevitably happens whenever these Brazilian legends take control of a venue.
“Slave New World”, “Amen”, and “Propaganda” followed, each delivered with an intensity that reminded everyone why “Chaos A.D.” remains as one of the best 90’s metal albums.
Then, during the fifth song of the set, “We Who Are Not As Others”, the electricity was abruptly cut due to a blackout affecting the entire area, forcing the band to halt mid-song. The musicians left the stage and the audience waited for more than twenty minutes until an announcement confirmed that technical difficulties had temporarily suspended the shows. Given Oslo’s strict curfew regulations, rescheduling the remainder of the set was not possible, so the band was unable to return to the stage. Hope they come back soon!
The festival managed to resolve the technical issues across the other stages, so Trivium took the Scream stage without further incident. This marked the band’s first time in Oslo in eight years, and their debut at Tons of Rock. Judging by the fervent reception they received, this certainly won’t be their last visit.
Hailing from Orlando, Florida, the four-piece opened with “Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr”, the breakthrough single from their very successful second album “Ascendancy” (2005), which propelled them to recognition with their early 2000s metalcore sound. Songs like “A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation” showcased the brilliant guitar harmonies, while “Like Light to Flies”, also from the aforementioned “Ascendancy”, reminded longtime fans of the album’s enduring legacy. The set concluded with “In Waves”, closing out a performance that included crowdsurfing, pyrotehcniques and confetti.
As soon as Trivium finished, we headed back to the Vampire stage, only to find out that there were still technical difficulties. Fortunately, the issues were fully resolved after roughly forty minutes, at which point Babymetal finally took the stage.
When these three Japanese girls appeared on the scene back in 2010 blending synchronized choreographies with pop vocals over crushing metal riffs, many dismissed the project as a mere novelty or one of those bizarre internet phenomena. Yet they went on to conquer the globe, and over a decade later, the trio is still touring worldwide, selling out arenas and performing at festivals. Backed by a masked band, the three vocalists known as Su-Metal, Moametal, and Momometal delivered a show that captivated an audience spanning all ages (yes, plenty of grown adults too) with their catchy tunes like “Road of Resistance”, “Ratata”, and “Gimme Chocolate!!”.
Another act that no one could have predicted would go that far when they emerged as a deathcore outfit in the mid-2000s was Bring Me The Horizon. Over the years, the band gradually distanced themselves from their roots, embracing elements from alternative and electronic rock as well as pop influences in catchy songs that has since won over millions of fans worldwide. This evolution propelled them to headline status at major festivals around the world, including closing the first day of Tons of Rock.
The stage came alive with projections of the animated character from the cover art of their highly acclaimed latest album “Post Human: Next Gen” (2024), which made recurring appearances throughout the performance. The set started with “Darkside” from the same album, immediately igniting the crowd. Their predominantly young fanbase erupted into unified choruses, singing every song of the set that featured fan favorites like “Mantra” and the catchy “Shadow Moses” on the first half of the show. Rumors circulated that Babymetal might join the band on stage for “Kingslayer”, the collaboration track they recorded together, and it happened. The three girls appeared on the Scream stage sending the audience into absolute frenzy.
Shortly after, another surprise unfolded when a fan from the crowd was invited onstage to serve as guest vocalist for “Antivist”. His delivery was so good that some people thought it was planned, but it was genuinely spontaneous. We later learned that his name is Kristoffer and plays in the bands Lüdo and Arcanist.
The last part of the set featured some more fan favorites: “Follow You”, “Can You Feel My Heart” and “Throne”, each met with massive sing-alongs. With that, Bring Me The Horizon concluded a triumphant night and now it was time to have some rest to get ready for day two.
Thursday, June 25th
Opening the sunny Thursday on the Scream stage was Finnish band Apocalyptica, making their debut at Tons of Rock despite having performed regularly in Norway since the late 90’s. However, most of the audience raised their hands when asked who hadn’t seen the band before. After the start with “Ride the Lightning” and “Enter Sandman”, the band explained they would dedicate the entire set to Metallica covers in support of their latest release “Plays Metallica Vol. 2” (2024), the sequel to their groundbreaking 1996 debut “Plays Metallica by Four Cellos”.
Interaction with the crowd was great and many sang the words for every Metallica song, while celloists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen and Perttu Kivilaakso, joined by Mikko Kaakkuriniemi on drums, delivered breathtaking renditions of timeless classics like “Blackened”, the emotional “Nothing Else Matters” and “Master of Puppets”. The end came with “Seek and Destroy” and this became an unforgettable spectacle with Perttu playing the strings with his teeth, and across the back of his neck, while the audience erupted in a unified chorus. A perfect way to end a performance that reinforced why Apocalyptica remain so unique.
The legendary Danish hard rock/glam metal band D.A.D. (Disneyland After Dark) delivered a captivating performance where the visuals were as crucial as the music. Opening with “Jihad” from their third album “No Fuel Left for the Pilgrims” (1989), it was clear this was going to be a very entertaining show with the audience engaged from the start. While vocalist/guitarist Jesper Binzer was the one interacting with the audience, it was the bass player Stig Pedersen who drew all the attention, standing out with his striking appearance. During the anthem “Sleeping My Day Away”, he even appeared wearing a helmet rigged with spark-splashing fireworks. Meanwhle, the drummer Laust Sonne, who has been in the band since 1999, was elevated and lowered on a platform. They know exactly how to entertain the crowd and they do it well.
With over forty years of history and numerous lineup changes along the way, Suicidal Tendencies, led by vocalist Mike Muir, delivered a highly intense show with contagious energy under the blazing sun. Opening with the classic “You Can’t Bring Me Down”, the crowd surrendered to the crossover act, starting circle pits and belting out the chorus. Muir interacted extensively with the audience between songs and moved around while performing gems like “Possessed to Skate”, “Freedumb”, “Send Me Your Money”, and “War Inside My Head”, which triggered a massive moshpit. The guitarists Dean Pleasants and Ben Weinman (The Dillinger Escape Plan) were also very active, moving from one side of the stage to the other, while Robert Trujillo’s talented son Tye Trujillo was more subdued on bass yet visibly thrilled to be playing in the same band where his father built his career.
The set featured many highlights, including “I Saw Your Mommy” with its influential riff, and “Cyco Vision”, during which a wall of death erupted. For the final song, “Pledge Your Allegiance”, the stage flooded with fans who jumped and screamed “ST!” at the top of their lungs. Undoubtedly one of the best performances of the festival!
On the main stage, the thrash metal legends Anthrax opted for a very old school set, getting a great response from the crowd. Alongside Scott Ian and Jonathan Donais on guitars, Joey Belladonna on vocals and Frank Bello on bass, Darby Todd filled in for Charlie Benante on drums for selected dates.
They opened with no mercy, delivering the title track from their 1987 masterpiece “Among the Living”, followed by their cover of Joe Jackson’s “Got the Time”. The audience was already euphoric. “Madhouse” and the classic “Caught in a Mosh” came next before shifting to “Keep it in the Family” from the “Persistence of Time” album (1990). There was also room for a new song, “It’s for the Kids”, from the upcoming album “Cursum Perficio”, which was warmly welcomed. Their version of Trust’s “Antisocial” followed, then “Medusa”, one of Joey Belladonna’s personal favorites. For the classic “Indians” from “Among the Living”, the vocalist stepped offstage to greet fans in the front row, putting an epic end to an energetic performance.
Moving back to the Vampire stage, it was time for legendary shock rocker Alice Cooper who is already 78 years old (!) yet still sings the same way and delivers a very entertaining show with all the usual theatrics and outfit changes, as if no time had passed. It was completely packed when the set began with “Who Do You Think We Are” before transitioning into “Spark in the Dark” followed by a string of hits spanning various periods of his career, including “No More Mr. Nice Guy”, “House of Fire”, “Eighteen” and “Feed My Frankenstein”.
The title track from “Dirty Diamonds” (2005) came next, then the classic “Hey Stoopid”, which originally featured Ozzy Osbourne as guest vocalist. “Dangerous Tonight” followed, and one of the most celebrated moments was the radio hit “Poison” from “Trash” (1989), an album where Alice explored the glam metal scene of the time. The band behind him is absolutely fantastic, featuring bass player Chuck Garric, who has been playing alongside him for twenty four years now, as well as guitarists Ryan Roxie and Tommy Henriksen, drummer Glen Sobel, and the new very young guitarist Anna Cara who is replacing Nita Strauss, while she’s on maternity leave. Cara delivered an impressive solo before the band continued with the title track of “Brutal Planet” (2000), an album that incorporated some industrial elements, embracing the sound of the era.
“Ballad of Dwight Fry” and “Cold Ethyl”, where Alice appeared dancing with a doll, gave way to the timeless ballad “Only Women Bleed”. “Going Home” preceded the grand finale with “School’s Out” blended with Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick In The Wall”, a combination he has been doing for many years. But the real surprise came at the very end, when he chose to close his performance with the anthem of a generation: Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. What a fantastic show!
Headliners on the Scream stage were none other than the mighty Iron Maiden, who are currently on their “Run For Your Lives” 50th Anniversary tour that only features songs from their golden era, covering the period from their self-titled debut album (1980) to “Fear of the Dark” (1992). As expected, Ekebergsletta overflowed with devoted Maiden fans who sang every song.
They opened with “Murders in the Rue Morgue”, making the initial part of the set a dream come true for fans of the late vocalist Paul Di’Anno, as several track from that period were performed. With “Killers”, the iconic mascot Eddie came on stage for the first time, while “Wrathchild” prompted the crowd to erupt in cheers. Meanwhile, the backdrop screen enhanced the show visually.
Bruce Dickinson, now 67 years old, is still one of the best vocalists in the world, and the band sounded phenomenal as always with founding member Steve Harris on bass, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray and Janick Gers on guitars, and now with Simon Dawson on drums following the departure of legendary Nicko McBrain in 2024 due to physical challenges. Definitely not an easy task for Dawson, yet he absolutely delivers, and fans have embraced him wholeheartedly.
Before introducing the song “Infinite Dreams” from their “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” album (1988), Dickinson praised the Norwegian football team’s recent World Cup campaign, then commanded the crowd to do the Viking row chant that became so popular lately. It’s been decades since Iron Maiden cemented their iconic, legendary status, yet they keep going, uniting generation after generation. It was unbelievable to witness teenagers singing their anthems just as passionately as their parents, or even grandparents at this point.
One of the highlights was “Powerslave”, where Dickinson appeared wearing a mask, while the classic “The Trooper” saw the vocalist coming out with the British flag as usual, but this time he also raised the Norwegian one at a certain point. Eddie appeared again to thunderous cheers. Then the vocalist appeared in a cage for “Hallowed Be Thy Name” before leaving the stage for the first time with “Iron Maiden”.
The encore arrived with the fast-paced “Aces High”, followed by two classics, “Fear of the Dark” and “Wasted Years”, met with enthusiastic singalongs from the crowd, wrapping up one of the finest performances of the year. It’s almost unbelievable to think that Maiden has been doing this for half a century and remains this exceptional. A two hour show that didn’t feel lengthy at all. Simply amazing!
Friday, June 26th
Our third day began early in the afternoon with the legendary Queensryche taking the Vampire stage. With animated visuals displayed on the screen behind the drum kit, the band traveled back in time and opened with their classic “Queen of the Reich”, taken from their self-titled debut EP released in 1983. Vocalist Todd La Torre, who replaced Geoff Tate in 2012, has been delivering great performances ever since, something clearly evident this time in classics like “Operation: Mindcrime” and “Warning”. However, there was almost no interaction with the crowd, as they opted to let the music speak for itself. Surprisingly, they chose not to play very well-known songs such as “Silent Lucidity” or “I Don’t Believe In Love”, instead going for other gems in their catalog such as “Anarchy-X/Revolution Calling” and “Empire”. “Eyes of a Stranger” closed out the set, leaving attendees satisfied and ready for what was about to come next.
This year’s edition of the festival saw numerous artist cancellations, including Rage Against the Machine’s guitarist Tom Morello. He was originally scheduled to perform on the Scream stage but was unable to make it due to family reasons. The festival’s production team quickly secured a worthy replacement in the form of Swedish rockers The Hellacopters, led by Nicke Andersson, a key character in the development of the Swedish death metal scene through his work with Nihilist, which later evolved into Entombed. They delivered an excellent performance that was well-received by the crowd, featuring tracks like “The Devil Stole the Beat from the Lord” and “By the Grace of God”, an essential piece that couldn’t be missing from the setlist.
Another notable cancellation was The Pretty Reckless, who announced early on that they were unable to tour due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts. Swedish outfit Avatar was announced as their replacement, and their fans celebrated enthusiastically. Their fanbase has expanded significantly since the band’s inception in 2001 to the present day, and their sound evolved in such a way that it’s almost impossible to categorize them into a single genre. They took the stage opening with “In The Airwaves”, followed by “Let It Burn” and “The Eagle Has Landed”, and immediately it was clear that they are at the peak of their career. They sounded tight and delivered a theatrical show that fans absolutely love, with Johannes Eckerstrõm’s charismatic frontman presence captivating everyone in attendance. The Vampire stage was packed, and crowdsurfing erupted during songs like “Smells Like a Freakshow” and “Hail the Apocalypse”, which proved to be highlights.
Next on the same stage were the Polish blackened death metal masters Behemoth, who have performed in Norway so many times that even their guitarist/vocalist Nergal lost count, as he mentioned from the stage.
Despite that fact, their shows are always packed and this was no exception. The setlist featured some of their all-time favorites like “Conquer All” (have you noticed the similarity with the riff of Anthrax’s “Be All End All”?), “Bartzabel”, as well as “The Shit Ov God”, which had mixed responses when it was released last year as part of their thirteenth studio album of the same name in 2025, but at Ekebergsletta it was definitely well received. As a tribute to one of their biggest influences, they played a cover of Bathory’s “The Return of Darkness and Evil”, where the audience dared to start crowdsurfing and also a circle pit. “O Father O Satan O Sun!” brought to a conclusion a performance that once again proved why Behemoth remains one of the most formidable live acts in extreme metal.
Black Metal pioneers Mayhem took the Moonlight stage, where they played songs from their latest album “Liturgy of Death” (2026), as well as classics like “Freezing Moon” with its usual sinister atmosphere. The enclosed tent setting proved to be an ideal choice for their performance, perfectly complementing the dark, ritualistic aura that defines their sound.
At the same time, the legendary Joan Jett & The Blackhearts took the main stage, replacing headliner Yungblud, who had to cancel at the last minute due to medical concerns. Fortunately, we were able to catch part of their performance as well. Besides the songs from their own catalog, they played a couple of songs from The Runaways, the pioneering band Joan Jett was part of alongside Lita Ford, Cherie Currie, Sandy West and Jackie Fox. We got to hear the iconic hit “Cherry Bomb” and “You Drive Me Wild”, the first song she ever wrote. The cover of The Arrows’ “I Love Rock N’ Roll” was another highlight and among the most celebrated tracks of the evening. Same happened with “I Hate Myself for Loving You” before coming to a conclusion with the classic “Bad Reputation”. As she left the stage to a standing ovation, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that they had just shared a moment with a rock and roll living legend.
Norway qualified for the football World Cup for the first time in 28 years. Their group stage encounter against France took place the same day at 21:00 (Norwegian time). With that in mind, organizers of the festival adjusted the main stage schedule so that headliners performed earlier, allowing the big screens to broadcast the match. The area quickly transformed into a fan zone atmosphere, with a lot of people wearing Norway national team jerseys. Also, as part of this year’s merchandise, a special limited-edition alternate kit was released for festival attendees. Once the game concluded, it was time to rest and prepare for the festival’s final day.
Saturday, June 27th
The Swedish industrial four-piece Pain, led by the amazing Peter Tägtgren, opened the afternoon with the catchy “Same Old Song”. The Vampire stage was less crowded given the early slot, yet a decent number of fans witnessed an excellent performance featuring some of the best tracks in their catalog. “Suicide Machine”, “Zombie Slam”, and “Call Me”, whose studio version features Sabaton’s Joakim Brodén, were all part of the set, along with “Party in My Head”, during which balloons were tossed into the audience and the band members appeared in costumes.
Towards the end, they delivered “The Great Pretender”, “Go With the Flow”, and their hit “Shut Your Mouth” with an “alien” on stage, just like in the music video.
At the Moonlight stage, the American group Slay Squad, hailing from California, had a young crowd completely engaged starting circle pits and crowdsurfing to their blend of nu metal, hip hop, and deathcore breakdowns. Watching them felt like witnessing a modern reinterpretation of the rap metal wave from the late 90’s and early 00’s. One has to wonder: are we witnessing a genuine revival of the genre?
Back at the Vampire stage, a recording of a mashup with Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” and Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” played over the PA as guitar virtuoso Zakk Wylde and his band Black Label Society took the stage. As usual, the former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist showcased his skills supported by a lineup of exceptional musicians and, most importantly, delivered powerful songs. “Funeral Bell”, “Name in Blood” and excerpts of Ozzy’s “No More Tears” appeared in the set, while “Fire It Up” stood out as one of the highlights, with inflatable balls thrown into the audience. Wylde, alongside his longtime bandmate and fellow guitarist Dario Lorina, executed an extended dual solo, even playing their instruments behind their heads, a truly amazing moment. “Suicide Messiah” marked another peak, followed by additional solo work and a brief nod to Black Sabbath’s iconic riff from “Black Sabbath”. Images of a young Ozzy flashed across the screen during the final song, “Stillborn”, one of Black Label Society’s biggest anthems that originally featured Ozzy as guest vocalist. Wylde confirmed once again why he’s one of the best guitar players in the world.
As part of their farewell tour, currently celebrating 42 years since their formation, Sepultura performed their final show in Norway at Tons of Rock. The biggest metal band in Brazil began with one of their best songs, “Inner Self”, from the “Beneath the Remains” album (1989), followed by the new track “All Souls Rising”, which features orchestral arrangements. Their young drummer, Greyson Nekrutman, delivered an outstanding performance throughout the show despite the challenge of replacing one of the best drummers in the world today, Eloy Casagrande, who left the band in 2024 to join Slipknot.
The setlist spanned their discography, from the classic period with Max and Igor Cavalera to their releases over the past 28 years featuring Derrick Green on vocals. Fans heard “Kairos”, “Attitude”, which got a very good response, plus “The Place” and even a slow song, “Beyond the Dream”, both from their new EP “The Cloud of Unknowing”, showcasing Derrick’s clean vocal delivery. The instrumental “Kaiowas” from “Chaos A.D.” emerged as a standout moment, with guest percussion contributions by members of the Brazilian band Ego Kill Talent, but the most intense response from the crowd came with “Territory”, “Refuse/Resist”, “Arise”, “Ratamahatta”, and the closing track, “Roots Bloody Roots”.
Without excessive words or an elaborate goodbye beyond thanking the audience for their support all these years, the evening resembled another typical Sepultura performance, leaving attendees wondering whether this truly was the final performance or just another farewell tour in the vein of Slayer or Mötley Crüe, who reunited just a few years later after calling it quits. Yet this appears unlikely for Sepultura right now. Regardless, this is the band that placed not only Brazil but the entire South American continent on the metal map and remains the biggest South American metal band to this day. Thank you Sepultura for everything!
W.A.S.P. was another band that had to cancel their appearance at Tons of Rock 2026, so German heavy metal legends Accept stepped in as their replacement. The band is currently celebrating their 50th anniversary (!), delivering numerous classics spanning both the Udo Dirkschneider era and the period with current vocalist Mark Tornillo, who joined the band in 2009.
Opening with “Metal Heart” and its anthemic chorus that fans sang along to, followed by “Teutonic Terror”, they showed they’re as strong as ever. “Restless and Wild” further reinforced that impression. The set continued with “Run If You Can”, a medley featuring “Monster Man”, “Aiming High” and “Wrong Is Right”, and another classic in the form of “Princess of the Dawn”, which both veteran and young fans enjoyed.
The latter part of their set included the single “Pandemic”, plus timeless classics such as “Fast as a Shark” and “Balls to the Wall” with the entire audience singing along. Finally, they closed with the title track from their “I’m a Rebel” album (1980), which was another highlight.
Five decades into the journey, Accept proved that heavy metal’s foundations remain unshaken. One thing is clear: they have no intention of slowing down anytime soon.
On the Moonlight stage, it was time to witness a tribute to the mastermind behind Death, Chuck Schuldiner (R.I.P.), performed by Death to All, a project featuring former Death members Bobby Koelble (guitars), Steve DiGiorgio (bass), and Gene Hoglan (drums), alongside guitarist/vocalist Max Phelps, who respectfully interprets the material in a manner that genuinely evokes Schuldiner’s legacy. The band returned to the festival after their appearance in 2022 and received an enthusiastic response, with extensive crowdsurfing and fans singing along the songs.
DiGiorgio, who played a 3-string bass this time, was once again the one who had interaction with the crowd between songs. Flawless versions of “Lack of Comprehension”, “The Philosopher”, “Crystal Mountain”, “Spirit Crusher”, and the concluding “Pull the Plug” emerged as highlights of this performance, which happened to be the last one of their European tour. This is the closest to the original Death you can get. An excellent tribute!
A massive crowd gathered at the Scream stage for the day’s headliners, Limp Bizkit, who were not only making their first appearance at the festival but also their first-ever performance in Norway! An old radio player with cassette tapes from the 80’s and 90’s served as the stage setup, creating the atmosphere as the band emerged before an audience eager to finally see them live. They opened with “Out of Style” and immediately frontman Fred Durst declared it was going to feel like 1999, the peak of their career, before playing “Just Like This” and the hit “Break Stuff”, where the entire crowd at Ekebergsletta jumped in unison. Durst mentioned the security had asked him to instruct attendees to move two steps back, a request he repeated several times throughout the set to prevent injuries.
Bassist Richie Buxton, the touring musician filling in for Sam Rivers, who sadly passed away in October last year at age 48, did a really good job and was warmly received by the crowd. Between songs, recordings of the 80’s hits like Spandau Ballet’s “True” and The Outfield’s “Your Love” played over the PA, reinforcing the retro aesthetic of the stage design.
Fans went crazy with hits like “My Generation”, “Livin’ It Up”, “My Way”, “Nookie” and “Rollin'”, and it was curious to observe that attendees were not just people in their thirties and forties who grew up with Limp Bizkit during their heyday. A lot of teenagers and fans in their twenties, who were not even born when the band reached commercial peak, were equally invested in the experience as the older fans. During “Full Nelson”, a 14-year old boy was invited onto the stage to sing alongside Durst, creating a moment he undoubtedly will remember for the rest of his life. Durst even signed his red cap after finishing the song.
The Who’s cover of “Behind Blue Eyes” concluded with an image of Sam Rivers projected on the background screen, and they dedicated “Take a Look Around” to his memory. Strangely enough, the band performed “Break Stuff” again to close their show. Personally, I believe this would have made even more impact if they hadn’t played it earlier in the set, though the crowd responded with equal enthisiasm both times. As soon as the band finished the song, there were fireworks, marking the conclusion of another edition of Tons of Rock.
Once again, the festival organization was impeccable, taking care of every detail, from security and transportation to food and toilets, ensuring all attendees had everything necessary for an unforgettable experience. The event continues to improve annually, which is good news. See you in 2027!
