The Review - MUSIC - grooves with RóISíN GADELRAB Published: 25 June 2009
Hard day’s right for the Bells
PREVIEW - HARD ROCK CALLING
Hyde Park
HARD Rock Calling is shaping up to be London’s ultimate festival and one of the top summer concert events. Featuring hard rock kings such as Bruce Springsteen and young pretenders The Killers, the event in Hyde Park promises to keep the Queen and her corgies up all night. But if Her Majesty does fancy getting out of the house for a bit she can slide on down and rock out to some of the greatest bands gigging on planet Earth.
Day one’s line-up is fit for a well-travelled king with Scouse masters Echo and the Bunnymen, indie upstarts the Kooks, Australia’s Howling Bells (pictured) and Nevada’s finest, The Killers, taking to the stage.
By day two, Prince Philip should be dusting off his hunting wellies to frolick in the mud. The Duke surely won’t be able to resist Chrissy Hinde leading The Pretenders in skin-tight jeans and killer boots before rockin’ in the free world with Neil Young.
Surprise folk heroes Fleet Foxes, bluesy pensioner Seasick Steve and steel guitar genius Ben Harper should appeal to all generations while Priscilla Ahn and the Magic Numbers are well worth a watch. And if Prince Charles can take a break from pacing the drawing room fuming about the evils of contemporary architecture, day three offers the quietly improving Starsailor, American heroes Dave Matthews Band and The Boss, Bruce Springsteen and his E-Street Band.
So if you’re not stalking deer in Balmoral, or having tea with the Sultan of Brunei, get yourself down to Hard Rock Calling to see some of the greatest dynasties in rock history.
william wilkes * Tickets and full line-up from www.hardrockcalling.co.uk
Single day tickets are £45
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