Soundwave (Australian music festival)

Soundwave
AFI playing on the main stage at Soundwave Perth 2010
Genre	Heavy metal, metalcore, alternative rock, punk rock and pop punk[1]
Dates	mid-February – early March; late January
Location(s)	Australia Perth (2004–2014) Brisbane (2007–2015) Sydney (2007–2015) Melbourne (2008–2015) Adelaide (2008–2015)
Years active	2004–2015
Founded by	AJ Maddah
Website
SoundwaveFestival.com

Soundwave was an annual music festival held in major cities around Australia. The festival originated in Perth, Western Australia and began travelling to the other Australian capital cities in 2007. It features a number of international and Australian music acts, from various genres including rock, metal and punk.^[2] The festival has been headlined by Deftones, The Offspring, Incubus, Alice in Chains, Bloodhound Gang, Nine Inch Nails, Faith No More, Jimmy Eat World, Jane's Addiction, Soundgarden, Iron Maiden, Queens of the Stone Age, Smashing Pumpkins, System of a Down, Slipknot, Green Day, Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park, Blink 182 and Metallica. The festival was run and promoted by Soundwave Touring, who also run Harvest Festival and promote tours for bands and musicians each year.

On 17 December 2015, the Soundwave founder, music promoter AJ Maddah, announced that the 2016 Soundwave festival was cancelled due to poor ticket sales. This was announced two days after the announcement that 2016 would be the final Soundwave festival.

History

The Soundwave festival originated in Perth,^[3] as a smaller festival known as Gravity Soundwave within the Gravity Games.^[4] The Gravity Games were held in South Perth along the Swan River, being based mainly on water-based and action sports. The event was sponsored by Vodafone in its first year, with the company reportedly committing one million dollars to the event. Gravity Soundwave provided the music side of the festival, which took place at McCallum Park alongside the Swan River.^[5]

Gravity Soundwave was first introduced in the festival's first year, which was held on 14 and 15 October 2004. American pop punk band Good Charlotte effectively became the first headline act of Soundwave, when they performed in the festival's first night along with Gyroscope and One Dollar Short.^[5] The following night featured Unwritten Law, Regurgitator, MxPx, Lagwagon and Last Year's Hero.^[5]

The 2005 festival was again presented by Vodafone, being held on the night of 8 October. Gravity Soundwave was headlined by Grinspoon, with it also featuring American acts Unwritten Law, Reel Big Fish, and Goldfinger.^[4]

The third and final year of the Gravity Games festival in Perth was moved to December 2006, instead of October. Gravity Soundwave featured American act Aiden, local Australian bands Gyroscope, Kisschasy, Parkway Drive, The Getaway Plan and New Zealanders Goodnight Nurse.^[6]

2007

In 2007 the festival expanded to include Sydney and Brisbane, and increased the number of bands performing. A number of the artists featured in the 2007 Festival had previously played at the Soundwave Festival in Perth, including Unwritten Law, MxPx and Parkway Drive.

Locations

• Riverstage, Brisbane, 24 February 2007
• Sydney Park, Sydney, 25 February 2007
• Robinson Pavilion, Perth, 3 March 2007

Lineup

Deftones +44 As Tall as Lions[B] Unwritten Law Thrice MxPx Suicidal Tendencies Hatebreed Juliette and the Licks The Bronx Eighteen Visions

Parkway Drive[A] Something with Numbers Flyleaf Terror Behind Crimson Eyes Houston Calls Trial Kennedy Forgive Durden Hit the Lights Drive By

Local acts

Brisbane Doctor Octopus The Disables Say Nothing

Sydney Angelas Dish Regular John Fifty Sixx

Perth Stars Don't Fall Calerway Avalore

Notes

2008

The 2008 Soundwave festival was headlined by The Offspring, along with Incubus and Killswitch Engage and was expanded to include dates in Melbourne and Adelaide, increasing the number of dates from three to five. The expanded Festival featured five stages compared to three the previous year.

Locations

• Riverstage and Parklands, Brisbane, 23 February 2008
• Sydney Park, Sydney, 24 February 2008
• Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne, 29 February 2008
• Bonython Park, Adelaide, 1 March 2008
• Steel Blue Oval, Perth, 3 March 2008

Lineup

The Offspring Incubus Killswitch Engage Alexisonfire[A] Thursday[B] Infectious Grooves[C] Plain White T's Motion City Soundtrack Sugarcult Saosin Mindless Self Indulgence As I Lay Dying From Autumn to Ashes[D]

The Starting Line The Fall of Troy Shadows Fall Boys Like Girls Bleeding Through Halifax Scary Kids Scaring Kids mewithoutYou The Matches The Receiving End of Sirens Haste the Day All Time Low Mae

Still Remains[D] As Tall as Lions City and Colour[E] Cartel Madina Lake Kevin Devine Socratic Envy on the Coast The Dear Hunter My American Heart Divine Heresy Jim Ward (Sparta) Carpathian

Local acts

Brisbane The Amity Affliction Take 21 The Gift Horse

Sydney Trial Kennedy

Melbourne Capeside Donnie Dureau (Blueline Medic)

Adelaide In Fiction City Riots

Perth Break Even Eleventh He Reaches London An Evening At Elmwood Anime Fire

Notes

2009

The lineup for the 2009 festival was announced on 24 September 2008, the headliners were Nine Inch Nails^[10] and sub-headliners were Alice in Chains and Bloodhound Gang.

Presenters of British reality stunt TV show Dirty Sanchez and Finnish stuntmen The Dudesons were masters of ceremonies at Soundwave 2009.^[11]

This festival featured 55 acts across six stages.

Locations

• RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane, 21 February 2009
• Eastern Creek Raceway, Sydney, 22 February 2009
• Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne, 27 February 2009
• Bonython Park, Adelaide, 28 February 2009
• Steel Blue Oval, Perth, 2 March 2009

Lineup

Nine Inch Nails Alice in Chains Bloodhound Gang The Dillinger Escape Plan[A] Rival Schools Lamb of God Finch Alkaline Trio Billy Talent The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Face to Face In Flames Anberlin The Subways Every Time I Die DevilDriver Funeral for a Friend Less Than Jake[B] Madina Lake

New Found Glory From First to Last Bedouin Soundclash Hellogoodbye Poison the Well Goldfinger Say Anything Unearth Bayside Chiodos Silverstein Saves the Day Lacuna Coil 36 Crazyfists Straylight Run Evergreen Terrace Minus the Bear Moneen Ace Enders (The Early November)

I Am the Avalanche Jaguar Love Emery Houston Calls The Audition Attack in Black InnerPartySystem Valencia Alesana The Riverboat Gamblers Horse the band Maylene and the Sons of Disaster Underoath Forever the Sickest Kids All that Remains Jack's Mannequin Mike Herrera[C] International Superheroes of Hardcore[C]

Local acts

Brisbane Forlorn Gaze The Amity Affliction

Sydney Mission in Motion Mary Jane Kelly

Melbourne Stealing O'Neal House Vs. Hurricane

Adelaide Double Dragon Isle of Capri

Perth Elora Danan

Notes

2010

The first lineup announcement for the 2010 festival was made on 13 August 2009, the headliners were Faith No More, Jane's Addiction and Placebo, the lineup also featured Paramore, AFI, Jimmy Eat World (who replaced My Chemical Romance) and HIM.

This festival featured 46 acts across six stages.

Locations

• RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane, 20 February 2010
• Eastern Creek Raceway, Sydney, 21 February 2010
• Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne, 26 February 2010
• Bonython Park, Adelaide, 27 February 2010
• Steel Blue Oval, Perth, 1 March 2010

Lineup

Faith No More Jimmy Eat World [C] Jane's Addiction Placebo AFI Paramore HIM Alexisonfire Taking Back Sunday Trivium Sunny Day Real Estate Eagles of Death Metal The Get Up Kids Enter Shikari Reel Big Fish Meshuggah

Anthrax Glassjaw All Time Low You Me at Six A Day to Remember It Dies Today Escape the Fate Clutch Set Your Goals Anti-Flag Isis Gallows A Wilhelm Scream The Weakerthans Emarosa Motion City Soundtrack

Anvil Architects [A] Comeback Kid The Almost Dance Gavin Dance Four Year Strong Shinedown Whitechapel The Aquabats This Is Hell [B] Rolo Tomassi Baroness Rx Bandits The Creepshow

Local acts

Brisbane Too Late Escape Adelle

Sydney Heroes for Hire

Melbourne Death Audio

Adelaide ISAW

Perth Vanity

Notes

2011

The first lineup announcement for the 2011 festival was made on 5 August 2010, the headliners were Iron Maiden and Queens Of The Stone Age. The lineup also included The Starting Line, who reunited for the festival.^[12]

This festival featured 71 acts across eight stages.

Locations

• RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane, 26 February 2011
• Olympic Park, Sydney, 27 February 2011
• Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne, 4 March 2011
• Bonython Park, Adelaide, 5 March 2011
• Claremont Showgrounds, Perth, 7 March 2011

Lineup

Iron Maiden Queens of the Stone Age Slayer [A] Rob Zombie Primus Slash Thirty Seconds to Mars Bullet for My Valentine One Day as a Lion Stone Sour Avenged Sevenfold [B] Sum 41 [C] Third Eye Blind Murderdolls Social Distortion Millencolin Gang of Four New Found Glory Pennywise Bring Me the Horizon Anberlin Dimmu Borgir The Gaslight Anthem Coheed And Cambria

DevilDriver Monster Magnet Sevendust Less Than Jake The Bronx The Amity Affliction Silverstein Terror MxPx Protest the Hero Melvins 36 Crazyfists Ill Niño The Ataris Fucked Up Bayside Feeder The Starting Line H2O Mad Caddies The Maine Saxon [D] Trash Talk Mayday Parade

Foxy Shazam The Rocket Summer Never Shout Never The Blackout Polar Bear Club [E] Asking Alexandria All That Remains High on Fire Dommin The Sword Kylesa We the Kings Blessthefall [F] There for Tomorrow Breathe Carolina Taking Dawn I See Stars Rise to Remain Tria Mera Nonpoint Veara Every Avenue This Town Needs Guns [G] International Superheroes of Hardcore [C][H]

Local acts

Brisbane Tria Mera Friends With The Enemy

Sydney Blatherskite

Melbourne Anchors

Adelaide Paper Arms

Perth Sensory Amusia Lacrymae Chainsaw Hookers

Notes

2012

The lineup for the 2012 festival was first announced on 7 October 2011. The 2012 Soundwave lineup featured System of a Down, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit and Marilyn Manson.

This was the first time Limp Bizkit had toured Australia in eleven years. Their previous tour was the 2001 Big Day Out festival, which was marred by the death of 16 year old Jessica Michalik during their performance at the Sydney show. Limp Bizkit singer Fred Durst paid tribute to Michalik at each Soundwave date and openly criticised Big Day Out organisers.^[17]

The festival also featured a reunited Coal Chamber, who played their first shows since 2003,^[18] and also marked the final shows of emo group Thursday.^[19]

This festival featured 95 acts across eleven stages.

Locations

• RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane, 25 February 2012,
• Olympic Park, Sydney, 26 February 2012
• Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne, 2 March 2012,
• Bonython Park, Adelaide, 3 March 2012,
• Claremont Showgrounds, Perth, 5 March 2012,

Lineup

System of a Down Slipknot Limp Bizkit Marilyn Manson A Day To Remember Bush [A] Machine Head Lamb of God Bad Religion Mastodon Trivium Alter Bridge In Flames Lostprophets Staind Switchfoot [B][F] Angels & Airwaves The Used Cobra Starship Wednesday 13 You Me At Six Devin Townsend Project Coal Chamber Unearth Unwritten Law Strung Out Dashboard Confessional Thursday Raised Fist Dillinger Escape Plan Black Label Society Underoath

Saves The Day Circa Survive Steel Panther The Black Dahlia Murder Kids In Glass Houses Meshuggah The Pretty Reckless Cathedral Paradise Lost [B] Shadows Fall Tonight Alive Jacks Mannequin Fireworks Zebrahead Enter Shikari The Sisters of Mercy Four Year Strong Black Veil Brides Madina Lake Forever The Sickest Kids Hatebreed Biohazard Motionless In White In This Moment Break Even Heaven Shall Burn CKY Times of Grace Street Dogs Kvelertak Gojira Hyro Da Hero

letlive. Hellyeah Cro-Mags Holy Grail Your Demise Kittie A Rocket To The Moon The Ready Set The Menzingers Dream On, Dreamer Attack! Attack! Dredg The Smoking Hearts The Summer Set The Cab Black Tide [E] Relient K VersaEmerge Heroes For Hire Kill Hannah Chimaira Watain Conditions The Dangerous Summer Royal Republic These Kids Wear Crowns [C] Framing Hanley I am The Avalanche Turisas Cherri Bomb River City Extension Mission In Motion [D]

Local acts

Brisbane Milestones

Sydney The Sweet Apes

Melbourne Aitches

Adelaide Admella

Perth Sensory Amusia

Notes

2013

The lineup for the 2013 Soundwave Festival was first announced on 8 August 2012. featuring headliners Metallica, Linkin Park and Blink-182, along with sub headliners A Perfect Circle, The Offspring, Garbage, Paramore, Tomahawk, Cypress Hill and Killswitch Engage

This edition of Soundwave was noted for its "drummers' curse",^[23] where several bands lost members in the week leading up to the festival:

• Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker was to attempt the long haul flight and participate in Blink-182's first Australian tour since 2004, saying "[I'm] getting knocked out and getting on a plane to Australia".^[24] Barker survived a plane crash in 2008 and suffers from aerophobia. However, after months of counselling and medication, Barker could not overcome his fear of flying and was replaced on the tour by Brooks Wackerman from Bad Religion.^[25]
• Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante was replaced by Jon Dette from Animetal USA due to personal issues^[26]
• Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo announced on Facebook that he was fired due to a dispute over money,^[27] he was also replaced by Jon Dette, who was already filling in for Anthrax and has previously played in Slayer^[26]
• The Vandals drummer Josh Freese (formerly of A Perfect Circle and Paramore, both were also on the lineup) was replaced by Alkaline Trio drummer Derek Grant^[28] due to other commitments.
• Six Feet Under withdrew from the lineup due to drummer Kevin Talley being injured in a dirtbike accident^[28]
• In addition, Shai Hulud vocalist Justin Kraus was hospitalised with chest pain immediately after playing a show in Trenton, New Jersey,^[29] he was replaced by Mike Moynihan, who was previously their vocalist between 2009-2011^[28]
• Gallows guitarist Stephen Carter left the band in the days leading up to the festival, the band continued as a four-piece.^[30]

There was also controversy regarding bands such as Pierce the Veil and The Amity Affliction having their sets cut short in Perth due to complaints from local residents - after this Maddah doubted the festival's future in Western Australia.

This festival featured 72 acts across nine stages (eight stages in Perth).

Locations

• RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane, 23 February 2013
• Olympic Park, Sydney, 24 February 2013,
• Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, 1 March 2013,
• Bonython Park, Adelaide, 2 March 2013,
• Claremont Showgrounds, Perth, 4 March 2013,

Lineup

Metallica Linkin Park Blink-182 A Perfect Circle The Offspring Paramore Slayer Garbage [A] Anthrax Killswitch Engage Cypress Hill Bullet For My Valentine Tomahawk Stone Sour Bring Me The Horizon Kyuss Lives! Sum 41 Dragonforce All Time Low Flogging Molly [B] Ghost Duff McKagan's Loaded Billy Talent Motion City Soundtrack Mindless Self Indulgence [C]

The Amity Affliction The Vandals Sick Of It All Kingdom Of Sorrow Fozzy The Lawrence Arms Sleeping With Sirens Cancer Bats The Blackout Gallows Madball Fucked Up Vision Of Disorder Pierce The Veil Periphery The Sword Shai Hulud Of Mice & Men This Is Hell Miss May I Danko Jones Lucero Woe, Is Me The Wonder Years Polar Bear Club

While She Sleeps Cerebral Ballzy The Early November Such Gold Six Feet Under [D] The Dear Hunter Chelsea Grin Deaf Havana Red Fang Versus The World The Chariot Blood On The Dance Floor [E] Confession Orange Goblin Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! Sylosis Memphis May Fire Crossfaith Northlane Dr. Acula [F] Sharks O'Brother Milestones Living With Lions [G] Puscifer [H] Malakyte [I]

Local acts

Brisbane The Schoenberg Automaton

Sydney Born Lion

Melbourne Party Vibez

Adelaide Life Pilot

Notes

2014

The lineup for the 2014 festival was first announced on 23 August 2013. The lineup containing 94 bands, featured Green Day, Avenged Sevenfold, Korn and Alice In Chains^[43]

The Perth festival was relocated from Claremont Showgrounds to Arena Joondalup, 25 km north of Perth, two weeks before the beginning of the festival due to Soundwave's ongoing conflict with the Claremont Council.^[44] Following a similar situation at the Perth leg of Big Day Out in January of that year, which was also relocated from Claremont Showgrounds to Arena Joondalup, AJ Maddah confirmed that 2014 would be the last Soundwave held in Perth,^[45] where the festival originated.

Locations

• RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane, 22 February 2014,
• Olympic Park, Sydney, 23 February 2014,
• Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, 28 February 2014,
• Bonython Park, Adelaide, 1 March 2014,
• Arena Joondalup, Perth, 3 March 2014

Lineup

Green Day Avenged Sevenfold Alice In Chains A Day To Remember Richie Sambora The Living End [A] Rob Zombie Megadeth [B] Mastodon Placebo HIM AFI Korn Alter Bridge Trivium Pennywise Jimmy Eat World Down Devildriver The Dillinger Escape Plan Glassjaw Panic! At The Disco Eagles Of Death Metal Less Than Jake Mayday Parade Asking Alexandria Biffy Clyro Newsted [C] Filter [D] Rocket From The Crypt Baroness Suicide Silence

Clutch Alkaline Trio The Ghost Inside The Porkers Gojira Desaparecidos [E] ††† (Crosses) Zebrahead Five Finger Death Punch Satyricon August Burns Red Testament Ill Niño Living Colour Mutemath Black Veil Brides letlive. I Killed The Prom Queen Motionless In White GWAR The Black Dahlia Murder Mushroomhead Finch Authority Zero Dream On, Dreamer Stiff Little Fingers Thy Art Is Murder Graveyard Pulled Apart By Horses Nancy Vandal Bowling For Soup Trash Talk

Skindred Dir En Grey [F] Volbeat [G] Amon Amarth Terror Whitechapel [H] Defiler TesseracT Deez Nuts The Story So Far 10 Years In Hearts Wake Breathe Carolina Hardcore Superstar [I] I Call Fives Hactivist Walking Papers Our Last Night Coliseum Devil You Know Your Demise Soil Heaven's Basement The Boss Hoss Nostalghia DARKC3II Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats The Defiled Real Friends Upon a Burning Body The Dangerkids

Local acts

Brisbane Chronolyth HELM

Sydney Red Bee Trophy Eyes

Melbourne The Bennies King Parrot Ceres

Adelaide Truth Corroded Sierra Se Bon Ki Ra

Perth Xenobiotic Chaos Divine Make Them Suffer

Notes

2015

On 28 June 2014, Soundwave announced that it will become a two-day festival,^[54] held over two consecutive weekends, with half the bands announced playing day one and the other half playing day two, criss-crossing between Adelaide and Melbourne, then Sydney and Brisbane. AJ Maddah stated on Twitter "Putting the line-up across [two] days enables us to minimise clashes; give bands longer sets, better staging, production [and] infrastructure. I am also hoping that this will give fans better value for money and a less stressful day."^[54] AJ Maddah later confirmed that 2015 was the last Soundwave for Adelaide in the foreseeable future as it made a $300,000 loss in 2014, but with the $1,400,000 loss in 2015 due to lackluster ticket sales being to large to subsidise out of the other cities.^[55]

Locations

• Bonython Park, Adelaide, 21 February 2015 (Day One) & 22 February 2015 (Day Two)
• Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne, 21 February 2015 (Day Two) & 22 February 2015 (Day One)
• Olympic Park, Sydney, 28 February (Day One) & 1 March 2015 (Day Two)
• RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane, 28 February (Day Two) & 1 March 2015 (Day One)

Day One Lineup

Faith No More Soundgarden Incubus Lamb Of God Ministry Antemasque Gerard Way New Found Glory Fear Factory Steel Panther Falling In Reverse Dragonforce Hollywood Undead One OK Rock

Atreyu The Devil Wears Prada Godflesh The Aquabats Area-7 Ne Obliviscaris Mayhem Lower Than Atlantis Bayside Nothing More He Is Legend Fireworks King Parrot Crown The Empire

Icon For Hire Emily's Army/Swimmers Rival Sons [A] The Interrupters Monuments The Color Morale Sleepwave Patent Pending The Bennies Raglans Deathstars The Treatment [B] Terror Universal

Day Two Lineup

Slipknot The Smashing Pumpkins Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators Marilyn Manson Fall Out Boy Judas Priest Millencolin All Time Low Godsmack Killer Be Killed Exodus Tonight Alive The Vandals Lagwagon

Papa Roach Of Mice & Men Escape The Fate The Wonder Years Twin Atlantic Animals As Leaders Apocalyptica Fucked Up Evergreen Terrace [C] Nonpoint Crossfaith Butcher Babies King 810 The Swellers

Conditions Confession coldrain Le Butcherettes Dayshell This Wild Life

Local acts

Brisbane Columbus

Sydney Bare Bones

Melbourne I, Valiance

Adelaide A Ghost Orchestra

Notes

Proposed 2016 Lineup and Cancellation

On 20 March 2015, AJ Maddah stated that Soundwave 2016 would return to the one day format and would be held in January instead of the usual late February/early March dates. He also later stated that the 2016 lineup would be announced via "drip-feeding" and would also be smaller in order to achieve longer set times for bands.

Bullet for My Valentine was announced as the first act of Soundwave 2016 via the band's social media accounts and the official Soundwave website on 14 August 2015, and over the next four months, Disturbed was announced as the headliner and 24 other bands were added for a total of 26 bands.

On 15 December 2015, Maddah tweeted that 2016 would be the final ever Soundwave, stating it was due to "stress and haters", and two days later he tweeted that the festival had been officially cancelled.^[59]

Various problems contributed to its cancellation, including poor ticket sales (Maddah once stated that 2016 would "sell out instantly", but around 20,000 tickets in total had been sold at the time of its cancellation), L7 pulling out for unknown reasons, Bring Me the Horizon claiming in December 2015 that they weren't officially confirmed for the lineup despite being announced months beforehand, the festival's advertised venues not being booked, severe criticism from fans concerning the long length of time that it took for Maddah to announce the full lineup and also for including bands that were deemed out of place (such as 80s rap group Public Enemy, electronic group The Prodigy, and the lesser known bands Nothing But Thieves and Moose Blood), fans receiving the wrong tickets in the mail or not receiving them at all, the festival's operating company going into voluntary administration over an unpaid debt, and also reports surfacing that Maddah owes a total of over $11 million to all the bands who played the 2015 festival.^[60]

Locations

• RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane, 23 January 2016
• Olympic Park, Sydney, 24 January 2016
• RAS Melbourne Showground, Melbourne, 26 January 2016

Lineup

Disturbed Bring Me the Horizon [B] The Prodigy Deftones NOFX Bullet for My Valentine Public Enemy L7 [A] Refused Killswitch Engage Metal Allegiance

Hatebreed Soulfly Northlane Dead Letter Circus Ill Niño Relient K frnkiero andthe cellabration Nothing But Thieves Frenzal Rhomb Failure Lordi

Walls of Jericho Devil You Know Terror Universal Moose Blood DARKC3LL

Notes