Soundwave was an annual music festival held in major cities around Australia, run and promoted by Soundwave Touring. The festival originated in Perth, Western Australia, and began travelling to the other Australian capital cities in 2007. It featured a number of international and Australian music acts from various genres, including rock, metal and punk. 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, the Smashing Pumpkins, System of a Down, Slipknot, Green Day, Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park, Blink-182 and Metallica.
Soundwave Festival occurred annually until 2015. A 2016 iteration of the festival was planned, but its cancellation was announced on 17 December 2015 by founder AJ Maddah due to poor ticket sales.
History
The Soundwave festival originated in Perth, as a smaller festival known as Gravity Soundwave within the Gravity Games. 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.
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. The following night featured Unwritten Law, Regurgitator, MxPx, Lagwagon and Last Year's Hero.
The 2005 festival was again presented by Vodafone, being held on the night of 8 October. Gravity Soundwave was headlined by Grinspoon, and also featured American acts Unwritten Law, Reel Big Fish, and Goldfinger.
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.
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
Local acts Brisbane Doctor Octopus The Disables Say Nothing Sydney Angelas Dish Regular John Fifty Sixx Perth Stars Don't Fall Calerway Avalore
Notes
*A Parkway Drive did not appear in Perth *B As Tall as Lions replaced The Format
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
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
*A Alexisonfire replaced Coheed and Cambria, who withdrew from the lineup to support Linkin Park on their US tour *B Thursday replaced Chiodos, who also withdrew from the lineup to support Linkin Park on their US tour *C Infectious Grooves replaced Social Distortion, who withdrew from the lineup for unspecified reasons *D From Autumn to Ashes and Still Remains did not appear in Brisbane or Sydney *E City and Colour replaced Ace Enders, who withdrew from the lineup for unspecified reasons
2009
The lineup for the 2009 festival was announced on 24 September 2008, the headliners were Nine Inch Nails 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.
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
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
*A The Dillinger Escape Plan replaced Scars on Broadway *B Less Than Jake did not appear in Brisbane due to flight delays. *C Acts were made public in a third announcement and only appeared in Sydney.
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
Local acts Brisbane Too Late Escape Adelle Sydney Heroes for Hire Melbourne Death Audio Adelaide ISAW Perth Vanity
Notes
*A Architects replaced The Devil Wears Prada, who withdrew from the lineup so they could support Killswitch Engage on their US tour *B This Is Hell replaced Maximum the Hormone, who withdrew from the lineup due to drummer Nao being hospitalized *C Jimmy Eat World replaced My Chemical Romance, who withdrew from the lineup due to lead singer Gerard Way suffering from severe vocal problems *D Closure in Moscow were removed from the line up with no explanation or replacement act.
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.
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 Showground, Perth, 7 March 2011
Lineup Lineup
Iron Maiden (UK) Queens of the Stone Age (USA) Slayer (USA) Rob Zombie (USA) Primus (USA) Slash (USA) Thirty Seconds to Mars (USA) Bullet for My Valentine (UK) One Day as a Lion (USA) Stone Sour (USA) Avenged Sevenfold (USA) Sum 41 (CAN) Third Eye Blind (USA) Murderdolls (USA) Social Distortion (USA) Millencolin (SWE) Gang of Four (UK) New Found Glory (USA) Pennywise (USA) Bring Me the Horizon (UK) Anberlin (USA) Dimmu Borgir (NOR) The Gaslight Anthem (USA) Coheed and Cambria (USA) DevilDriver (USA) Monster Magnet (USA) Sevendust (USA) Less Than Jake (USA) The Bronx (USA) The Amity Affliction Silverstein (CAN) Terror (USA) MxPx (USA) Protest the Hero (CAN) Melvins (USA) 36 Crazyfists (USA) Ill Niño (USA) The Ataris (USA) Fucked Up (CAN) Bayside (USA) Feeder (UK) The Starting Line (USA) H2O (USA) Mad Caddies (USA) The Maine (USA) Saxon (UK) Trash Talk (USA) Mayday Parade (USA) Foxy Shazam (USA) The Rocket Summer (USA) Never Shout Never (USA) The Blackout (UK) Polar Bear Club (USA) Asking Alexandria (UK) All That Remains (USA) High on Fire (USA) Dommin (USA) The Sword (USA) Kylesa (USA) We the Kings (USA) Blessthefall (USA) There for Tomorrow (USA) Breathe Carolina (USA) Taking Dawn (USA) I See Stars (USA) Rise to Remain (UK) Nonpoint (USA) Veara (USA) Every Avenue (USA) This Town Needs Guns (UK) International Superheroes of Hardcore (USA)
Local acts Brisbane Tria Mera Friends with the Enemy Sydney Blatherskite Melbourne Anchors Adelaide Paper Arms Perth Sensory Amusia Lacrymae Chainsaw Hookers
Notes
*A Slayer pulled out of the Sydney show at the last minute due to Tom Araya being admitted to hospital *B Avenged Sevenfold withdrew due to a disagreement with promoters over their allocated timeslot *C Sum 41 only performed in Brisbane and Sydney due to Deryck Whibley's hospitalisation with severe pneumonia. Replaced by International Superheroes of HardcoreSoundwave Festival. 3 March 2011 at 20:01. Facebook. *D Saxon withdrew due to album commitments and family illness@iamnotshouting. 3:43 AM – 16 Feb 11. Twitter. *E Polar Bear Club replaced Alesana, who withdrew from the lineup for unknown reasons *F Blessthefall replaced A Skylit Drive, who withdrew from the lineup for unknown reasons *G This Town Needs Guns were added as a bonus band after the two dropouts *H International Superheroes of Hardcore did not appear in Perth
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.
The festival also featured a reunited Coal Chamber, who played their first shows since 2003, and also marked the final shows of emo group Thursday.
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 Showground, Perth, 5 March 2012,
Lineup
Local acts Brisbane Milestones Sydney The Sweet Apes Melbourne Aitches Adelaide Admella Perth Sensory Amusia
Notes
*A Bush replaced Hole, who withdrew from the lineup due to a dispute with Soundwave promoters *B Paradise Lost and Switchfoot replaced DragonForce, who withdrew from the lineup due to recording delays *C These Kids Wear Crowns did not play in Brisbane due to being double-booked for a sold-out arena show with Simple Plan in Canada *D Mission in Motion did not appear in Melbourne *E Black Tide withdrew from the lineup due to a family emergencySoundwave Festival. 24 February 2012 at 00:35. Facebook. *F Switchfoot withdrew from the Adelaide and Perth shows due to a family emergency@iamnotshouting. 12:59 AM – 2 Mar 12. Twitter.
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", 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". 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. Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante was replaced by Jon Dette from Animetal USA due to personal issues