Calling Festival (formerly Hyde Park Calling and Hard Rock Calling) was an annual music festival, formerly held in Hyde Park, London, from 2006 until 2012, and from 2013 in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. In September 2013, Hard Rock International announced that they would no longer be sponsoring the festival; however, the event returned in 2014 and 2015 under the name Calling Festival at the Clapham Common.
The music played is primarily rock music, and various performers, including The Killers, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, The Who, Bon Jovi, Roger Waters (with Nick Mason), The Police, Aerosmith, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen have played at the event. The festival was organised by Hard Rock Cafe and Live Nation.
Hyde Park Calling 2006 The inaugural festival had two stages and was headlined by Roger Waters (performing in its entirety the Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon as part of his set) and his band (featuring Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason) on the Saturday and The Who on the Sunday. Gates opened at 14:00, and the show ended at 22:15 on both evenings. The Who's Sunday headline performance was released as part of their Encore Series 2006 of CDs & DVDs. British TV Show Top Gear filmed a brief segment of The Who’s concert as part of a Van review between the three hosts.
The festival was a peaceful one, being inside the city the event required attendees to rely on external accommodation - unlike more popular festivals such as Download Festival or Reading and Leeds Festival, which require camping on site for most people.
Despite the veteran status of the headline acts, most other bands were younger and with a more 'contemporary' audience, providing a contrast in musical styles. Since this festival, Razorlight particularly has acquired much fame and in under a year has gone from second slot in a smaller inaugural event like Hyde Park Calling to headlining the long-running and respected Reading/Leeds Festival. The festival mainstage proved to be unusually British, with the British Isles being represented by seven English bands and two Scottish, with only one American and one New Zealand band from abroad. However of the ten second stage bands, three were from Canada and two from the USA.
(Main Stage)SaturdaySunday Roger Waters (with Nick Mason) Texas Starsailor Breaks Co-op Chris Difford The Who Razorlight The Zutons Ocean Colour Scene Rose Hill Drive
Second StageSaturdaySunday The Lightning Seeds Robert Cray Suzanne Vega Blackbud Rocco DeLuca and the Burden Primal Scream The Casbah Club Mobile The Waking Eyes Kharma 45
Hyde Park Calling 2007 After Hyde Park Calling's success, a Hyde Park Calling 2007 quickly entered planning stages. It was announced that the event would take place during the weekend of 23–24 June 2007. It was Aerosmith's first concert in the United Kingdom for eight years and featured Peter Gabriel and the recently reformed Crowded House as a joint-headliner for the first day. Other draws to this year's event were the addition of a new third stage. Only one band to have played at the previous Hyde Park Calling, Rose Hill Drive, played again in 2007. With six bands per stage, instead of five, and an extra stage, the expansion of the festival only a year after its inception was dramatic.
One of the many incarnations of the Buena Vista Social Club featured. Hyde Park Calling 2007's version of the band includes Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal (trumpet), Orlando "Cachaito" López (double bass), Manuel Galbán (guitar) and Jesus "Aguaje" Ramos (trumpet). Unlike the previous years' mostly British mainstage, of the nine bands playing, three were American, one from New Zealand and one from Australia.
Despite Aerosmith having the headline slot on Sunday, Chris Cornell played for the same length of time. His set combined Audioslave and Soundgarden songs with his own. In keeping with the family theme Aerosmith brought with them, on Saturday Peter Gabriel's daughter sang and played percussion. On Sunday Cornell brought his two children onto the stage for the audience to see.
Aerosmith had to finish at 10.30 pm due to the curfew, and the police were forcing them to leave. The encore was the usual "Walk this Way" song, but featured Darryl McDaniels (commonly referred to simply as 'DMC'). This was the first time a member of Run-D.M.C. had performed with Aerosmith since their 2002 tour, five years previous.
Main StageSaturdaySunday Peter Gabriel Crowded House The Feeling Ghosts Forever Like Red The Thirst Aerosmith (with DMC from Run-D.M.C.) Chris Cornell Jet The Answer Arckid The Micki Free Electric Blues
The Pepsi StageSaturdaySunday Buena Vista Social Club Jason Mraz Captain Gareth Gates Under the Influence of Giants Angus and Julia Stone Joe Satriani Rose Hill Drive Fastway TAB the Band Black Stone Cherry McQueen
Third StageSaturdaySunday Seth Lakeman Rushmore Borne Terra Naomi Ben's Brother Amy Macdonald Reuben yourcodenameis:milo Kids in Glass Houses Brigade Haunts Enjoy Destroy
Hard Rock Calling 2008 In late December 2007, the Hyde Park Calling 2008 website was launched. It confirmed the dates for 28–29 June 2008.
On 28 January 2008, the headliners for each day were announced, along with two support acts for each day:
Main StageSaturdaySunday Eric Clapton Sheryl Crow John Mayer Jason Mraz Robert Randolph & the Family Band Steve Boyce Band The Police KT Tunstall Starsailor The Bangles Arno Carstens The Micki Free Electric Blues
Second StageSaturdaySunday The Charlatans Eddi Reader Dawn Kinnard The Loose Salute Ryan Bingham Scott McKeon The Stranglers Carbon/Silicon The Flying Padovanis Broken Records The Galvatrons Will Rendle Attendance: 57,561; Capacity: 60,000
Hard Rock Calling 2009 In 2009, for the first time it was a three-day event, beginning on the Friday rather than a Saturday, running over 26, 27 and 28 June. Neil Young headlined on Saturday and his encore was a cover version of "A Day in the Life" by the Beatles. Paul McCartney joined him on stage for parts of this performance. Bruce Springsteen finished his headlining set with "Dancing in the Dark", while he also joined The Gaslight Anthem for their song "The '59 Sound". Springsteen's entire set was released on DVD in June 2010, titled London Calling: Live in Hyde Park.
Main StageFridaySaturdaySunday The Killers The Kooks Howling Bells Passion Pit Chew Lips Neil Young (with Paul McCartney) Fleet Foxes Ben Harper Seasick Steve The Pretenders Rudy Vaughn The Original Sinners Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Dave Matthews Band James Morrison The Gaslight Anthem Beauvoir/Free
Pepsi Max StageFridaySaturdaySunday Echo & the Bunnymen Metric Silversun Pickups Air Traffic Screaming Lights The Magic Numbers Johnny Flynn Mumford and Sons Alberta Cross Priscilla Ahn Wallis Bird Lyrebirds Starsailor Joshua Radin The Low Anthem Pretty Things The Boy Who Trapped the Sun Rudy Vaughn
Hard Rock Calling 2010
Hard Rock Calling 2010 took place of the weekend beginning 25 June. Wolfmother was scheduled to perform on Friday but backed out in advance.
Main StageFriday 25 JuneSaturday 26 JuneSunday 27 June Pearl Jam Ben Harper & Relentless 7 The Hives The Gaslight Anthem Robert Francis Stevie Wonder Jamiroquai James Morrison Corinne Bailey Rae Mary Mary Micki Free Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band(DVD) Paul McCartney Crosby, Stills and Nash Crowded House Elvis Costello Joshua Radin More Than Me
Pepsi Max StageFridaySaturdaySunday Gomez Funeral Party Chief Expatriate Paul Thomas Saunders Melissa Etheridge Alejandro Escovedo Florence Rawlings Rox Rumer Diane Birch Maria Mena The Breakers Cocktail Slippers The Len Price 3 Tiffany Page The Urban Voodoo Machine Delta Mid Lissie The Coronas Joe Echo
Band StandFridaySaturdaySunday Leah Mason Michael Kiwanuka Max Tuohy Chakras My Sad Captains Lione Wolf Mountain Man Summer Camp Zun Zun Egui The Morning Benders Pearly Gate Music Here We Go Magic John Grant Beach House
Hard Rock Calling 2011
The 2011 festival took place over the weekend of 24–26 June.
Main StageFridaySaturdaySunday The Killers Kaiser Chiefs James Wolf Gang Michael Kiwanuka Bon Jovi Ray Davies Black Cards Lissie Vintage Trouble Rod Stewart (with Ronnie Wood) Stevie Nicks Adam Ant & the Good, the Bad and the Lovely Posse Rumer Train Gugun Blues Shelter
Pepsi Max StageFridaySaturdaySunday The Kills Good Natured Transfer The Heartbreaks Spector Imelda May Ryan Bingham Gianna Nannini Everline Rainy Boy Sleep Rosco Bandana Lighthouse Family Mike + The Mechanics Barenaked Ladies James Walsh Jay James Picton Stefany June IAMWE
BandstandSaturdaySunday The Breakers The Launderettes The Contrast Yellowire Red White A Blues Lee Macdougall Vetiver Zun Zun Egui Alessis Ark Veronica Falls Gabriella Jones
Hard Rock Calling 2012
During the song "Twist and Shout", performed by Bruce Springsteen and guest Paul McCartney at the Saturday show, Springsteen was forced to cut his set short when he ran overtime on a council curfew. Paul Simon's set featured Hugh Masekela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Jimmy Cliff; it was released on DVD and album in June 2017, titled The Concert in Hyde Park.
"I don't recall anything of Hyde Park," Soundgarden bassist Ben Shepherd said in 2013, "except looking stage-right and seeing that Jimmy Page was watching us. So, if anything, we actually played a lot more professionally than we usually do. I thought we were spot-on."
Main StageFridaySaturdaySunday Soundgarden Iggy and The Stooges Cold Chisel Black Stone Cherry Kids in Glass Houses Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band John Fogerty Lady Antebellum The Nightwatchman Hey Monea! Paul Simon Alison Krauss Featuring Jerry Douglas Christina Perri Punch Brothers Robert Randolph Karima Francis
Pepsi Max StageFridaySaturdaySunday The Mars Volta Skindred Red, White & Blues Hawk Eyes The Dirty Youth Amy Macdonald Dawes Gary Clark Jr. Lawson NEEDTOBREATHE The Night Big Country gUiLLeMoTs LP Ryan Sheridan Robert Ellis Marlon Roudette Ryan Sheridan
Hard Rock Rising StageFridaySaturdaySunday Cocktail Slippers Dive Bella Dive Deap Vally The Launderettes Koo Koo Kitchen FOS Maker Dylan LeBlanc Jack Savoretti Gabriel Bruce Feral Singers KonKoma Tanya Auclaire Brass Wires Orchestra James Walsh Marcus Foster Life in Film Nina Nesbitt Sadie & The Hotheads Bwani Junction Molly McQueen Band StandFridaySaturdaySunday Sissy and The Blisters Drop Out Venus Vukovi Turbogeist Micro Jupiter Scams Sheilds Danny Shah Daytona Lights Alistair Griffin Richard Cowey Halfway to New York Peggy Sue Alessi's Ark Chailo Sim Honey Ryder
Hard Rock Calling 2013
The 2013 event was moved to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford after Live Nation had pulled out of the tender for Hyde Park. The 2013 festival returned to being a two-day event, unlike the four previous years which had run over three consecutive days. The first announcement was made on 5 March, when Kasabian and Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band were confirmed as headliners. It would be the latter's second headline performance in consecutive years.
Main StageSaturdaySunday Kasabian Paul Weller Miles Kane Twin Atlantic Kodaline Lower Than Atlantis The Weeks Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band The Black Crowes Alabama Shakes Zac Brown Band Deaf Havana The Carnabys
Pepsi Max StageSaturdaySunday The Cribs Klaxons Tribes The View The Twang Twin Forks Dark Horses No (Los Angeles) Vuvu Vultures Passenger Lissie Lawson Flamin Grooves Mayer Hawthorne The Temperance Movement Lonely The Brave
Hard Rock Rising StageSaturdaySunday Gaz Coombes China Rats Syd Arthur My Preserver Eliza and the Bear Steve Cradock Jack Savoretti Yellowire Josh Weller Negramaro Syd Arthur Josh Doyle