Richie Blackmore’s Rainbow will be headlining this year’s Stone Free Festival presented by Kilimanjaro Live and The O2. Details about this year’s extravaganza have been revealed, with doors opening at MIDDAY on Saturday 17th June.

Playing a full headline set and closing the afternoon festivities at Indigo at The O2 will be iconic New York hard rockers Blue Öyster Cult, who throughout their four-decade career have garnered huge critical acclaim, in particular for the hit single ‘(Don’t Fear) The Reaper’ & other fan favourites including ‘Godzilla’ & ‘Burning For You’. They will be returning to London after a triumphant sold-out show at London’s Forum in summer 2016.

“We’re thrilled to be returning to London for a headline set as part of Stone Free at the O2 Indigo on June 17th as we celebrate 45 years of being ‘ON TOUR FOREVER’” say Blue Öyster Cult.

 The O2 Arena

In the main arena joining headliners Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow will be legendary British glam rock giants Sweet, who during the ‘70s had thirteen Top 20 hits including ‘Blockbuster’, ‘Hell Raiser’, ‘Fox On the Run’ and the evergreen feel-good anthem ‘The Ballroom Blitz’.

The band comment, “It has been 40 years since Sweet played shows together with Rainbow in the USA. We therefore look forward to reconnecting where we left off. Both bands have gone through changes but with guitarists Ritchie Blackmore and Andy Scott still performing on stage the legacy remains intact. Most importantly the music, especially the hits are still very much part of rock history today.”

 Indigo at The O2

Indigo at The O2 will be hosting a full afternoon of entertainment with Northern Ireland’s The Answer, who hit new heights with their most recent album Solas, and Scottish rockers Gun joining the aforementioned Blue Öyster Cult.

When the arena finishes on Saturday night, the excitement doesn’t stop there! There will be an After Party with bad-ass bluegrass maestros Steve’n’Seagulls from Finland. Skillfully re-working some of metal’s finest moments into a new breed of country hoe-down guaranteed to shake you all night long!

Speak Easy Lounge

One of the must-visit destinations at last year’s event, the Speak Easy Lounge, is back to make you shed tears of laughter with a whole host of performances to be announced including comedian and singer-songwriter Phil Nichol, who found fame in the Canadian comedy music trio Corky and the Juice Pigs, comedy club regular Rich Wilson, hailed by Time Out as “Highly entertaining” and a very special live recording of Stuart Goldsmith’s Comedians’ Comedian podcast featuring a big comedy name to be announced (previous guests include Tim Minchin, Bill Burr and Jimmy Carr). Orange Amps Stage

Orange Amps Stage will be there to welcome all Stone Free Festival goers with a bang as they arrive at the venue and will have performances throughout the afternoon providing a non-stop soundtrack to the variety of entertainment on offer.

Headlining will be the menacing Evil Blizzard who, with four basses and a singing drummer, will bring their dystopian madness to proceedings. Joining them will be the rock and soul infused Buck & Evans, Australian hell-raising rockers Massive, bullish Brit rockers Massive Wagons and the heavy metal stalwarts Death Valley Knights. 

The Beer Garden

With no chance of rain stopping play, there will still be the chance to bask outside in London’s summer sun. Outside the entrance to the O2 will be The Beer Garden with street food stalls and more live music to entertain fans as they eat, drink and get merry. Full Line-up to be announced.