History

Trampled grass, pieces of broken cups, the stench of yesterday’s beer like powder smoke above the field. Every year the day after Stonehenge shows a picture that forms a contrast to the day before. The last Saturday of July screams out loud, rude and senseless. But it has atmosphere you know. Metal is hard & ‘homy’.
Back to 1995. A couple of metalheads of de Buze in Steenwijk hatched a plan. It turned out to be a strong and indestructible plan. Stonehenge. An underground metalfestival just kept in the garden of de Buze. On stage: eight Dutch bands.
The name of the festival… The explanation is simple as hell. Steen(wijk) = stone. It won’t be confused with the ancient Stonehenge Festival in England; that was a party for sissies.

The philosophy of the festival; No commerce, no fuss with annoying rich people who fuck up your party. The goal is clear. To give Dutch talent a stage to show their capabilities to a large audience. Even the gods of the sun blessed Stonehenge from the very first beginning.

The first edition hit the spot. Almost 500 metals came to Steenwijk, three times more than expected. The conclusion: this must become an annual festival. The brutal story of Stonehenge was started.

The festival grew, without losing its identity. The metalmarket (Staalhandel) appeared to be a success. In 1999 the organisation even crossed the borders of Holland and Belgium. Anathema (England) was the first band outside the Benelux. This step was appreciated by the audience that much, the organisation decided to book more foreign bands in the future.

Stonehenge became more and more an international festival. Bands from Germany, France, Sweden, Italy and even America jumped into the metal pool of Steenwijk. However the original goal is still honoured.

The ninth edition welcomed twelve (!)  bands. Eight of them kicked the hell out in the garden of de Buze, four of them rocked the stones out of the building itself. A new tradition was born. Since a few years the party goes on during a great afterparty in one of the bars of Steenwijk.

Meanwhile, Stonehenge is (almost) sold out weeks before the festival explodes. Do we need to say more? Stonehenge became the leading underground metalfestival of the Netherlands. The organisation continues ruthlessly. Because all rocks aren’t blown away yet.

Stonehenge, where the demons dwell
Where the banshees live and they do live well
Stonehenge
Where a man is a man and the children dance to
the pipes of pan
Stonehenge
Tis a magic place where the moon doth rise
With a dragon’s face
Stonehenge
Where the virgins lie
And the prayer of devils fill the midnight sky
And you my love, won’t you take my hand
We’ll go back in time to that mystic land
Where the dew drops cry and the cats meow
I will take you there
I will show you how

Stonehenge – Spinal Tap