Sonisphere Festival - The Big Four Tour

I was following Metallica's tour schedule from the end of 2009 and was really excited to find out in February that they would be playing in Prague in June 2010. Also I found out that their tour was a special one as it was a "Big Four Tour" - tour of the big 4 thrash metal bands - "Anthrax", "Megadeth", "Metallica" and "Slayer". I hadn't been the fan of the rest 3 but was excited to be a part of such a unique show, so the ticket was bought straight away - ~100 EUR for the Golden Circle, a bit expensive for the Czech Republic but I decided to go for the maximum (smile).

So half a year later it was the time for me to experience the biggest music festival I had been so far...

On Saturday morning I went to the railway station and saw already a huge amount of fans trying to buy the tickets to Milovice, a small town an hour from Prague which had some small airport which had been chosen for such an event. It was great that direct trains to the place had been already pre-arranged, so I comfortable enjoyed an hour ride in full packed with metal fans train listening all the way to some German and Danish.

It's hard to describe how it is to be at such a huge event... I will just say that the amount of people was somewhere between 30 and 40,000. The area occupied by the festival was enormous covering a big part of the airport field.

Inside there were lots of food places, tents selling all kinds of music-related (and not really) stuff, lots of attractions, electric cars, "bunjee" ball, etc. Beer tents were all over pricing 0.5l for EUR 1,6.

There were 2 big stages and 1 small inside a tent. Straight away I went to the main one where all big 4 was playing. At the sport I discovered that my choice to buy more expensive Golden Circle ticket proved to be just great - closer to the stage and less people (at least it was so in the beginning).

First band I heard was "Devil Driver" from the US. Interesting thing that music I'd never listen at home or on my iPod, I'd still be able to listen and even enjoy a bit at a live concert (smile).
Closer to the evening it was the time for "Anthrax". I didn't listen to them before thought, of course, knew and heard about them, but the performance and music was really good. Very old-fashioned (and old) vocalist and good old heavy metal voice (smile).
The next were "Megadeth". For some reason, was not really excited about their performance, so just left the circle and went a bit further to lie in the grass and enjoy a beer.

Before "Alice in Chains" I ate some food and supplied myself with water and snacks to be ready to get closer to the stage way before "Metallica" started to play. During their performance I started to move closer to the stage while enjoying the music. Not my thing, but was quite OK. Also when getting food, saw the Ukrainian flag and got acquainted with a bunch of fellow countryman having come to the Czech Republic for this festival. Was great!

When it came the time of "Slayer" the Golden Circle area became incredible packed and I was lucky to find myself quite close to the stage and the first rows. "Slayer's" music was great and a very quality one though many more people enjoyed it more than I did (smile). Right behind me there was a Russian girl who knew all the lyrics and on the entrance of the circle I notices two heavy-rock biker-type guys with "Slayer Russian Fan Club" t-shirts.

When the time of "Metallica" came, I was quite tired of standing for more than 2 hours but when the show started all the tiredness vanished (though it was still coming from time to time). A friend of mine who was at the festival as well called it "festival of 3 bands and a great "Metallica" show". I wouldn't be so extreme but the shows "Metallica" has (experiences 2 so far) are incredible! They really know how to do it and are best in doing it! So whenever you are lucky to be at theirs concert you won't regret it and so didn't I!!!

I was standing just couple of metres from the front line and something like 10m from the stage having a perfect view on everyone there, seeing all the emotions on their faces (or lack of them at Kirk's) and just enjoyed the moment. "Metallica" played all the old good hit and several ones from "Death Magnetic" and "St.Anger" finishing traditionally with "Seek & Destroy". There were lots of small special things that made this concern even greater (like James playing with Lars on drums or mediators with Big 4 logos shown and thrown in the crowd).

It all ended at 1a.m. and the whole crowd started to move - some went back to their tents next to the place, some back in the town to wait for a train. I was lucky to have arranged my pickup and delivery to Prague by my colleague's father.

I was back home close to 3a.m. happy and tired. The greatest music event I had been so far!
Hope more like that to come (smile)!