famous american band Kiss will bow out with a final bow on European soil at Rock Imperium Festival 2023 in Cartagena, bringing a monumental three day event to life with the city set to echo with the sound of heavy metal. The festival promises a lineup that mirrors the energy of classic rock and metal, featuring around fifty groups that span decades of hard rock history and modern metal vitality. Cartagena will become a focal point for fans eager to witness the closing chapter of an era in live music, as Kiss prepares to close their stage career in Spain with a performance that will be etched in the memories of attendees.
This edition marks a return to a festival that captivated audiences last year with a bold poster and a line-up that carried serious weight. Even with the tumult of global events shaping touring schedules, the event has retained its reputation for delivering power packed evenings, featuring legendary acts alongside contemporary names that continue to push the boundaries of heavy music. The festival program highlights the enduring appeal of bands that helped define hard rock and heavy metal while offering a platform for newer voices to be heard in a live festival setting.
Among the highlights, the Swedish ensemble Europe is set to appear once more, continuing a tradition of memorable performances. The festival roster also includes Blind Guardian, whose symphonic metal textures promise an immersive live experience, and Stratovarius, the Finnish power metal pioneers whose technical prowess has earned a loyal following. A notable presence comes from a renowned American supergroup comprising Portnoy, Sheehan, and Kotzen, whose collaborations have drawn eager anticipation from fans of both classic and contemporary rock. The Winery Dogs, a project that blends virtuosity with accessible rock energy, will perform as part of the festival’s wide spectrum of talent. Lordi, famed for their theatrical performances and a notable stand in Eurovision history, add a dramatic and high energy element to the lineup.
Also on the bill are Swedish outfits The Night Flight Orchestra and Evergrey, whose melodic and progressive approaches bring a diverse tonal palette to the festival. Metalite, a rising force in melodic metal, will showcase their soaring melodies and galloping riffs, while Chez Kane offers a purer hard rock voice that sits alongside the festival’s heavier offerings. The breadth of the lineup reflects Rock Imperium’s aim to deliver a complete rock and metal weekend, spanning classic era anthems to modern, forward looking metal.
Kiss’s appearance at Rock Imperium Festival 2023 represents the last opportunity to see the iconic group perform live in Spain as part of their farewell tour, a journey that began in January 2019 under the banner End of the Road. The original plan featured a multi year run with a final curtain in the United States, with a concluding date in New York set for July 17, 2021. The tour met delays as external events demanded adjustments, and plans shifted to accommodate a broader European itinerary. The band later extended performances beyond the initial scope, shifting continental stops and revisiting cities that hosted significant moments in the group’s storied history.
Historically, Kiss has used festival appearances to unleash the full spectacle of their stagecraft, often pairing their headline slots with other major acts in the rock and metal spectrum. The festival stop in Barcelona by Rock Imperium preceded a high profile show at Wizink Center in Madrid, strengthening the weekend’s impact for Spanish fans. Earlier appearances saw Kiss perform in main stage settings that underscored the enduring appeal of a band whose influence spans multiple generations. The combination of a definitive farewell message from Kiss and a festival that draws a broad audience ensures Rock Imperium 2023 remains a standout event within the European metal festival calendar. The weekend will feature a mix of veteran acts and emerging talents, creating a dynamic atmosphere that mirrors the energy Kiss brings to every stage they touch. The event’s setting in Cartagena offers a distinctive backdrop that enhances the experience for attendees, combining coastal ambience with the intensity of live rock and metal performances. Fans attending the festival can expect a tightly curated program that balances the nostalgia of classic anthems with the excitement of fresh material and daring performances from bands at various stages of their careers.