by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)

Lovely Days is a single-day festival, so, with such a packed billing, the gates were set to open early, at 1 p.m. As we had no means of transport of our own and absolutely no idea how to get to Esterházy Park, we took the shuttle bus and, in less than three quarters of an hour, arrived at the festival site: a huge, lush green area, properly arranged to welcome and serve thousands of people, a beautiful park that would host the massive crowd that had made the event sold out! After getting in quickly, we headed towards the stage, where we found a good spot, settled down and waited. The weather was hot, with the sun beating down on our heads, but fortunately there was a designated spot where you could fill your bottles with cold water – constant hydration was absolutely necessary. So, we eagerly awaited the start of the festival, which was not long in coming!

The first band to appear in the middle of the afternoon was the Hans Theessink Band. This is the band led by Hans Theessink, the relatively well-known Dutch blues/roots guitarist and singer, who has released twenty albums! Personally, I knew little about Theessink, but I really enjoyed the roots-oriented set of his band, which also featured a keyboard player and three backing vocalists from Zimbabwe! They played with passion and enthusiasm, and soon swept us along with the vibrant rhythm of their music! The sound was good; however, what really struck me was the strong, joyful feeling radiating from Theessink and his musicians, which, within seconds, spread to us as well! Don’t ask me which songs they played, as I don’t know any of them, apart from their cover of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” from the soundtrack of the movie “The Lion King”! At that point, the choreography of the three backing vocalists fitted perfectly. The Hans Theessink Band’s performance did not last long, but it was more than enough for us to settle into the festival atmosphere, warm up and prepare ourselves for what was to follow.

After the Hans Theessink Band, it was time for a tribute band, Clearwater Creedence Revival, who, as you can easily understand, pay tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival. By the time they took the stage, I was already excited, as Creedence Clearwater Revival are one of my favourite bands! And there was absolutely nothing about Clearwater Creedence Revival’s performance that disappointed me, since, as they proved that day, they are a fantastic tribute band. They captured the songs and sound of Creedence Clearwater Revival very well, their renditions were spot-on, and they played with passion and the enthusiasm of true fans, making us dance to huge, world-famous hits (“Proud Mary”, “Bad Moon Rising”, “Fortunate Son”, etc.). Of course, their vocals could not be compared to the voice of the great John Fogerty, but we knew that before the concert had even started! It should also be noted that Clearwater Creedence Revival’s show ended with a cover of “Rockin’ All Over the World”, a song written by John Fogerty and made famous by Status Quo. We CCR fans absolutely loved it and wanted more!

I had been looking forward to what came next like crazy, as “Wild Thing” is one of my favourite songs from the ’60s. I am talking, of course, about The Troggs, who not only still exist, but continue to deliver explosive live shows. And that was exactly the case with their concert at the Lovely Days Festival, where The Troggs truly excelled. None of the group’s original members are still in the band today (the last one to retire, in 2017, was guitarist Chris Britton); however, today’s Troggs, fronted by the iconic Chris Allen, proudly and deservedly carry the band’s name, and that afternoon they made sure we had an amazing time! Allen is quite a character and effortlessly led the band through a fantastic performance, spreading joy among the crowd, which by then had filled the park! They had a rock n’ roll swagger, a classy rock style and entertained us with their rock anthems! It was quite an experience to watch Allen, dressed in black leather, perform and stand at the forefront of The Troggs’ rock n’ roll thunder. Naturally, all hell broke loose during “Wild Thing”, but I also realised that The Troggs have many other great songs and that their guitarist absolutely rocks! We thoroughly enjoyed The Troggs, but now it was time for…

…Colosseum! Fans of both classic rock and the progressive, jazz rock sounds of the ’70s hold Colosseum in the highest regard. The band created history by releasing masterpiece albums such as “Valentyne Suite” and “Daughter of Time”. Therefore, the crowd warmly welcomed Colosseum, who still featured three members from the classic era: Chris Farlowe on vocals, Dave “Clem” Clempson on guitar and Mark Clarke on bass. Of course, Farlowe looked very aged, but that did not stop him from delivering a great vocal performance. On the contrary, he sounded excellent! The same goes for all the other members, who created a solid, warm and deep sound, worthy of the band’s legendary name. Colosseum proved that even in 2026 they have not forgotten their craft and that they can still surprise even the most demanding listeners. Everything led up to the 17-minute “Valentyne Suite”, the unforgettable epic that left us speechless and deeply moved. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one of those moments that will remain etched in memory forever! We are talking about true jazz rock gods, who shone at Lovely Days with an incredible, fulfilling set that rewarded us more than we could have hoped for. I wish them to always be healthy and continue giving us the ’70s rock that we crave! This was a true jazz rock masterclass!

Then came a moment we had been eagerly waiting for. It was time for Manfred Mann’s Earth Band to take the stage, the legendary group of ’70s progressive hard rock. Personally, I am a fan of the band, so my heart was beating faster and harder during their set. And what a set it was: a highly accomplished, top-level performance, full of classic songs that, for the first time, we had the chance to hear live from the very people who created them! It was a dream come true! We sang along to “Blinded By the Light” and “Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)”, we got emotional with “Father of Day, Father of Night” (I was not particularly impressed by Mick Rogers’ vocals, but I have already forgotten that small detail!), and we enjoyed “Don’t Kill It Carol”, “For You” and “Davy’s on the Road Again”. The magic of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s sound was reborn for us that afternoon, and we were overwhelmed by the greatness of this band. It was truly something special; it was a miracle to see the one and only Manfred Mann himself playing his keyboards right in front of us. I still remember that moment and get goosebumps! Of course, I would have preferred them to play their full live set, but even an hour and a little more was more than enough – we were blown away and got exactly what we wanted from Manfred Mann and his band!

After the legendary live show of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, the schedule said it was time to see Foreigner. And indeed, today’s version of Foreigner, which, as we all know, does not include any members of the original line-up, stepped onto the stage amid an atmosphere of excitement. The opening song was “Double Vision”, and what we saw was a top-class band: incredibly tight, with an amazing sound and tremendous passion, giving everything they had on stage. Because today’s Foreigner, apart from being outstanding musicians, bring positive energy, understand exactly where they are playing, and respect the name they carry. Simply put, they sweat for the shirt, delivering their rock with style, power and determination! Luis Maldonado, in particular, is truly a rock n’ roll personality, a real character, a rock star who knows exactly how to command the stage and become the centre of attention, while maintaining a fantastic connection with the audience! Of course, all the other musicians are masters of the hard rock sound as well. Watching Jeff Pilson’s stage presence and the way he moves and performs, you immediately understand that he is a leader, an imposing rock n’ roll figure who knows exactly what to do to make everyone enjoy the concert they are witnessing! Foreigner’s set was slightly shortened, as they were performing before the headliner, but it was amazingly good, more than enough to turn the evening into a unique melodic hard rock party!

And so we reached the festival’s headlining act: Alice Cooper, who, it must be said, is constantly on the road, performing live shows around the world! The Godfather of shock rock had arranged a rendezvous with all the “sick things” in Eisenstadt, and we were all there, right on time for this special meeting. Thus, at around 11 p.m., we welcomed this legendary hard rock hero, who stepped onto the stage causing a real earthquake, accompanied by his brilliant touring band: Roxie, Garric, Henriksen, Sobel, and, replacing Nita Strauss, Anna Cara! The opening songs were “Who Do You Think We Are” and “Spark in the Dark”, and the Esterházy Castle park erupted! Alice Cooper’s vocals sounded remarkably good, especially considering his age, his band was flawless, and the sound was exactly what you expect from an Alice Cooper concert – the guitars had the perfect balance of power and clarity! The great shock rocker performed many of his classic songs, honouring several of his masterpiece albums, while also presenting his spectacular horror show, delivering a performance that will remain deeply etched in our memories. Alice and his band’s performance was, as always, out of this world, truly stellar, and their positive energy was transferred to the audience, who had an incredible time! At this point, I would only like to add that Anna Cara’s expression was somewhat stern (she did not crack even a single smile), but since this does not seem to bother Alice Cooper, we will let it pass! The hard rock celebration that took place seemed endless, while Alice Cooper rewarded the audience, who were asking for more, with an excellent cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. The end of the concert was triumphant, and everyone – both the band and the crowd – left the stage area filled with pure joy!

With Alice Cooper’s one-of-a-kind performance, this year’s Lovely Days Festival brought the curtain down in truly triumphant fashion. After gathering our belongings, we took the bus and returned to beautiful Vienna. One thing was absolutely clear – “Lovely Days” is one of the greatest rock festivals in the world, and this year’s edition will go down in history as one of its most successful! We are already looking forward to the 2027 edition, where, from what I have seen, the headliners will be Lynyrd Skynyrd, while 10cc will also be part of the line-up! Oh, what a celebration awaits us!

Το άρθρο LOVELY DAYS FESTIVAL 2026: ALICE COOPER, FOREIGNER etc. – EISENSTADT, AUSTRIA – 04/07/2026 εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Esterházy Palace Park in Burgenland, the festival offers a unique blend of music history and natural beauty. The elegant baroque palace and its expansive green surroundings create an atmosphere that feels both relaxed and majestic. It is the perfect setting for a celebration of timeless music.

Lovely Days has built its reputation by bringing legendary artists from the 1960s and 1970s to the stage, giving audiences the rare chance to experience the pioneers of rock, blues and classic pop in an intimate yet powerful environment. Year after year, fans gather to relive the soundtrack of a generation — songs that shaped culture, defined eras and continue to inspire new listeners.

Lovely Days is a journey through time. It connects generations, uniting long-time devotees with younger fans who want to witness living music history. In the warm summer air of Burgenland, under open skies and surrounded by history, the spirit of classic rock lives on. But let’s see this year’s fantastic line-up!

This one-day classic rock/pop festival features the lineup of the “godfather of shock rock”, the one and only Alice Cooper, the melodic rock legends Foreigner, the prog/classic rock masters Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, the amazing blues/jazz rockers Colosseum, the incredible cover band Clearwater Creedence Revival, the wild things of rock n’ roll The Troggs and The Hans Theessink Band.

ALICE COOPER

Alice Cooper is one of the true legends of rock music. Since the early 1970s, he has shocked, entertained and inspired generations of fans with his dark image and powerful songs. Often called the “Godfather of Shock Rock,” he turned concerts into theatrical events, using props like guillotines, fake blood and dramatic costumes. But behind the horror style, there are great songs and unforgettable melodies. Albums like “Love It to Death”, “Killer” and “School’s Out” changed rock history. Songs such as “School’s Out” and “Poison” are still played everywhere. His voice, half-sinister and half-playful, became his trademark. Alice Cooper proved that rock can be dangerous, fun and smart at the same time. Decades later, he still performs with energy and passion. He is not just a shock rocker — he is a survivor, a showman and a true icon of rock ’n’ roll.

FOREIGNER

Foreigner are one of the most successful rock bands of the late 1970s and 1980s. Formed in 1976 by guitarist Mick Jones, the band created a perfect mix of hard rock power and emotional ballads. With the incredible voice of Lou Gramm, they delivered songs that are still loved today. Hits like “Cold As Ice”, “Hot Blooded”, “Urgent” and the timeless ballad “I Want to Know What Love Is” became radio classics all over the world. Their music is strong, melodic and full of feeling. They could rock hard, but they could also touch your heart. Foreigner sold millions of albums and filled huge arenas. Their sound helped define an era of classic rock. Even decades later, their songs remain powerful and unforgettable. Foreigner are a lasting part of rock history!

MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND

Manfred Mann’s Earth Band created a special place in rock history by mixing progressive rock, jazz touches and strong melodies. Formed in the early 1970s by South African keyboard player Manfred Mann, the band became known for its rich keyboard sound and thoughtful arrangements. They are especially famous for their powerful versions of Bruce Springsteen songs like “Blinded by the Light” and “Spirit in the Night”. “Blinded by the Light” became a number one hit and introduced the band to a worldwide audience. But beyond the hits, the Earth Band always aimed for something deeper, with long instrumental passages and meaningful lyrics. Their music feels atmospheric and intelligent, yet still very accessible. Manfred Mann’s Earth Band proved that rock can be both artistic and popular. Decades later, their songs continue to shine with emotion, energy and class.

COLOSSEUM FEAT. CHRIS FARLOWE, CLEM CLEMPSON, MARK CLARKE

 Colosseum belong to the pioneers of progressive rock and jazz rock. Formed in the late 1960s, they brought together powerful musicians who were masters of their instruments. Each member was a strong soloist, yet together they created a tight, rich and adventurous sound. Their double live album “Colosseum Live” (1971) is still seen as a classic. It captures the energy, skill and passion that made the band special. Songs like “Lost Angeles” and the epic “Valentyne Suite” were examples of complex, elaborate rock music. In 2025, original members Chris Farlowe, Clem Clempson and Mark Clarke returned to the stage, proving that the spirit of Colosseum is still alive. With new material from their album “XI” and their classics, they continue to inspire fans. Colosseum are living legends of British rock.

CLEARWATER CREEDENCE REVIVAL

Clearwater Creedence Revival is a tribute band dedicated to honouring the legacy and music of the iconic American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR). Formed by musicians passionate about recreating the authentic sound of CCR, Clearwater Creedence Revival performs faithful renditions of classic hits like “Bad Moon Rising”, “Proud Mary”, “Fortunate Son” and “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?”. The band captures the raw, Southern rock-infused energy and swamp rock style of CCR, bringing nostalgia to longtime fans while introducing the legendary music to new audiences. Known for their lively, engaging performances, Clearwater Creedence Revival focuses on preserving the timeless appeal of CCR’s music, staying true to the original band’s distinctive style, led by John Fogerty’s signature vocal and guitar sound.

THE TROGGS

The Troggs were one of the rawest and most exciting bands of the 1960s. Formed in southern England in 1964, they helped shape the sound of garage rock with simple chords, strong rhythm and bold attitude. Their biggest hit, “Wild Thing,” became a worldwide anthem, reaching number one in the United States and turning into a rock classic. Songs like “With a Girl Like You”, “I Can’t Control Myself”, and “Love Is All Around” showed their talent for catchy melodies and direct, emotional lyrics. Their music was loud, honest and full of energy. In many ways, The Troggs predicted the spirit of punk rock years before it arrived. From television appearances like Beat-Club to festival stages around the world, they built a lasting legacy. Decades later, The Troggs remain a powerful reminder that sometimes the simplest rock ’n’ roll can be the most unforgettable.

THE HANS THEESSINK BAND

The Hans Theessink Band stands for musical richness and deep feeling. Versatility has always defined Theessink’s career, whether he performs alone or surrounded by great musicians. With decades of experience, he delivers soulful blues and roots music filled with both emotion and technical excellence. His vast repertoire feels like a living archive of American roots traditions, guiding the audience through a joyful journey across blues, rhythm & blues, folk, roots rock and touches of gospel.

In the Hans Theessink Band, he is joined by outstanding keyboardist Roland Guggenbichler, who moves effortlessly between organ, piano and accordion. Adding even more depth, three Zimbabwean singers contribute strong vocals, percussion, movement and vibrant African spirit, creating a colorful and uplifting live experience.

Lovely Days 2026 is already sold-out! The lucky ones who have got their precious tickets shall prepare for an outstanding rock festival, with the aforementioned great line-up, on July 4th, in Eisenstadt, Austria! Myth of Rock will also be there to share with you the astonishing experience!

Το άρθρο LOVELY DAYS 2026 – AN OVERVIEW εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

Last year you released your fifth album, “Hic Svnt Dracones”. How do you see this album now? What would you change to it, if you had the chance?

Well the album is still very new, so right now, I’m super happy with the result! Let’s see how I feel 2 or 3 years down the line, haha! – usually I always find something to criticize. But so far, I feel it’s our most well-rounded album with the most refined songwriting as well as best individual performances and production, so overall I’m very happy.

How has the band’s original concept as “The Dragonslayer Project” evolved into what is now known as Dragony?Originally the band was planned to be more of a studio project, hence the original band name. But once we had found a fixed lineup it became apparent that we wanted to play live as well, so in the course of producing our first album “Legends” back in 2011, we decided to also change the band name to something that’s a bit more simple and easier to communicate – and finally came up with “Dragony”, as it reflects the style and also the tongue-in-cheek attitude of the band really well.

 Your music deftly blends power metal with symphonic elements .What bands or musical genres have been the most influential in shaping this unique fusion?

Definitely the “classic” power metal and symphonic metal bands of the late 1990s and early 2000s for me! I grew up listening to bands like Hammerfall, Rhapsody, Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, Nightwish, Edguy and Avantasia – and I think all these elements really shape the sound of Dragony to this day.

Dragony is known for its thematic depth and narrative-driven lyrics. Can you elaborate on the storytelling techniques you employ and the inspirations behind your lyrical content?

It’s a bit different from album to album, as we had very “single-song” centric albums like “Masters of the Multiverse”, which take inspiration from various pop culture themes like books, TV shows, movies and video games, but also concept albums like “Viribus Unitis” or the recent “Hic Svnt Dracones”, which both took an “alternate history” approach, retelling some real-life historical events with a certain fantastical twist.So the lyrics were more focused on telling these stories on the two most recent albums, and each song forms a part of the whole overarching story.

How do you translate the complexity and grandeur of your studio recordings into the dynamic environment of a live performance, and what challenges have you encountered in doing so?

That’s a bit challenge for every kind of “symphonic” band I think, so as most of these bands, we rely on the use of backing tracks to “boost” the performance, meaning that orchestrations and additional choirs will be provided from samples to create that “big” sound in the live situation. Instruments and vocals are of course always performed live, everything else would be quite boring!

“Hic Svnt Dracones” translates to “Here Be Dragons”. Could you explain the significance of this title and how it encapsulates the themes explored in the album?

I always wanted to use this phrase in the context of the band, as it fits very well for a band named “Dragony”. So when we decided on this for an album title, it also became pretty clear that the album topic should have something to do with seafaring or pirates, as the phrase designates uncharted territories on medieval sea maps. I then came up with retelling the story of the infamous “Lost Colony” of Roanoke, the British settlement in the New World which disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and decided to mix that up with some Jules-Verne-like elements as well as Vikings and Norse mythology – so basically all the most popular power metal clichés these days – to create the “most power metal album” of 2024, haha!

Can you provide insight into your creative process during the production of “Hic Svnt Dracones”, including how you integrate new influences while remaining true to the band’s established sound?

In recent years, our songwriting process has more and more heavily involved our friend and long-time producer Frank Pitters, with whom we’ve been working since the early days of the band, and who has basically become the seventh band member, working more behind the scenes. Nowadays he contributes a lot to the songwriting process, as we work with him on our song ideas directly in the studio, and in many cases, some song ideas also come directly from him and I work out the details and vocal lines together with him. So the core songwriting team for Dragony has been pretty consistent over the years.

How do the individual personalities and talents within Dragony contribute to the collective songwriting and recording process, and what role does each member play in shaping the band’s musical direction?

In the past it was mostly me and our former guitarist Andreas doing the songwriting within the band, finishing the songs together with Frank Pitters in the studio. Now that Andreas has left the band, our new guitarist Matt and new drummer Chris have started to contribute to the songwriting, so that adds a new flavor and dimension to our sound, which can be heard on the song “The Einherjar” on the new album, which has some folk elements that we didn’t have before.

Reflecting on your journey from 2007 to the release of your fifth album, in what ways do you feel your music has matured, and how do you balance innovation with the expectations of your long-time fans?

I think we’ve developed a better understanding of songwriting and what makes a song work. We’ve of course adapted new influences into our sound, so while we were pretty much a very “old school” Power Metal band in the beginning, we now have developed a healthy mixture of old school stuff, but also modern sounding elements inspired by current bands like Beast in Black or Powerwolf. I think we strike a good balance there, and that should appeal both to long-term fans and new fans alike.

In today’s music industry, how do you see the global metal scene influencing your work, and what role do you feel Dragony plays within this community?

I think we are a more or less small cog in the wheel; we are definitely not the innovators of a new sound or anything of the like; we just like symphonic power metal in all its facets, and that’s what we’ve been doing for almost 20 years now – no matter if it’s “old school” or “new school”. I think we add to the community in the way that fans of this sort of music can discover us next to the “big players” and find a lot to enjoy and get some entertainment out of our brand of Power Metal.

Every band faces its own set of challenges; could you share some of the significant obstacles you have encountered as Dragony and the strategies you employed to overcome them?

I think for every band, us included, lineup changes are the hardest part. A band is a bit like a relationship, so making a change to that can be quite difficult and painful. But lives change, people move on, priorities change… so from time to time, it just becomes necessary. Apart from those challenges, of course keeping a band going in this day and age, especially if it’s more of a passion project and not really a “job” that yields any money, is always difficult, as you need to balance your personal and work life with a very time- and money-consuming hobby. The fact that we’ve managed to do it for almost 20 years now is quite astounding to ourselves as well, haha!

Looking forward, what can fans expect from Dragony in the coming years, and are there any upcoming projects or conceptual directions that you are particularly excited about?

For now we want to focus on promoting our new album “Hic Svnt Dracones” as we feel it’s our best to date, so we haven’t really thought much about the future. One step at a time – so 2025 will be very busy for us in terms of touring, as we’ll do a European tour in March together with Serious Black, and then play a few festivals in the summer. We’ve also got an anniversary for our second album “Shadowplay” upcoming this year, so we’ll probably do a little something in that respect later this year!

You signed a deal with SPV Records. Are you satisfied with the label? Will your next album be released via SPV?

Absolutely! SPV have a 40 year history and therefore a lot of experience in the market. They are a very trustworthy partner, and working with them has been really easy and they’ve been very helpful along the way. It’s still a bit early to speak about the next album though.

Have you started writing new songs for your next album?

It’s a bit too early for that as we’ve only just released “Hic Svnt Dracones” last October, so it’s not even been out for half a year. I think we’ll look into the future in the beginning of next year.

In a few days you are playing live in Athens, Greece in the Ghostlands & Ravenlands Festival. How are you feeling about that? What are you preparing for the Greek fans?

I have quite a few very good friends in Greece and Athens specifically, so I’ve been here frequently in the past! I always enjoy visiting, and since I’ve also attended some shows at Kyttaro in the past, it will be very cool to be playing there ourselves as well this time around! Can’t wait!

Send your message to the fans!

We hope that our friends in Greece enjoy our new album “Hic Svnt Dracones”, and that we see many of you guys at Kyttaro on 23^rd February for Ghostlands & Ravenlands festival! Stay glorious!

Το άρθρο Interview with DRAGONY εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.