Rush Announces First European Festival Appearance In 34 Years

How do you say ‘The Temples of Syrinx’ in Swedish? Someone better figure it out pretty quickly, because Rush just scheduled an appearance at next year’s Sweden Rock Festival — the band’s first European festival performance in nearly 35 years.

With 80 bands spread out over five outdoor stages over four days, the Sweden Rock Festival is one of Europe’s more massive live music extravaganzas; this year’s lineup includes an eclectic batch of AOR mainstays such as Motley Crue, Soundgarden, Bad Company, Blue Oyster Cult, and Twisted Sister. (Also: Girlschool and Ugly Kid Joe. Can’t win ‘em all.)

Tickets for next year’s edition of the festival won’t even go on sale until September, but the organizers are understandably excited about landing their first headlining act. Triumphantly announcing what will be Rush’s only appearance in Sweden next year, they’ve issued a press release trumpeting “the Sweden Rock Festival debut that so many have longed for.”

The press release continues, “In 2004, Rush played in Sweden for the first time in 25 years, selling out the Globe Arena in Stockholm. The overwhelming audience response marked the beginning of a passionate love story between the band and Sweden, and on June 8th, 2013 they will be back again.”

When they touch down for the festival next year, Rush will be a year removed from their most recent studio album, ‘Clockwork Angels,’ scheduled for release on June 12 here in the States — and a full day earlier in Sweden. See what booking a band for a major concert event will get you?