Live Nation prepares for landmark Hard Rock Calling

While Glastonbury kicks off today in the heart of Somerset, organisers of the Hard Rock Calling festival in London are expecting similar crowds for this weekend’s extravaganza in Hyde Park.

Promoters Live Nation are expecting 145,000 to visit the event, which this year has The Killers, Bon Jovi and Rod Stewart lined up as headliners.

“Because it’s the 40th anniversary of Hard Rock this year, they are going to town and spending a lot of money on the event,” said Live Nation vice president of promotions Toby Leighton-Pope.

“Having Bon Jovi is huge for us. Similarly The Killers loved it last time they played and wanted to come back. As far as I'm aware they are not doing any other summer shows.” He added, “The Rod Stewart Stevie Nicks package is exciting as well as Rod is doing his rock n roll set that we haven't seen for a while.”

And while the grandfather of festivals steals much of the limelight this weekend in Glastonbury, Leighton-Pope said the two events often work in tandem when it comes to booking acts.

“Glastonbury notoriously doesn't pay very well but it does attract some of the biggest name acts so when they come to the UK we can offer them another show on the back of playing Glastonbury,” he said.

“The pull of Glastonbury can't be overstated and I know I've paid quadruple for an act that Glastonbury does and they simply come in on the back of what we've been doing. But it works both ways, so I can’t complain - Hard rock is artist led. Glastonbury is not.”

And while the world’s media concentrates on the depth of the mud on Michael Eavis’s farm, the reputation Hard Rock Calling has built over the years now means that most tickets are sold out long before the event kicks off, making it an ideal addition to the programme of events Live Nation programmes in Hyde Park.

“While we all hope for dry weather, our walk-up business is minimal at Hard Rock Calling,” added Leighton-Pope. “The biggest we've had was 800 people and that is massive these days.”

Hard Rock Calling gets under way tomorrow when Michael Kiwanuka takes to the main stage and The Heartbreaks open the Pepsi Max stage. They will be followed by Transfer, The Good Natured, The Kills, James, Kaiser Chiefs and the Killers.