Kobetasonik Crowd Down By Half

Last Tour International is saying it’s happy with the result considering the economic crisis, as the second Kobetasonik Festival pulled a little more than half as many as the first.

In its debut year, the heavy metal bash in the Kobeti Mountains (near Bilbao) pulled 51,000 across two days with a bill that included KISS, Judas Priest, Apocalyptica, Slayer, Helloween and Europe. This year’s lineup had Marilyn Manson, Journey, Machine Head, Motley Crue and Dream Theater and attracted 27,869 fans.

Last Tour press and communications chief Itxaso Hernández said the company has a policy of not discussing its financial results. Last Tour is one of Spain’s major festival producers and is staging five festivals in 2009 including co-promoting Sonsisphere.

Azkena, which was founded in 2002 on a 20,000-capacity site at the Mendizabala Park near Vitoria-Gasteiz, happened earlier this year (May 14-16), having previously been staged in August or September. It pulled 44,093 across three days in 2006, its fifth anniversary, but this year’s attendance was down to 34,429.

Next up is Bilbao BBK Live (July 9-11), also on the Kobeti Mountains site, while Sonisphere – also on July 11 – will be at the 50,000-capacity Barcelona Forum.