Z7 SUMMER NIGHTS OPEN AIR

METAL SUMMER STORM WITH SAXON

The mighty Metal Eagle spreads its wings once again and lands on our outdoor stage in August 2026. Tireless NWOBHM legends Saxon return to Pratteln for a show as part of the Z7 Summer Nights. Even after five decades, frontman Biff Byford remains in stunning form, once again bringing his timeless heavy metal thunder to Switzerland.

Saxon are the ultimate workhorses of the metal scene. Founded 50 years ago in Barnsley, England, under the name Son Of A Bitch, they have written heavy metal history ever since. Alongside Iron Maiden, they were among the trailblazers of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal in the early 1980s, landing five albums in the UK Top 20 at a time when it actually took serious record sales to make an impact on the charts. By now, Saxon have released 24 studio albums and countless live records, and with their regular releases and seemingly endless touring schedule, they remain a rock-solid force in the hard rock business. Saxon are one of the very few bands that have stayed completely true to themselves and their sound throughout their entire career – and the fans reward them for it. With their latest release Hell, Fire And Damnation, Saxon once again exceeded all expectations in 2024, delivering another heavy metal classic that walks the perfect line between confident, modern power and a respectful tribute to the glory days of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. Every live show radiates confidence. Biff Byford delivers his strongest vocal performance in years, while drummer Nigel Glockler and bassist Nibbs Carter lay down thunderous rhythmic foundations. The guitars of Doug Scarratt and Brian Tatler sound fresh and fiery, complementing each other perfectly. Musically, Saxon bring everything the denim-and-leather crowd could ask for. Reflecting on the album produced by Andy Sneap (Judas Priest) – which also marked the first appearance of Diamond Head guitarist Brian Tatler in the band – Biff comments: “Brian brought a new dynamic to the songwriting. It worked brilliantly. Hell, Fire And Damnation was voted ‘Album of the Year’ on quite a few websites, so we must have done something right. I hope the next one will be just as good, if not better. But Hell, Fire And Damnation will be hard to top. I think it’s a pretty much perfect album.” Songs for a follow-up are already in the works, with a new release expected towards the end of 2026. Chances are that a brand-new Saxon track will already make its way onto the Summer Nights setlist.