From its humble beginnings in Perth six years ago to an absolutely massive line-up in 2011: the annual Soundwave has cemented its place as the second biggest travelling festival in the land (usurped only just by the Big Day Out). Sure, it’s still more than five months away, but let’s face it: you need time to save our summer festival pennies. After slowly revealing a handful of bands Soundwave organisers announced their full line-up this morning with a bang... and it’s huge.

“This is a festival for the fans, by the fans,” says promoter AJ Maddah. “Just about everyone employed at Soundwave was at one point a volunteer and we make a real effort to keep in touch with the people who support us every year by buying tickets.

“The most obvious challenge is moving 600 people around the country for five outdoor festivals and some 60 sideshows in 10 days! The other challenge, of course, is to keep the bands, the fans and the not-always-reasonable authorities happy without compromising the quality and integrity of the shows.”

With more to come, the first 2011 Soundwave Festival line-up includes: Iron Maiden, Queens Of The Stone Age, Slayer, Primus, Slash, Social Distortion, The Gaslight Anthem, Rob Zombie, Pennywise, Avenged Sevenfold, 30 Seconds To Mars, Stone Sour, Gang Of Four, New Found Glory, Sum 41, Anberlin, Third Eye Blind, Devildriver, Sevendust, Less Than Jake, The Bronx, Monster Magnet, Terror, MXPX, Protest The Hero, Melvins, 36 Crazyfists, Ill Nino, The Ataris, The Starting Line, Bayside, Mad Caddies, The Maine, Trash Talk, Mayday Parade, Foxy Shazam, Never Shout Never, The Blackout, Alesana, Asking Alexandria, All That Remains, High On Fire, Dommin, The Sword, Kylesa, A Skylit Drive, There For Tomorrow, Breathe Carolina, Taking Dawn, I See Stars, Rise To Remain, Nonpoint, Veara, Every Avenue.

General public tickets go on sale Thursday 26 August and dates are:

Saturday 26 February – RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane, QLD
Sunday 27 February – Eastern Creek Raceway, Sydney, NSW
Friday 4 March – Melbourne Showgrounds, VIC
Saturday 5 March – Bonython Park, Adelaide, SA
Monday 7 March – Steel Blue Oval, Perth, WA