Have no plans for this Bank Holiday weekend? Want to get your fill of rock, punk and hardcore but don’t know where to go? Well let Already Heard give you a helping hand.
Festival season goes in to overdrive this weekend as the UK and Europe truly gets its mosh on! There 5 well-worthy festivals to fulfil your needs and we’ve got all the need to know info right here!
FestivileSheffield goes hard and heavy as Festivile serves up it’s annual day-long mosh-fest with American hardcore punks Trash Talk heading up the mayhem. Whilst don’t expect the likes of Heart of a Coward, Feed The Rhino and Baby Godzilla to hold back. We predict a sea of swinging limbs, breakdowns and probably the occasional wall of death.
Where: The Corporation, Sheffield | When: Saturday May 2nd | Tickets: £15 | Website
Pinky Swear FestNorthern-based DIY independent label Pinky Swear Records have got in on the festival act and are hosting their very first all-day festival. With tickets at just £12, Pinky Swear Fest offers some of the best up and coming pop punk acts around. Headlined by New Jersey’s Man Overboard, the one day fest promises no clashes and no barriers, so you can fling yourself off the stage to likes of Moose Blood, Roam, Light You Up, Boston Manor, Trash Boat and more.
Where: Sound Control, Manchester | When: Saturday May 2nd | Tickets: £15 | Website
Outbreak FestIf you’re wanting to get your fix of hardcore punk, then Outbreak Fest may just be the one for you. The likes of Angel Du$t, Cold World, Turnstile and Shrapnel play hard and fast. Higher up the bill you have UK melodic hardcore heroes Basement making a rare outing before Pennsylvania’s Title Fight bring their brand of hardcore-gone-shoegaze to close out the day. Outbreak Fest promises to a strong mix of bold beatdowns and melodic sing-alongs.
Where: Control, Leeds | When: Sunday May 3rd | Tickets: £30 | Website
Fury FestFor some, one day just isn’t enough to fill their moshing needs, so thankfully Fury Fest is at hand to help. Taking place over 2 days in Liverpool, it promises to showcase some of the best underground bands the UK has to offer from the world of emo and pop punk. With names such as Milestones, Please Head North, Boston Manor, Trash Boat, and Roam being amongst the names confirmed so far. Whilst the first day is headlined by Motion City Soundtrack who will be treating us with a performance of their fantastic 2005 album ‘Commit This To Memory’ in its entirety, Man Overboard will close the festival the following day with their tales of heartbreak. Both headliners have songs made to be sung together in unison.
Where: Arts Club, Liverpool | When: Saturday May 2nd and Sunday May 3rd | Tickets: £25 (weekend ticket) / £15 per day | Website
Live At LeedsOk we’ll admit on paper Live At Leeds isn’t filled with much potential in terms of alternative rock but if you delve a little deeper you will find some gems in the city-wide one-dayer. From radio-bothering Kent duo Slaves to Glasgow indie/post-punks We Were Promised Jetpacks to critically beloved alt rockers Arcane Roots to local melodic punks Brawlers, there is enough worth seeing. If that doesn’t persuade you then go and see just some of the exciting up and coming acts Live At Leeds has to offer; Black Peaks, Bloody Knees, Forever Cult, and Get Inuit.
Where: Various venues, Leeds | When: Saturday May 2nd and Sunday May 3rd | Tickets: £27.50 | Website
Impericon Fest UKIf somehow by Bank Holiday Monday you need more music, then head to Impericon Fest in Manchester. With the likes of Suicide Silence, The Ghost Inside, Whitechapel, Stick To Your Guns, Deez Nuts and others set to play, it will definitely finish you off as Impericon Fest promises to deliver some of heaviest breakdowns you’ll hear all summer.
Where: Academy, Manchester | When: Monday May 4th | Tickets: £27 | Website
And if you’re not already on the Eurostar, there is always…
GroezrockIf you’re looking to get out of the country and want the crème da la crème of rock, punk, metal and hardcore, then Groezrock is where you need to be! Since its start way back in 1992, punk and hardcore fans from across Europe have gathered in Meerhout, Belgium to see the biggest and best names from the alternative music world. This is year is no different. The line-up is simply overwhelming and with a fifth stage being added this year, you are truly spoilt for choice.
For the punks, you names such as Social Distortion, Pennywise, Millencolin, Knapsack, Good Riddance, and Against Me! lined up. Whereas American Nightmare, Bane, Comeback Kid, and Cancer Bats will please hardcore fans and for all you metalheads out there, Groezrock has Unearth, Atreyu, The Ghost Inside, Suicide Silence, The Acacia Strain and While She Sleeps to fill your moshing needs.
If that lot doesn’t have you booking your travel to Belgium already, how about if we told you Refused, Defeater, Motion City Soundtrack, Mineral, OFF!, Such Gold, The Swellers, The Early November, The Hotelier, Transit and Gnarwolves are just some of the other names announced for this mammoth of a festival? Pretty awesome stuff right? We’ll see you in the pit!
Read our full Groezrock preview here.
Where: Meerhout, Belgium | When: Friday May 1st and Saturday May 2nd |Tickets: €110 (Weekend ticket) / €70 per day / €15 camping | Website
Words by Sean Reid (@SeanReid86)