Maybe this won’t be surprising, but I like what I’m seeing from the second Bear Stone Festival announcement for 2026. The Croatian out-in-the-woods-by-the-side-of-the-river heavyfest is getting weirder and more psyched out, and from Greek kingpins Nightstalker to Netherlands-based Altın Gün to German murk-doomers Daevar to Philadelphian instrumentalist doomjazz legends Stinking Lizaveta, the evidence for that comes from multiple angles and geographic centers. There are a few acts in here I’ve never heard — Karma Sheen, The Cyclist Conspiracy, Ambra — and relative newcomers like Upupayāma and Scott Hepple and the Sun Band speak to Bear Stone‘s forward thinking approach to curating.

Couple this with Uncle Acid, Elder, My Sleeping Karma, Planet of Zeus, Travo, Ungraven and others from the first announcement — everybody thus far unveiled is on the poster below — and you get a striking, vibe-heavy picture of what’s going to be taking place those four days by the riverside just outside Slunj. And if you feel like you’re not getting that picture, hit the 2025 aftermovie below for inspiring slo-mo glories.

From the PR wire:

Bear Stone Festival 2026 – Second Lineup Announcement

Bear Stone Festival’s second lineup announcement levels up with Altın Gün, bringing their irresistible blend of Turkish Psychedelic Folk-Rock, a hypnotic collision of deep Anatolian grooves and modern Psych energy.

Joining them are Austin TV with cinematic instrumental Post-Rock, Nightstalker delivering riff-heavy Greek Stoner Rock power and Daevar unleashing crushing, atmospheric Doom-laden Stoner Rock intensity alongside with many other names!

With a rich palette spanning Doom, Psych, Stoner, Punk, Garage, Experimental Noise and beyond, the lineup is set to erupt across three stages nestled in Bear Stone’s one-of-a-kind natural landscape, where discovery, volume, and atmosphere collide into the complete festival experience.

Ticket link: https://weeztix.shop/qgd3dx58

Bear Stone Festival Hard Copy Tickets & Merch: https://shop.bearstonefestival.com/

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ALTIN GÜN (NL)
[Psychedelic Rock/Psych Funk]

Altın Gün are an Amsterdam-based Psychedelic quintet at the forefront of the modern revival of Turkish-influenced grooves, fusing Anatolian Folk melodies with hypnotic basslines, fuzzed-out guitars, vintage organs, and an ever-evolving palette of synths and rhythms.

Drawing inspiration from 70’s Anatolian Psych-Funk, 80’s Synth-Pop, global Folk traditions, and modern Indie experimentation, their sound moves fluidly between driving dancefloor energy and mind-expanding atmospheres.

Their upcoming fifth album Garip distils that lineage into a focused tribute to Turkish folk legend Neşet Ertaş while revealing a subtler, more exploratory side of the band.

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AUSTIN TV (MEX)
[Instrumental Post Rock/Indie-Prog]

Austin TV are a cult Mexican instrumental Post-Rock band known for powerful, cinematic songs that move from delicate build-ups to explosive, cathartic climaxes. Blending shimmering melodies with mathy rhythms and progressive dynamics, they create a sound that feels emotional, dramatic, and unpredictable like a film unfolding .

With their mysterious masked aesthetic and reputation for immersive live shows, Austin TV have become one of Latin America’s most distinctive instrumental Rock exports.

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NIGHTSTALKER (GR)
[Stoner Rock/Desert Rock]

Nightstalker are Greek Stoner Rock pioneers from Athens, widely credited as one of the key bands that helped shape and export the Heavy Rock sound of the Mediterranean underground.

Built on towering fuzz riffs, Blues-drenched rhythms, and streetwise swagger, their music bridges Classic Hard Rock weight with a gritty modern bite.

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DAEVAR (DE)
[Doom Rock/Atmospheric Sludge]

Daevar are a rising German Stoner Doom trio forging a sound that’s equal parts crushing weight and hypnotic atmosphere. Their songs are a combination of fuzz-saturated stomps, and melodic haze, balancing Doom heaviness with a modern, driving edge.

Their fierce momentum and thick-toned delivery have made them a must-watch name in the new wave of European Heavy Rock.

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UPUPAYĀMA (ITA)
[Psych Kraut/Cosmic Fuzz]

Upupayāma are an Italian Psychedelic Acid-Folk project blending pastoral melodies with blown-out fuzz and trance-inducing vibes.

Expect music that feels both earthy and otherworldly, equal parts campfire ritual and full-volume psych trip.

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VOLCANOVA (ISL)
[Stoner Metal/Volcanic Groove]

Iceland’s very own Volcanova hit with a fierce, high-voltage blend of aggressive grooves, sharp hooks, and relentless momentum. Their sound balances heavy punch with dark, modern textures built for sweat-soaked pits and shouted choruses.

Loud, fast, and unapologetically intense, Volcanova are pure adrenaline from the first note to the last.

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ROADKILLSODA (RO)
[Boogie Punk/Garage Rock]

RoadkillSoda bring a loud, no-frills blast of gritty Hard Rock energy-packed with punchy riffs, swagger, and hooks that hit fast and stick. Their sound rides the line between dirty Garage Rock and sharp modern drive, built for shouting along with a drink in hand.

Raw, rowdy, and insanely fun live, RoadkillSoda turn every set into a full-throttle party.

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SCOTT HEPPLE AND THE SUN BAND (UK)
[Psych Rock/Acid Rock]

Scott Hepple and The Sun Band deliver a warm, groovy blend of feel-good Soul, Funk, and sunlit Rock built on tight musicianship and infectious rhythms. Their sound is equal parts smooth and punchy, with bright melodies, crisp horns/keys energy, and vocals that keep the room smiling.

Cinematic, addictive, and deeply melodic, Scott Hepple and The Sun Band are built for singalongs under strobe lights.

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KARMA SHEEN (UK)
[Psych Raga/Fuzz Rock]

Karma Sheen are a UK band forging a striking fusion of Psychedelic Rock and Hindustani classical raga, where hypnotic riffs meet drone, chant, and spiralling melodic improvisation.

Their sound draws on Sufi mysticism and South Asian classical tradition while still hitting with the punch and swagger of fuzzed-out 60’s Psych. Live, it feels less like a gig than a trip: mesmeric, ecstatic, and totally singular.

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STINKING LIZAVETA (GR)
[Instrumental Noise Rock/Heavy Prog Jazz]

Stinking Lizaveta are a ferocious instrumental powerhouse, fusing crushing Rock heft with the wild freedom of Jazz and the precision of Prog. Their sound is all jagged riffs, thunderous atmosphere, and fearless improvisation that’s tight one moment and explodes the next.

Expect a set that shifts without warning: massive riffs, razor-tight interplay, and moments of pure musical freefall.

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THE CYCLIST CONSPIRACY (RS)
[Desert Psych/Folk Fusion]

The Cyclist Conspiracy fuse Saharan Desert-Blues spirit with Balkan grit, blending World Music grooves, Rock drive, and psychedelic guitar explorations into a hypnotic instrumental trip.

Their style grows wilder and heavier as it unfolds as an immersive trance-like therapy you’ll want to sink into with your eyes closed.

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HYPNOTIC FLOOR (AT)
[Psych Rock/Hypnotic Rock]

Hypnotic Floor blend Progressive Rock, Folk, and Psychedelia into reverb-drenched, delay-soaked journeys moving from sprawling improvised jams to tighter, garage-leaning punch without losing their hypnotic edge.

On their latest album “The Friendly Moss Forest Creatures Lives Happily In Perpetual Twilight” they dive deeper into intricate melodies and polymetric rhythms, delivering raw, high-energy Psych Rock.

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KLAUSTRO/FONIJA (CRO)
[Psycho-Psych Rock/Post Punk Noise]

Klaustro/fonija are a Croatian Psychotic-Psychedelic Rock trio fusing Post-Punk, Noise, Experimental and Electro into a volatile, mind-bending sound.

Known for near-ritualistic live shows packed with vocal freakouts, pounding rhythms, and deep-fried guitars, they released their debut album “Rigged Phantasies” in 2025 via the North Macedonian label Mrtov Konj.

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AMBRA (SLO)
[Post Punk/Stoner Prog]

Ambra from Slovenia deliver a heavyweight blend of Progressive Stoner Alt Metal, pairing thick, groove-driven riffs with expansive moods and sharp rhythmic turns.

They shift between hypnotic tension and explosive release that is dark, dynamic, and built for big stages where every breakdown hits like a wave.

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Bear Stone Festival 2025 aftermovie