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

If you’ve already been, you don’t need me to tell you to go. If not yet, then go ahead and consider this encouragement. Nestled into its wooded riverside corner, a gorgeous setting with stages large and small, able to be correspondingly relaxing and intense, Bear Stone Festival 2026 has unveiled the first names for its lineup for next July. At the risk of getting personal, I was more than a bit heartbroken to miss the fest this year after attending in 2024, and with a lineup that includes Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, Elder, My Sleeping Karma, Planet of Zeus, Travo, Ungraven, Saint Karloff, Ungraven, and more, including the continuing commitment to showcase homegrown Croatian acts, the four-dayer’s bill already highlights the growth underway for the festival itself. Progression, both in terms of stylistic outreach and getting bigger names. The art, the people, the sound, the lights, the place. I sincerely hope I get to go back.

Check out the 2025 aftermovie at the bottom of the post. It’s very much like that, only not slow motion. Here’s the announcement from the PR wire:

Bear Stone Festival 2026 – First Lineup Announcement

Bear Stone Festival proudly unveils the first wave of its 2026 lineup, showcasing a bold spectrum of heavy music and beyond.

From the occult-tinged psychedelia of Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats and the progressive power of Elder, to the meditative soundscapes of My Sleeping Karma, the high-voltage rock of Planet of Zeus, and the raw underground energy of acts like TRAVO, ŽEN, Otrovna Kristina, Wyatt E., and many more, the bill perfectly reflects Bear Stone Festival’s commitment to musical diversity.

This year’s lineup brings a rich palette of genres such as Doom, Psych, Stoner, Punk, Garage, Experimental Noise, and many more, all set to erupt across the three stages nestled in Bear Stone’s unique natural landscape.

Festival ticket link: https://eventix.shop/4zqx5eg8

UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS (UK)
[Psychedelic Rock/Doom Metal]

The brainchild of Kevin Starrs, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats have been crafting extraordinary music since 2009. Emerging from the British underground, they reshaped hard rock and downer blues with a deeply psychedelic and idiosyncratic edge. Fusing the playful melodies and harmonies of psychedelic pop with the dark thunder of proto-metal, Starrs conjures a sound that feels both eerily familiar and entirely new.

Resolutely individualist, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats channel the spirit of heavy music’s past while remaining one of the most unique and electrifying live acts today.

ELDER (USA)
[Progressive Rock/Space Rock]

Elder are a genre-defying rock band blending heavy psychedelia, progressive intricacy, and expansive soundscapes into long-form compositions that push the boundaries of modern rock. Over the course of six albums and numerous EPs, they’ve evolved from the stoner/doom underground into one of the most distinctive voices in heavy, exploratory music.

In 2024, Elder brought their powerful live show to arenas across the U.S. as the main support for Tool, marking a milestone moment in their journey ahead of their next album in 2025.

MY SLEEPING KARMA (DE)
[Psychedelic Rock/Post-Rock]

My Sleeping Karma are a German instrumental quartet weaving psychedelic rock, stoner grooves, and post-rock atmospheres into cinematic sound journeys. After the tragic passing of longtime drummer Steffen Weigand in 2022, the band faced an uncertain future but ultimately found strength in continuing their path.

Their revival has reaffirmed them as one of Europe’s most powerful live acts, guiding audiences through immersive and emotional sonic explorations.

PLANET OF ZEUS (GR)
[Stoner Rock/Stoner Metal]

Planet of Zeus, hailing from Athens, Greece, deliver heavy rock thunder that fuses raw riff-driven power with melodic exploration and bluesy dynamics. Since their formation in 2000, they’ve built a reputation for intense, sincere, and ever-evolving live performances, earning a loyal following at home and abroad.

With their latest album Afterlife (2024), the band continue to push their sound forward while cementing their place as one of Europe’s most vital underground rock acts.

TRAVO (POR)
[Heavy Psych/Neo-Psych Rock]

TRAVO, from Braga, Portugal, are a four-piece force of heavy psych and garage rock, delivering a raw, high-octane sound that thrives on intensity and experimentation.

Renowned for volcanic live performances that blur the line between chaos and ecstasy, TRAVO stand as one of the most visceral and authentic voices in today’s psych rock scene.

WYATT E. (BE)
[Drone-Ambient/Antique Doom]

Wyatt E. are a boundary-pushing force in the modern doom scene, blending massive riffs with layered instrumentation and a fearless approach to sonic experimentation. Their music weaves heavy psychedelia, progressive structures, and eclectic influences into immersive compositions that balance crushing weight with cinematic detail.

With acclaimed albums, extensive touring, and a reputation for powerful live performances, they continue to redefine what doom can sound like on a global scale.

UNGRAVEN (UK)
[Doom Metal/Sludge Metal]

Ungraven is the brainchild of guitarist Jon Davis, now joined by David Perry on synths, organ, and piano, reshaping the project into a force of haunting, ambient heaviness. Abandoning the traditional rock-band setup, the duo crafts bleak and expansive soundscapes where slabs of crushing guitar collide with swirling synths in a sickening sonic duet.

Their music is both pummeling and introspective, channeling influences from Tangerine Dream to doom metal, forging a new chapter in their evolving tome of tone.

SAINT KARLOFF (NOR)
[Stoner Rock/Heavy Psych]

Saint Karloff are a Norwegian power trio channeling the spirit of 70’s heavy rock through fuzz-soaked riffs, doom-laden grooves, and psychedelic fire.

With albums like All Heed the Black God (2024) and the monolithic Interstellar Voodoo (2019), they’ve carved out a place in the stoner/doom underground as one of its most electrifying and uncompromising voices.

ŽEN (CRO)
[Indie-Psych/Shoegaze]

ŽEN are a Croatian trio weaving dreamy shoegaze, math-rock complexity, and psychedelic textures into an immersive and urgent sound.

Since forming in Zagreb in 2010, they’ve become a vital voice in Europe’s underground, carrying a strong feminist and DIY ethos that fuels both their music and their boundary-pushing live performances.

OTROVNA KRISTINA (CRO)
[Sonic-Psych Rock/Hard Rock]

Otrovna Kristina are a Croatian hard rock trio fusing Anglo-Saxon riff traditions with the raw energy of the Balkans, laced with psychedelic excursions and soaring harmonies.

In their decade-long journey, they positioned themselves as guardians of volume, groove, and wild underground rock ’n’ roll.

DRONE HUNTER (CRO)
[Stoner Rock/Groove Rock]

Drone Hunter are a Croatian instrumental trio delivering high-octane stoner rock driven by crushing riffs, heavy grooves, and relentless energy.

Since forming in 2012, they’ve built a reputation for powerful live performances and a raw, riff-worshipping sound that speaks louder than words.

GODZILLA WAS TOO DRUNK TO DESTROY TOKYO (ITA)
[Acid Rock/Doom Rock]

Godzilla Was Too Drunk to Destroy Tokyo are a chaotic, genre-smashing outfit blending sludge, noise, punk, and doom into an unpredictable wall of sound.

With unhinged energy and a tongue-in-cheek attitude, they deliver crushing riffs and anarchic live shows that feel as wild as their name suggests.

HRMULJA (CRO)
[Heavy Psych/Stoner Rock]

Hrmülja are a Croatian heavy psych/stoner rock band weaving fuzzed-out riffs, swirling grooves, and hypnotic atmospheres into their sonic brew.

They channel the spirit of the underground into thunderous and immersive live performances with raw energy and a taste for psychedelic exploration.

SUNTAN CLUB (AT)
[Neo-Psychedelic Surf/Garage Rock]

Suntan Club are a four-piece from Vienna blending neo-psychedelic surf and garage rock into sun-drenched, fuzz-heavy soundscapes that radiate warmth and hazy euphoria.

With their latest EP Too Much Fuzz, they’ve expanded their sound into something louder, richer, and hypnotic, pairing it with ecstatic and immersive live performances that pull audiences under like a tidal wave.

LINIJA 109 (CRO)
[Post-Rock/Shoegaze]

Linija 109 are a young all-girl band from Zagreb, formed in 2022, crafting original songs rooted in alt rock with influences of post-rock, shoegaze, and indie.

Through explosive live shows and an unapologetic youthful rebellion they managed to build a loyal underground following in a very short time.

In case you were wondering how our previous edition felt like, check out our official 2025 aftermovie.

Bear Stone Festival 2025 aftermovie