Perhaps you, like me and a whole bunch of others, were blindside-gutpunched by the loss of Darsombra‘s Ann Everton in a vehicle accident early in October. In a year where human cruelty and horror perpetuated on a daily if not hourly basis, the presence of someone like Everton on the planet was akin to a source of light in a bitter, almost liquid darkness. Her partner in music and life, Brian Daniloski, has announced the lineup for Transmission — also the name of Darsombra‘s 2019 LP (review here) — which is a two-day event that will serve as homage and celebration of Everton‘s contributions in music and art.

The Ottobar in Darsombra‘s hometown of Baltimore — where I guess they still spent some time despite nomadic touring across seasons and years and the world — will play host to Transmission, which features the likes of tourmates Stinking Lizaveta, the heavy psych rockers Holy Fingers, Cultic and a slew of others I don’t know, which only makes it more rad as far as I’m concerned. There are apparently also more to be announced, so expect it to be a packed two days. No doubt Daniloski has had an easy time convincing anyone who knew Ann to take part. How would you not?

Info follows, as posted on socials:

Darsombra presents TRANSMISSION- A Celebration for Ann Everton

Feb 28th & March 1st at the Ottobar

Save the dates and join us to honor Ann’s legacy in art and music, as well as her colorful, effervescent spirit. We’ve got over two dozen bands, here are some of the kind folks scheduled to perform over two days. More bands and schedule to be announced very soon.

Celebration
Stinking Lizaveta
Quattracenta
Curse
War On Women acoustic
Height
Mrs. Paintbrush (Jackson from Grand Buffet)
Holy Fingers
Cultic
Moth Broth
Glorian
Ala Muerte
Curving Tooth
Consumer Culture
50’♀ & the Worms

+ many more to be announced soon

http://www.darsombra.com/
https://darsombra.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/darsombra/
http://facebook.com/darsombra

Stinking Lizaveta, Live 2023 concert video

Holy Fingers, Holy Fingers III (2024)

Set to take place at The Ottobar in Baltimore once again at the tail end of April — 4/20 season, if you’re not the type who gets stoned to do the dishes — the all-dayer Grim Reefer Fest has unveiled its 2025 billing, with Chicago psychedelic texturalists Rezn and D.C. industrialized post-punkers Vosh at the top of the bill, with Temple of the Fuzz Witch coming from Michigan as they continue to spread the word of their own well-received 2024 outing, Apotheosis (review here), Dallas rockers Temptress and the house band Haze Mage taking part, as well as heavy noise rockers Consumer Culture, and Sorge, who are well due for a follow-up to their impressive 2020 debut EP (review here).

Rounding out are Richmond duo Thunderchief, Pennsylvania melo-cult classicists SpellBook and Baltimore’s own Knub, who I’ve never heard of before now but who are killer, opening. Their logo is noise and their sound is too, but throw in some poppier melody and turns out I have some homework to do. I put Knub‘s tracks from their 2023 split with Brain Cave below, in case you also want to dig in. There’s a Black Lung set there too from 2024’s Grim Reefer Fest just for the hell of it — as the fest notes, there’s more on the YouTube Channel — and while I’m dropping dates and links, I’ll note that I was fortunate enough to attend Grim Reefer Fest in 2023 (review here), and if you’re on the fence, I’ll confirm it’s a blast and well run. Maybe that helps? There’s food and such and it’s low-key; an easygoing vibe in which to be variably pummeled by volume.

The announcement from the fest follows here. Keep an eye as some things may change, but it looks like a good time to me as it is. And the poster, as you can see, continues a years-long streak of righteousness from Grim Reefer Fest as well. From socials:

Grim Reefer Fest 2025

We are excited to announce the return of Grim Reefer Fest! Join us once again at the legendary Ottobar in Baltimore, MD for a full day of heavy music, dank vibes, and high spirits! Join us on Saturday April 19th, 2025 as we celebrate the High Holidays with a stacked lineup from start to finish with some of the best bands the scene has to offer! Featuring the heavy psych sounds of Rezn, the mesmerizing Vosh, the heavy hitting Temple of the Fuzz Witch and many more (10 bands total)!

This is the 6th year of Grim Reefer Fest and one of our most ambitious lineups yet! We’re proud of what we’re accomplishing as a DIY grassroots festival. The genres and sounds for this year’s bands range from heavy psych to stoner doom to industrial darkwave to noise rock with so much more in between! There’s so many interpretations of what heavy music is, and to us, they all fit in a proper 4/20 celebration! We strive to grow our event more and more each year and to become a premiere heavy music regional event on the east coast!

The full list of performers at this year’s fest includes:

Rezn
Vosh
Temple of the Fuzz Witch
Haze Mage

Temptress
Sorge
Consumer Culture
Thunderchief
Spellbook
Knub

Doors are at 2pm, Music starts at 3pm and runs until midnight.

Tickets are $40 online and can be purchased here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/43621096

If still available, tickets day of the show will go up to $50 at the door.

We’ll have a food truck on site all day to handle all of your munchies needs!

More details for the fest can be found at GrimReeferFest.com

RSVP Here: https://www.facebook.com/events/968923325153892/

Past performances of the fest (Weedeater, Bongzilla, Telekinetic Yeti, Black Lung and many, many more) can all be found on our YouTube Channel.

https://www.facebook.com/GrimReeferFest
https://www.instagram.com/grimreeferfest/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3BL9lkMWbIC2qaqWZ4LH8g
https://www.grimreeferfest.com/

Black Lung, Live at Grim Reefer Fest 2024

Knub, Split with Brain Cave (2023)