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Desertfest Berlin 2018 Adds High Reeper to Lineup

Posted in Whathaveyou on March 23rd, 2018 by JJ Koczan

Philadelphia-based heavy rock upstarts High Reeper released their self-titled debut album (review here), just a couple weeks back on Heavy Psych Sounds, and as they were previously announced for Tube Cult Fest 2018 before this announcement for Desertfest Berlin 2018, it seems pretty likely to me that any day now we’re going to get a full list of European tour dates for the five-piece. Hell, maybe we already have and I missed it. It’s been quite a few weeks on this end.

Okay, so I just went back and checked my email for a press release about a full High Reeper European tour and there’s nothing there, so it hasn’t happened yet. That means keep an eye out, because it’s coming soon. Think May is far off? Not a chance. It’ll be here before you know it and then we’ll be into the summer season and all the rest of that overwhelming nonsense. Speaking of overwhelming nonsense, I need to go see if I can get a baby to take a nap.

From the PR wire:

desertfest berlin 2018 high reeper

Desert rockers! We are almost ready to go with the final band line-up for DesertFest Berlin 2018 soon, but before we do and still keeping some surprises for you in the pipeline, we are happy to announce that up and coming HIGH REEPER have been added to our upcoming festival edition!

Formed in 2016 and deeply rooted in modern stoner rock, with their sound and smell of leather, weed & booze HIGH REEPER deliver an unapologetic punch into the face for fans of the early 70’s proto-metal. The band’s self-titled debut album is out now on Heavy Psych Sounds Records, please give these guys a very warm welcome live at DesertFest Berlin 2018!

Stay tuned for many more festival & band news coming up soon, and make sure to grab your tickets before they’re running out: www.desertfest-tickets.de!

www.desertfest.de
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin/events

High Reeper, High Reeper (2018)

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Desertfest Berlin 2018 Adds Horisont and Dead Lord

Posted in Whathaveyou on February 19th, 2018 by JJ Koczan

I don’t believe in bucket lists — mostly these days I believe in peanut butter — but if I had one, Desertfest Berlin would be on it. You now how solid this lineup is? Look at the poster. This lineup is so solid that ElderMonolordRadio Moscow and the Nebula reunion appear on the fourth line of it! The fourth line! With headliners Monster Magnet — who’ll be in Europe pushing their new record Mindfucker — Graveyard — who last I heard were recording — and High on Fire — who are celebrating their 20th anniversary– it’s something special top to bottom, where one finds acts like King BuffaloThe Necromancers and Pretty Lightning proliferating the future of heavy psych and blues rock. Oh yeah, and Church of the Cosmic SkullDeath Alley and Freedom Hawk are playing. Jeebus.

Maybe I do believe in bucket lists.

The latest adds to this brainbusting milieu are Horisont and Dead Lord. Announcement from the fest follows here, as courtesy of the PR wire:

desertfest berlin 2018 poster

HORISONT + DEAD LORD ANNOUNCED FOR DESERTFEST BERLIN 2018!

Time to unveil the next couple of bands for Desertfest Berlin’s already stunning festival line-up!
Desert rockers, please welcome the Swedish brigades HORISONT and DEAD LORD to Desertfest Berlin 2018!

Formed in 2006, space hard rockers Horisont have spent more than a decade kicking ass, taking names and establishing themselves at the forefront of the Scandinavian retro rock revival. The quintet’s rock trip might be retro but their songwriting is timeless: a good melody lives forever and Horisont have songs in abundance we are very much looking forward to witness live on stage at the Arena Berlin this year!

Hailing from the Swedish scene as well, Dead Lord deliver a blend mix of Classic Hard Rock and early Heavy Metal. Inspired by bands such as Thin Lizzy, UFO or Iron Maiden, Dead Lord are not only conquering the world with their heavy rock energy but will do so at Desertfest Berlin 2018!

Desertfest Berlin is getting near to close the final line-up for 2018 soon and the crew is working hard to create the most special & best festival edition desert rock fans have ever experienced before! Stay tuned for many more updates to follow soon!

DESERTFEST BERLIN // MAY 4th – 6th 2018 // ARENA BERLIN

Tickets are available at: www.desertfest-tickets.de

www.desertfest.de
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin/events

Horisont, “About Time” official video

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Desertfest Berlin 2018 Adds Radio Moscow, Lucifer, Pretty Lightning, Lionize and Haik to Lineup

Posted in Whathaveyou on February 7th, 2018 by JJ Koczan

Admittedly, I’m a few days late on this update from Desertfest Berlin 2018, and I don’t have an excuse for that other than ‘I suck at this,’ but don’t let that fact stop you from appreciating how righteous this festival is, both in terms of this year’s lineup and what they’ve built over previous installments. Adding Radio Moscow to a bill is always a good idea — also a good way to make everyone else playing that stage feel insecure — and I certainly dug the hell out of the latest from Pretty Lightning, The Rhythm of Ooze (review here), so having them aboard in this latest update along with Lucifer, Lionize and Haik only makes a strong Desertfest Berlin 2018 even stronger.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t make my ass any timelier. It’s okay though, I hear immediacy isn’t a big deal on the internet…

From the PR wire:

desertfest berlin 2018 poster

DESERTFEST BERLIN 2018 ANNOUNCES RADIO MOSCOW + LUCIFER + LIONIZE + PRETTY LIGHTNING + HAIK!

Finally the wait for a new band announcement is over, DESERTFEST BERLIN is thrilled to welcome RADIO MOSCOW, LUCIFER, LIONIZE, PRETTY LIGHTNING and HAIK to their already exciting festival line-up in 2018!

Radio Moscow (US)
No need to introduce RADIO MOSCOW, the psychedelic blues rock juggernaut will make you groove so heavily, none of us at the entire ARENA Berlin will stand still!

Lucifer (US)
Why just a few guitar cabinets and amplifiers, when you could use TONS on stage? Heavy doom trio LUCIFER will bring their massive wall of sounds to our stage, the entire city of Berlin will shake!

Lionize (US)
Rooted in hard rock & heavy metal, American rockers LIONIZED are not afraid to experiment in various sounds: add some exciting dose of funk, reggae and even dub-step to their mix, this band will round off the perfect heavy rock party. No wonder that LIONIZE are signed to CLUTCH’ own label Weathermusic, while members such as Neil Fallon or Tim Sult already guest-appeared on several LIONIZE records.

Pretty Lightning (DE)
With the heavy psychedelic blues running through their veins, up and coming PRETTY LIGHTNING from Germany will serve us sundrenched vibes moving into a powerful dark affair of tunes!

Haik (DE)
Feating members of Rotor and Dyse, Berlin-based quartet HAIK has their roots in rock´n´roll while runnig into creations of metal, jazz, blues and electronic fever. Fresh ideas meeting old drives and will showcase the band’s unique sound live at Desertfest Berlin 2018!

With this new bunch of highclass acts for 2018, Desertfest Berlin will make sure fans of the entire desert rock genre and beyond will experience the most special edition to date. Alongside headliners such as MONSTER MAGNET, HIGH ON FIRE and GRAVEYARD, many more bands will be announced soon! Desertfest Berlin will take place between May 4th – 6th 2018 at the ARENA BERLIN, tickets are available at: www.desertfest-tickets.de

www.desertfest.de
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin/events

Pretty Lightning, “This Machine is Running”

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Desertfest Berlin 2018: High on Fire, Weedeater, Church of the Cosmic Skull and Freedom Hawk Join Lineup

Posted in Whathaveyou on December 4th, 2017 by JJ Koczan

Someday I’ll get to Desertfest Berlin. The flagship German edition of the festival brand makes a resounding argument for 2018 by adding High on Fire as its third headliner (London has done likewise), and they’ll join Graveyard and Monster Magnet at the top of an increasingly diverse bill of acts from Europe, the UK, the US and beyond. Slipped into the festival news below is also word that UK prog-psych cultists Church of the Cosmic Skull will have a new album out next year, which is invariably good news for those who worship at the altar either of melody or, you know, the devil.

The times will be good at Desertfest Berlin 2018, is the underlying point. One of these years, I’ll get there.

From the PR wire:

desertfest berlin 2018 flyer

HIGH ON FIRE TO HEADLINE DESERTFEST BERLIN!

NEW BANDS ANNOUNCED FOR 2018!

It feels like Christmas eve already, but no… it’s “just” another exciting announcement for DESERTFEST BERLIN 2018! Today we are more than thrilled to unveil our third headliner, the mighty HIGH ON FIRE, alongside a bunch of additionnal killer bands for next year’s edition: the much loved drug-guzzlers WEEDEATER, the highly-acclaimed psych-prog-pop-rock powerhouse CHURCH OF THE COSMIC SKULL (who will release their much-anticipated second album next spring), and last but no least, the heavy-groovy rockers FREEDOM HAWK!

HIGH ON FIRE (USA)

2018 will mark the Oakland outfit’s 20 years anniversary! To celebrate, the band will peform a special anniversary set entitled “Twenty Sunless Years with High On Fire”. We are more than proud, that our DESERTFEST BERLIN will be part of their upcoming anniversary shows! They will undoubtedly mix up some old and new stuff, but they want to hear from the fans first! So let them know what you want to hear!

WEEDEATER (USA)

Hailing from North Carolina, Weedeater is going to take over all your green – be forwarned! With an excellent mix of Stoner, Sludge & Doom, the trio will make sure to transform the entire Arena Berlin into a heavy tuned psychedelic wonderland and we just can’t wait to see this live!

CHURCH OF THE COSMIC SKULL (UK)

Church Of The Cosmic Skull define themselves as an “ever-growing spiritual organization, spreading the light of the Cosmic Rainbow across this planet and beyond”… Well, we cannot wait for them to bring these lights of the Cosmic Rainbow over the Arena Berlin and are very much looking forward to finally see their outstanding live performance on our stage in 2018!

FREEDOM HAWK (USA)

The amazing Freedom Hawk are rounding up today’s line-up announcement! This trio’s brand of heavy rock capitalizes on the best of the heavy ‘70s, with a hint of modern and massive fuzzy sound. Be prepared when they will bring their heavy riffs and rolling groove to DESERTFEST BERLIN 2018!

The Desertfest Berlin line up is getting thicker and ticker, and we are far from being done: A third of the line up is still to be announced! Desertfest Berlin 2018 will be outstanding so join us in the capital of the almighty Riff! Regular weekend tickets for the 7th DESERTFEST BERLIN can be purchased here: https://www.desertfest-tickets.de/produkte

DESERTFEST BERLIN @ ARENA // 4th, 5th & 6th MAY 2018 – 2 STAGES in 1 MAIN HALL –
NO OVERLAPPING SETS!

www.desertfest.de
www.facebook.com/desertfestberlin
www.facebook.com/events/128298847822160

High on Fire, “The Black Plot” official video

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Desertfest Berlin 2018: Church of Misery, Elder, Graveyard, The Black Wizards, Maidavale and Vonavibe Join Lineup

Posted in Whathaveyou on November 13th, 2017 by JJ Koczan

Desertfest Berlin 2018 welcomes its second round of bands, including the likes of Graveyard, Elder, The Black Wizards, Church of Misery, MaidaVale and Vonavibe. As is tradition, some of the bigger acts named here are shared with the London-based edition of the fest — Graveyard and Elder — though there’s usually some staggering, so while I don’t believe Church of Miseryhave joined the UK lineup, they may yet. As for the other three, to the best of my knowledge, they’re all Berlin’s as of now, so in keeping with the usual modus of the two Springtime Desertfests, they’re gradually beginning to distinguish themselves from each other even as they share groups between them in common cause. It’s always fun to see this happen over the few months that the lineups take shape.

To wit, this from the PR wire:

desertfest berlin 2018 poster

DESERTFEST BERLIN ANNOUNCES GRAVEYARD, ELDER, CHURCH OF MISERY & MANY MORE FOR 2018!

Today, a third announcement for DESERTFEST BERLIN 2018 has been revealed! Six new kick-ass bands have been added to next year’s line-up, including GRAVEYARD as second headliner! The Desertfest Berlin crew wanted the Swedes for many years, and it’s now finally happening! On top ELDER, CHURCH OF MISERY as well as many more exciting acts have been added to the 2018-festival edition, which will take place between May 4th – 6th 2018 at the Arena in the heart of Berlin:

GRAVEYARD (SWE)
ELDER (USA)
CHURCH OF MISERY (JP)
THE BLACK WIZARDS (POR)
MAIDAVALE (SWE)
VONAVIBE (GR)

But make no mistake: not even half of the entire line up is announced yet and way more great bands will be announced soon. DESERTFEST BERLIN 2018 will be outstanding, so better make sure to join the capital of the almighty Riff! Early bird tickets are already sold out, regular weekend tickets for the 7th DESERTFEST BERLIN can be purchased here: https://www.desertfest-tickets.de/produkte

DESERTFEST BERLIN @ Arena // 4th, 5th & 6th May 2018 – 2 STAGES in 1 MAIN HALL – No overlapping sets!

MONSTER MAGNET – GRAVEYARD – EYEHATEGOD – CHURCH OF MISERY – ELDER – PLANET OF ZEUS –
NEBULA – DOPELORD – YURI GAGARIN – DEATH ALLEY – JEX THOTH – THE BLACK WIZARDS – MAIDAVALE
THE NECROMANCERS – VONAVIBE – AND MANY MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!

www.desertfest.de
www.facebook.com/desertfestberlin
www.facebook.com/events/128298847822160

Church of Misery, Live at Blowup Vol. 3, Oct. 13, 2017

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Desertfest Berlin 2018 Adds Death Alley, Yuri Gagarin & Dopelord

Posted in Whathaveyou on October 18th, 2017 by JJ Koczan

You know it’s still early days when it comes to filling out the Spring festival season in Europe because there’s still so much room for more logos on the poster for Desertfest Berlin 2018. No doubt the final design will be much more full by the time the first weekend in May rolls around and the festival actually gets underway at its new home in Arena Berlin, but already we’re seeing bands joining the bill at a pretty decent clip. The latest batch includes three more joining the ranks of Monster Magnet, Eyehategod, Nebula, Planet of Zeus, Jex Thoth and The Necromancers, and as you can see in the headline above, it’s an international and sonic swath unto itself, with Death Alley from the Netherlands, Yuri Gagarin from Sweden and Dopelord from Poland each bringing something different sound-wise to the already diverse roster.

Early-bird tickets are on sale now for those who like to plan ahead. Sound of Liberation made the announcement thusly:

desertfest-berlin-2018-new-poster

It’s time to unveil a few more bands for DesertFest Berlin 2018!!

Making up for last year cancellation, we are thrilled to finally welcome Death Alley on the stage of Desertfest Berlin 2018! These Dutch destroyers deliver heavy punked-out proto-metal and defining the good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll played with metal finesse and a hint of a black psychedelic soul cherry on top.

Hailing the mighty weedian cult and slow riff worships, we’re also stoked Poland’s stoner doomsters Dopelord will make their way to Berlin! Last but not least, we have decided to open up stage one more time to Yuri Gagarin. We heard your protest that not everybody could see them perform last year so it was clear the beloved Swedish rockers had to be back in 2018, taking over our new and bigger stage with more space at the ARENA BERLIN!

We hope this new bunch of exciting bands is fitting your expectations, and we’re waiting for you all in the capital of the almighty Riff !

There’s only very few early bird-tickets left, better be quick and grab them on www.desertfest-tickets.de/produkte/150!

——————–
DesertFest Berlin 2018 / May 4th – 5th – 6th / ARENA BERLIN

with Monster Magnet / EYEHATEGOD / Nebula / Planet of Zeus / Dopelord / Death Alley / Yuri Gagarin / Jex Thoth / The Necromancers and more to be announced!

Presented by: Sound of Liberation & GreyZone Concerts & Promotion

www.desertfest.de
www.facebook.com/desertfestberlin
www.facebook.com/events/128298847822160
https://www.facebook.com/Soundofliberation/
https://www.facebook.com/greyzoneconcerts/

Yuri Gagarin, At the Center of all Infinity (2015)

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Desertfest Berlin 2018 First Announcements: Monster Magnet, Nebula, Eyehategod, Jex Thoth, Planet of Zeus & The Necromancers

Posted in Whathaveyou on September 25th, 2017 by JJ Koczan

Desertfest Berlin 2018 made its actual first announcement the other day when it unveiled that it was moving from its traditional home at Astra Kulturhaus to Arena Berlin. I’m not familiar with the space, but one assumes the move is at least in part to accommodate the gradual upping of scale that Desertfest as a whole has undertaken over the last few years.

As ever, Desertfest Berlin will apparently share a decent amount of lineup with the London incarnation of the fest, and fair enough — that’s kind of the idea — but in addition to headliners Monster Magnet and the confirmations for EyehategodNebulaJex Thoth and Planet of ZeusDesertfest Berlin 2018 will also feature The Necromancers, who’ve yet to be added to London if they will be at all, and so we see the German event beginning to cast its own shape as well.

More to come, of course. Here’s what came in on the PR wire so far:

DESERTFEST BERLIN ANNOUNCES FIRST BANDS & HEADLINER FOR 2018

Tickets On Sale Now!

Desert rockers! It’s about time to unveil the first bunch of bands for next year’s Desertfest Berlin, which will take place between May 4th – 6th 2018 at the ARENA BERLIN!

Ladies & gentlemen, breath in deep, as this first line-up news will come to revive your spirit: We’re more than thrilled to announce that the Spacelord, Dave Wyndorf will hit our main stage in 2018. MONSTER MAGNET comes as the first headliner we can proudly present to you today! With their hazed heavy sound on groundbreaking records such as ‘Tab’, ‘Spine Of God’, ‘Dopes To Infinity’ or ‘Powertrip’, MONSTER MAGNET transformed themselves into the Olympus of modern power rock and became the godfathers of psychedelic and stoner rock.

More big news are coming ahead, Desert Rockers! We are extremely happy that LA´s legendary psych stoner outfit NEBULA will celebrate their Re Union at our stages!!! Formed in 1997 by Fu Manchu member Eddie Glass, NEBULA have been on indefinite hiatus since early 2010 but have not broken up. We are much looking forward to welcome Eddy Glass and his gang at Desertfest Berlin 2018!

Oh and for all of you dear Sludge rockers, don’t worry we haven’t forgot about you. What about a heavy dose of mighty EYEHATEGOD in 2018? Yes, you have heard right. The kings of Sludge from New Orleans, who emerged from the Nola Metal scene since 1988 belong to the most influencing bands. Heavy, detuned, and bluesy guitar riffs, combined with walls of feedback and tortured vocals to create a harsh misantrophic vibe, EYEHATEGOD will make sure to take over our new home at the ARENA BERLIN!

Next on the bill we’re very proud to inform you, that the queen of darkness JEX THOTH will bring the Doom and Psychedelic Rock as its finest to Desertfest Berlin. Fronted by the eponymous Ms. Jessica Thoth, the Wisconsin- based 5 piece band delivers delicate tones that are soaked in mystery and aura as well as generate astounding depth atop a musical landscape of intelligently constructed Sabbath-ian blues vibes and fuzzy distortion.

Athen’s rumbling heavy rock machine PLANET OF ZEUS will set the stage on fire with their outstanding live performance. Last but not least in this announcement we are welcoming THE NECROMANCERS! This young band from France raised a lot of attention with the release of their outstanding debut album a few weeks ago.

We hope you all like this first bunch of bands and be sure there are many more exciting acts and news to follow soon! In 2018 we will break new grounds and preparing for an unforgettable Desertfest Berlin experience.

Join us in the capital of the almighty riff – DESERTFEST BERLIN 2018!!!

Limited amount of early birds avaialble now!
85 € ( + 7.-€ service fee)

Head over and make sure to get yours right HERE: https://www.desertfest-tickets.de/produkte/150

www.desertfest.de
www.facebook.com/desertfestberlin
www.facebook.com/events/128298847822160

Desertfest Berlin 2018 first announcements teaser

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