Hell yeah, Desertfest Berlin. The 2026 edition of the German flagship event of heavy’s most crucial festival brand will bring over Nebula for oldschool heads, Fomies for newer heads, Fuzz Sagrado for the in-betweens and Blackwater Holylight for the betterment of all humanity and the weekend in general. That’s not everybody in the second lineup announcement from Desertfest Berlin 2026, as Seattle’s Monsterwatch and Mexico City’s Cardiel will also be making the trip, but taken in combination with the first announcement — you can see the names below; golly they’ll make for a lovely assemblage — you can see it’s very much a roster worthy of the tradition they’re upholding. I don’t think underground heavy would be what it is in Europe today without Desertfest Berlin.

The PR wire brought the update:

DESERTFEST BERLIN reveals second wave of bands for 2026, adding NEBULA, BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT & more!

The 2026 edition of DESERTFEST BERLIN just turned up the fuzz and drifted deeper into the void, as more mind-bending acts join the already eclectic line-up!

From the sunburned deserts of California, NEBULA bring their fuzz-soaked, interstellar riff rituals – pure cosmic fire. Portland’s BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT summon a dark, dreamlike blend of heavy psych and ethereal melody, where doom meets hypnosis. Sweden’s EF shape vast post-rock landscapes, full of emotion and light, stretching beyond the horizon. Switzerland’s fuzz prophets FOMIES channel raw desert spirit through sun-cracked distortion and groove, while FUZZ SAGRADO (ex Samsara Blues Experiment) deliver hypnotic, groove-driven stoner rock rooted in thick tones and jam-heavy flow. Seattle’s MONSTERWATCH erupt in a storm of grunge and punk fury, reckless and cathartic. And from the streets of Mexico City, CARDIEL will ignite the DESERTFEST BERLIN stage with their skate-punk–meets–psychedelic fuzz revolution – political, wild, and unstoppable.

Today’s new additions crank the line-up to the next level, joining a first wave that already boasts heavy-hitters like RUSSIAN CIRCLES, HERMANO ft. JOHN GARCIA, THE SWORD, KING BUFFALO, ACID KING, TRUCKFIGHTERS, EARTHLESS, and many more!

From May 14–16, 2026 at Columbiahalle & Columbia-Theater, DESERTFEST BERLIN will turn the German capital into a heavy riff sanctuary, with more names and special suprises to follow. Better act quick and get your ticket now at: https://desertfest-tickets.de/produkte

✨ARTWORK by Kuba Sokolski Illustration

www.desertfest.de
www.instagram.com/desertfest_berlin
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin

Nebula, Livewired in Europe (2023)

First of all, this art frigging rules. Kuba Sokolski Illustration is apparently the party responsible for the look of Desertfest Berlin 2026, and I dig it. The colors, the theme, the implication of narrative in becoming part of something bigger than yourself. Oh yeah, and the first band announcements are pretty killer too.

Russian Circles, Hermano, The Sword, Acid King, King Buffalo, Truckfighters, Earthless, Crippled Black Phoenix, Pelican, Mother’s Cake, High Desert Queen, Zerre, and Dope Purple comprise the first cohort to join the lineup, and aside from having me at Acid King and King Buffalo — which, yeah; also Hermano — it’s good to see The Sword will take their reunion to Europe next Spring, and Truckfighters will likely be out supporting their new album, which is due around that time as well.

This won’t be nearly all of it, but it’s plenty and it’s a killer start. As with every year, I look forward to seeing how Desertfest and the European underground circuit will shape up for next Spring. Here’s the announce from social media:

BERLIN, THE DESERT IS CALLING! 🌌

We’re beyond stoked to drop the first wave for Desertfest Berlin 2026 // 14.-16. May 2026 – and it’s a riff-heavy ride straight into the void 🌙

Russian Circles will crush you with their cinematic post-metal soundscapes, while desert rock legends Hermano return with John Garcia at the helm. Texas riff titans The Sword are back to shake the ground, and the mighty Acid King keep the doom thick and smoky. King Buffalo invite you to drift away on cosmic psych grooves, while fuzzlords Truckfighters bring the Swedish desert storm with their first new album in 10 years.

Earthless will melt your mind with endless space jams, and Crippled Black Phoenix deliver apocalyptic rock full of grandeur. Expect instrumental heaviness from Chicago pioneers Pelican, plus wild progressive energy from Mother’s Cake. Adding Texan groove power from High Desert Queen, new wave of würzburgs thrash metal Zerre, and psych-doom freakouts from Taiwan’s Dope Purple – the storm is real.

If this line-up speaks to your soul – better grab your tickets now before they vanish into the haze: www.desertfest.de

DESERTFEST BERLIN 2026
14.-16. MAY 2026
COLUMBIA VENUES, BERLIN

WEEKEND TICKETS: 169€ on www.desertfest-tickets.de

⚡FIRST ANNOUNCEMENTS⚡
RUSSIAN CIRCLES
HERMANO
THE SWORD
ACID KING
KING BUFFALO
TRUCKFIGHTERS
EARTHLESS
CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX
PELICAN
MOTHER’S CAKE
HIGH DESERT QUEEN
ZERRE
DOPE PURPLE
AND MANY MORE!

Your Desertfest Berlin Crew!

Join our Facebook Event for all Updates: DESERTFEST BERLIN 2026: https://www.facebook.com/events/2135415456871801/

✨ARTWORK by Kuba Sokolski Illustration

www.desertfest.de
www.instagram.com/desertfest_berlin
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin

Hermano, Live at Hellfest 2025

Someday, Berlin. Feast your discerning eyes on the lineup as it stands for Desertfest Berlin 2025, already broken into day-splits as if to make the sheer glut of names easier to read. Polish exports Belzebong and German sludgers Bloodfang are the latest to join the proceedings, and both will play the first of the three days, which now also include a pre-show the night before the lineup for which is still TBA.

It’s particularly cool to see Elder headlining, as that’s a thing that’s been earned over the last 15-plus years of effort on the band’s part, and with The Hellacopters and Dinosaur Jr., there’s a whole past-meeting-present thing happening across the board that’s likewise rad, but Desertfest celebrating cross-generational heavy isn’t new. You can see it as well in Slomosa‘s placement, as well as Castle Rat‘s, the hype around both acts among the most fervent in today’s underground.

A little something for everyone, plus Stinking Lizaveta and Darsombra on the last day for the most glorious of weirdos among the attending. I guess there’s another lineup announcement to come as they round out the bill — time’s a-wastin’ — but for now here’s the latest from the PR wire:

DESERTFEST BERLIN adds BELZEBONG and BLOODFANG to its eclectic 2025-edition, and announces return of legendary Warm-Up Party!

Desertfest Berlin has added two new band names for its outstanding festival edition in 2025, and confirms Poland’s kings of instrumental stoner doom BELZEBONG, and German sludge, doom, and old-school heavy metal powerhouse BLOODFANG!

They will be joining the perhaps best and most eclectic line-up in the history of Desertfest Berlin, featuring iconic DINOSAUR JR., Swedish rock pioneers THE HELLACOPTERS, prog-and psych-rock masters ELDER (playing their groundbreaking “Lore” album in its entirety!), New Orleans sludge legends EYEHATEGOD, MY SLEEPING KARMA, US doom metallers PALLBEARER, Norwegian “tundra rock” frontrunners SLOMOSA, DOZER, TEMPLE FANG, LOWRIDER, Berlin’s riot grrrls 24/7 DIVA HEAVEN, HIPPIE DEATH CULT and so many more incredible live acts the stoner, rock, doom, sludge, psych and metal scene has to offer.

Desertfest Berlin will take place between May 23 – 25, 2025 at Columbiahalle and Columbia Theater. Get Tickets, Sleep Over possibilities & more infos now at: www.desertfest-tickets.de

Alongside many more upcoming specials during the festival, Desertfest Berlin furthermore announces the return of its legendary Warm-Up Party for May 22nd at Neue Zukunft! The bands who will be warming you up for this year’s Desertfest are still secret, but will be announced in the days ahead. Tickets for the iconic Warm-Up are now available at: www.desertfest-tickets.de

—
DESERTFEST BERLIN 2025
23. – 25. May 2025 – Columbia Venues
🎟 www.desertfest-tickets.de

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1840149496511466/

www.desertfest.de
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin
www.instagram.com/desertfest_berlin

Belzebong, Live at Ripplefest Texas 2024

Three more names for Desertfest Berlin 2025 and by all the ‘more’ that’s featured on each day of the poster below, I’m guessing it’s not the last round of lineup additions to come before the festival takes place this May. Scott Hepple and the Sun Band are a mystery to me, but they’re booked now for London, Oslo and Berlin Desertfests, as well as Freak Valley and more, so good for them being all over the place. Hippie Death Cult just announced another European tour, and they too are making the Desertfest rounds in multiple cities, while The Mystery Lights so far as I know are Berlin-only but coming from New York to play, so good on them making the trip too.

You can see the full lineup below, with The Hellacopters, Dinosaur Jr. and Elder headlining and the likes of Slomosa, Dozer, Khan, My Sleeping Karma, Lowrider and Elephant Tree, Stinking Lizaveta and Darsombra, Temple Fang, Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol previously confirmed. If you haven’t caught wind of this one yet in 2025, the appeal pretty much speaks for itself.

Or at least the PR wire speaks for it:

DESERTFEST BERLIN adds HIPPIE DEATH CULT, THE MYSTERY LIGHTS and SCOTT HEPPLE & THE SUN BAND, who will join DINOSAUR JR., ELDER, THE HELLACOPTERS & many more outstanding live acts in 2025!

Desertfest Berlin has revealed three new names for its outstanding festival edition in 2025, and confirms Portland’s heavy doom and cosmic riff worship at its finest: HIPPIE DEATH CULT, New York’s raw and fuzzy garage-psych act THE MYSTERY LIGHTS and UK-based psychedelic vintage rockers SCOTT HEPPLE & THE SUN BAND!

This May will see Desertfest Berlin undoubtedly run its perhaps best and most eclectic line-up to date, welcoming iconic DINOSAUR JR., Swedish rock pioneers THE HELLACOPTERS, prog-and psych-rock masters ELDER (playing their groundbreaking “Lore” album in its entirety!), New Orleans sludge legends EYEHATEGOD, MY SLEEPING KARMA returning home, US doom metallers PALLBEARER, Norwegian “tundra rock” frontrunners SLOMOSA, DOZER, TEMPLE FANG, LOWRIDER and so many more incredible live acts the stoner, rock, doom, sludge, psych and metal scene has to offer.

Desertfest Berlin will take place between May 23 – 25, 2025 at Columbiahalle and Columbia Theater. While the Early-Bird tickets sold out in within hours, regular passes are available at: www.desertfest-tickets.de

—
DESERTFEST BERLIN 2025
23. – 25. May 2025 – Columbia Venues
🎟 www.desertfest-tickets.de

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1840149496511466/

www.desertfest.de
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin
www.instagram.com/desertfest_berlin

Hippie Death Cult, “Toxic Annihilator” official video

Business as usual here with Desertfest Berlin 2025 continuing to build a markedly badass lineup for this coming May. Obviously, a band like The Hellacopters need no excuse but have one anyway with an album due at the end of January (new video below), and Slomosa joining the fray isn’t such a shocker since they’re everywhere as they support their second album. Daufødt are new to me and they have at least one member of adventurous Norwegian proggers Kanaan in the lineup, so that’s bound to be interesting, Bismut rule, Green Milk From Planet Orange have a track record of weirding up past Desertfests, and this is the second European show I’ve seen locked in for Austin, Texas’ Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol (the first was Desertfest London; there may be more by now), whose 2024 album, Big Dumb Riffs (review here), remains a stomping, unrepentantly fun manifestation of the intent behind it.

The poster is nothing if not enticing, from Elder and Lowrider and Elephant Tree down to Kant, Khan and Skyjoggers. You don’t need me to tell you to make travel plans, I know, but if you’re looking for daydream fodder, imagine this particular Spring weekend:

DESERTFEST BERLIN announces THE HELLACOPTERS, SLOMOSA, BISMUT & more new names for 2025!

Kicking off into your weekend with a true big bang, Desertfest Berlin has unleashed a batch of new names for their eclectic 2025-edition, confirming Swedens rock icons THE HELLACOPTERS, Norwegian tundra rockers SLOMOSA, BISMUT, GREEN MILK FROM PLANET ORANGE, STORY, DAUFØDT and RICKSHAW BILLIE’S BURGER PATROL!

They will be joining previously-announced bands such as prog-and psych-rock overlords ELDER (playing their groundbreaking “Lore” album in its entirety!), New Orleans sludge legends EYEHATEGOD, Swedish stoner rockers LOWRIDER, blues rock favs THE DEVIL AND THE ALMIGHTY BLUES, Berlins riot grrrls 24/7 DIVA HEAVEN and many more high-class live acts.

Desertfest Berlin will take place between May 23 – 25, 2025 at Columbiahalle and Columbia Theater. While the Early-Bird tickets sold out in within hours, regular passes are available at: www.desertfest-tickets.de

—
DESERTFEST BERLIN 2025
23. – 25. May 2025 – Columbia Venues
🎟 www.desertfest-tickets.de

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1840149496511466/

www.desertfest.de
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin
www.instagram.com/desertfest_berlin

The Hellacopters, “Leave a Mark” official video

Slomosa, “Monomann” live at Bergen Kjøtt, Duper Studios

The only real danger in posting the next three bands to be added to Desertfest Berlin 2025 a couple days late, I suppose, is falling behind. The flagship German edition of the world’s foremost heavyfest brand has three-at-a-time’d it now-three times since Sept. 25, and if they were to continue in this fashion until the full lineup is revealed, well, that’d be fine. I’ll do my best to keep up either way, and I’m all for shaking up the batch-at-once modus generally employed. In this hellish content-driven modernity, the more is apparently the merrier regardless, and somewhat unsurprisingly, Desertfest has been thoughtful in how it’s laid these things out so far.

To wit, this round is Eyehategod, The Devil and the Almighty Blues and Khan. Last announcement was Elephant Tree, Wine Lips and Kant. The first was Elder, Lowrider and Castle Rat. Each one is a mix of up and comers and acts likely to be higher on the bill. That’s the pattern to this point, and of course it could change, or not. Either way, nine bands in, Desertfest Berlin already looks pretty killer. If they put up three more bands before this goes live or it comes over the weekend, so be it.

From social media or wherever these things come from when I find them stoned:

Coming in hot and heavy: OUR NEXT BANDS FOR 🌵DFESERTFEST BERLIN 2025! 🌵

⚡️ EYEHATEGOD ⚡️

Get ready to dive into a world full of mayhem with sludge legends Eyehategod – notorious since 1988. Their music is a raw and unfiltered outcry, with lyrics questioning the system, all tied together with brutal riffs. With over 30 years of stage experience, their live performances are nothing short of intense. Eyehategod is here to guide you straight into the abyss!

⚡️THE DEVIL AND THE ALMIGHTY BLUES ⚡️

The heaviest of all Norwegian Blues Rock Bands joins Desertfest Berlin again! With a deep love for the old heroes of the blues – hand in hand with rock, metal, country and punk, The Devil and the Almighty Blues is armed with old Gibson guitars and tube amps. Their new take on blues rock is heavy without being metallic, slow without being doomy, bluesy without being boring. It’s slow, heavy, melodic and raw!

⚡️KHAN ⚡️

Khan meld hazy psychedelia and heavy stoner riffs with a penchant for progressive rhythms and almost dirge-like, industrial- scale crescendos. The songs are lyrically evocative, exuding a sense of despondency and melancholy. Vocally, their songs waver from ethereal falsetto and hypnotic crooning to impassioned wailing punctuated by occasional guttural screams.

Riff ‘till we die,
Your Desertfest Crew

—
DESERTFEST BERLIN 2025
23. – 25. May 2025 – Columbia Venues
🎟 www.desertfest-tickets.de

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1840149496511466/

www.desertfest.de
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin
www.instagram.com/desertfest_berlin

The Devil and the Almighty Blues, “These Are Old Hands” live at Desertfest Oslo 2024

Damn, Desertfest Berlin. Two announcements in a week’s time and already among the confirmed are Elder, Lowrider and Elephant Tree. This round also brings encouraging upstarts Kant, who’ll soon make their debut on SOL Records, the label wing of European booking concern Sound of Liberation, which of course has a strong hand in the festival as well, and Canada’s Wine Lips, who also made rounds on heavyfests this year. And who’s left from the first two announcements? Castle Rat, who put on a goddamn show. I’m always curious to see how the historically-two-now-three Spring editions of Desertfest intertwine, between Berlin, London and now Oslo, and ’25 is no different. These festivals have come to shape touring routes for entire seasons, and it’s never really until the full lineups are revealed that we get the full picture of what that looks like. I guess I like seeing how the pieces fit together.

If the quick-staggering of announcements is going to continue, I don’t know, but I’ll do my best to keep up as always. Desertfest Berlin is a landmark for attendees and performers alike. It’s already a banger and I don’t even know how low of a fraction of the bill has been made public. If I’m a nerd because I think that’s exciting, fine.

From social media:

As promised, our next three Bands for 🪐DESERTFEST BERLIN 2025 🪐:

⚡️WINE LIPS ⚡️

Since forming in 2015, Wine Lips has built its name as one of the best Canadian garage punk bands going. This years Super Mega Ultra LP is perhaps the best example of how the band can flex its muscles in tight, anthemic bursts as well as stretch out into psych. Make sure, to not miss out on that!

⚡️ELEPHANT TREE⚡️

Elephant Tree is a London-based band known for their captivating blend of stoner rock, doom, and psychedelic sounds. Formed in 2014, they’ve released acclaimed albums like Elephant Tree* and *Habits*, showcasing heavy riffs and introspective lyrics. Known for their electrifying live performances, Elephant Tree delivers an immersive experience that resonates long after the last note fades.

⚡️KANT⚡️

A modern look back at the glory days of heavy psychedelic rock. The interplay between the four Aschaffenburgers of Kant creates the soundtrack to a 70s head cinema. This sound underpins thoughts of sunny drives across the Sunset Strip of the 60s, a Mexican standoff in an abandoned western town or dark rites in a forest shrouded in rain. From 60s surf vibe to 70s heavy rock riffs.

We’ll continue with more band announcements next week! 💫

Cheers,
Your Desertfesters

—
DESERTFEST BERLIN 2025
23. – 25. May 2025 – Columbia Venues
🎟 www.desertfest-tickets.de

LINEUP
ELDER | LOWRIDER | WINE LIPS | ELEPHANT TREE | CASTLE RAT | KANT | MORE TBA

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1840149496511466/

www.desertfest.de
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin
www.instagram.com/desertfest_berlin

Elephant Tree, “Try” official video

I’m digging the art designs for next year’s Euro Desertfests. As Berlin and London roll out their first announcements and Oslo confirms Elder — with more to come all around, of course — you can get something of a darker picture than some years past in terms of design, and while I don’t think a normal person sees strange orbs and gritty splatters and thinks to themselves, “Well this looks like a good time, I think I’ll buy a weekend ticket,” it speaks to the community without stonerly pandering and, in the case of Desertfest Berlin 2025’s sphere-shaped feature, feels somehow cosmic. If that’s an object about to slam into the Earth, well, that’s a pretty heavy experience. No doubt the festival will be one too.

Elder, Lowrider and Castle Rat are the first names. Elder‘s tour has been announced — the band quote below is making the rounds, assuring of moving forward even as they celebrate 10 years of a landmark record — and I’ll assume Castle Rat dates are forthcoming. I’m curious whether Lowrider will be at either the Oslo or Berlin Desertfests, but I’m not cool enough to have that kind of insider knowledge, and really anytime you get Lowrider to do a show anywhere, it’s a win. Should they turn out to be Berlin-only, good for Berlin.

Here’s what went out on socials a bit ago, emojis and all:

Desertfreaks,
we proudly present our first 3 confirmed bands for DESERTFEST BERLIN 2025:

⚡️ELDER ⚡️

Lore 10th anniversary show

Some thoughts from Elder: Lore is turning 10 years old. This album marked a point of departure for Elder upon a path which the band is still walking now. For us, this is the record where the band came into its own as a unique voice in the heavy rock underground. As we approach our second decade as a band, we feel it’s appropriate to look back on this landmark for us and acknowledge it properly, which is why we’re doing a tour performing the entire album along with some other tracks from our earlier catalog; we’ll give this era of the band a proper celebration before turning our attention once again toward the future and the next album, currently being written.

⚡️LOWRIDER ⚡️

Their Instagram bio simply states: ‘Rock and/or Roll from Sweden. Apparently guilty of being James Hetfield’s fav band.’ And we have nothing more to add to Lowrider🔥

⚡️CASTLE RAT ⚡️

Castle Rat is a Medieval Fantasy Doom Metal band hailing from Brooklyn, NY, and led by Riley Pinkerton — ‘The Rat Queen’. On her mission to expand and defend ‘The Realm’ from those who seek to destroy it, The Rat Queen is joined by Henry Black — ‘The Count’ and Ronnie Lanzilotta — ‘The Plague Doctor’, and Joshua Strmic — ‘The Druid’. Together, they face the relentless wrath of their arch nemesis: Death Herself — ‘The Rat Reaperess.’

👀Next Band announcement on 28th September!

Cheers,
Your Desertfest Crew

DESERTFEST BERLIN 2025
23. – 25. May 2025 – Columbia Venues
🎟www.desertfest-tickets.de

www.desertfest.de
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin
www.instagram.com/desertfest_berlin

Lowrider, “And the Horse You Rode in On” official video