Posted in Whathaveyou on March 25th, 2022 by JJ Koczan
Desertfest London 2022, has concocted the kind of lineup that you daydreamed about for the last two years. Adding 1000mods, Greenleaf, DVNE, Ritual King, Shooting Daggers, Old Horn Tooth and Personal Hell doesn’t hurt in that regard, and even at the cost of C.O.C. and others, I still can’t imagine anyone is gonna look at this lineup and call bullshit. Josiah headlining The Black Heart? YOB at the Roundhouse? Orange Goblin after Earthless at The Electric Ballroom? Holy mackerel. What more could you possibly want?
And if you say C.O.C., you’re missing the point.
It doesn’t look like I’m going to be there, as I was hoping to be, but if you are, you have my jealousy. If you’ll pardon me, I need to go change a diaper. Life.
From socials:
***1000MODS, GREENLEAF, DVNE + MORE ADDED TO DESERTFEST LONDON ’22***
Due to circumstances well beyond our control, the following artists are no longer able to perform at DF London ’22: Corrosion of Conformity, The Obsessed/Wino, Khemmis, Somali Yacht Club, Mos Generator, URNE, Shuck.
We know this news comes as a disappointment however, all is far from lost as we are thrilled to be welcoming 1000mods, Greenleaf, DVNE, Ritual King, Shooting Daggers, Old Horn Tooth & Personal Hell to the bill!
We hope you understand that touring is still extremely difficult to navigate during these times, with a lot of decisions taken out of our hands. But your continued support of independent live music means everything to us. We cannot wait to see you in a little over a month!
If you are still after a weekend ticket, the best thing to do is sign up to the DICE waiting list. Or you can nab yourself a Saturday + Sunday (Non-Roundhouse access) combo ticket here – https://link.dice.fm/Jb083c2cefc7
More info regarding after-parties, merch + a very exciting reveal of what’s going to be on offer down on Greenland Place is all to come.. stay tuned!
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 24th, 2022 by JJ Koczan
Fitting that Desertfest London should respond to two years without a festival by making a festival big enough for two years. A new stage has been added for Sunday and Bongzilla (who we knew were spending some significant time abroad this Spring) and Slabdragger and Poseidon and Parish have been added, as well as an Eric Wagner tribute that, while details are scant as yet, will no doubt be something special. Perhaps some Orange Goblin involvement there? They’ve covered Trouble before, if you’ll recall.
In any case, it’s an astounding bill Desertfest London 2022 is hosting. The kind of thing one daydreamed about even harder during lockdown, and it seems they’re not done, either. I’m not 100 percent on the location of ‘stoner alley,’ but if it’s that spot right outside the Black Heart, there’s plenty of room to get up to some shenanigans there, and apparently announcements to come in that regard.
The word here is ‘admirable,’ and I can hardly think of a more appropriate way for Desertfest London to mark the beginning of its second decade as well as its return after two years’ absence.
From the social media:
***DESERTFEST ADDS BONGZILLA, SLABDRAGGER & MORE WITH ADDITION OF POWERHAUS ON SUNDAY MAY 1ST PLUS 2-DAY ‘NON-ROUNDHOUSE’ PASSES AVAILABLE NOW**
We are thrilled to be adding another stage to the mammoth Desertfest London 2022 line-up, as PowerHaus will host stoner favourites Bongzilla on Sunday 1st May (we know you’ve been waiting for that one!). Alongside hometown heroes Slabdragger, the cathartic sounds of Poseidon, plus pastoral power-trio Parish. We will also be welcoming a very special collaborative tribute to doom legend Eric Wagner, with more details TBA.
We know some folk have missed out on general tickets, so we are releasing a 2-Day Saturday + Sunday Combo pass that provides access to all venues EXCEPT the Roundhouse. Due to specific venue protocols & capacity restrictions, we are unable to release more general weekend or full day tickets. We hope you understand that we are trying to accommodate as many of you as possible in the spaces we have.
The best way to be in with a chance of picking up a general weekend or Friday day ticket is to join the waiting list at DICE – which is the only re-seller of DF tickets. Thank you so much for the continued support, we still have a lottt more to announce in regards to ‘Stoner Alley’ on Greenland Place + some v. special after-parties!
Posted in Whathaveyou on April 30th, 2021 by JJ Koczan
It’s good to see you again, Desertfest London. The 2022 lineup of the esteemed British edition of Desertfest brings some returning presences who were to have been at the 2020 edition, then the 2021 — both of course gone the way of corona. But we see Electric Wizard, Shellac and Witchcraft in headlining spots, while Corrosion of Conformity will bring their delayed 25th anniversary of Deliverance to Camden Town, and returning kingpins Orange Goblin will play, along with YOB, Truckfighters, Earthless, My Sleeping Karma, Mos Generator, Conan, The Obsessed, the reunited Josiah, Lowrider come for a Refractions victory lap well earned, along with Elephant Tree, Elder, Steak, Deathrite and a ton from the UK’s own ever-blossoming underground scene — Blind Monarch, The Brothers Keg, King Witch, the more established Alunah and Trippy Wicked, and so on and so many.
Note Slomosa. Note Wolftooth. I would expect both to be touring Europe around this time. Green Lung too, for that matter.
There’s no way this isn’t going to be one to remember and it is my sincere hope to be there for it. Maybe I’ll see you there. Maybe we can hug.
Kudos and thanks to the Desertscene crew — Sarika, Jake and Reece — on and for a job well done.
Here’s looking forward:
DESERTFEST LONDON ANNOUNCE FULL LINE-UP FOR 2022 ·
A DECADE IN THE DESERT CELEBRATING TEN YEARS WITH THE BIGGEST & MOST DIVERSE LINEUP YET
EXCLUSIVE UK PERFORMANCES FROM WITCHCRAFT (FIRST UK SHOW IN OVER A DECADE) and SHELLAC
As the home for all the things truly heavy, leading independent UK festival Desertfest have announced their full line up for 2022, which will take place in Camden, London from Friday 29th April – Sunday 1st May.
Celebrating their tenth year, next year’s festival promises to be their biggest and most diverse yet. Covering six venues across the heart of Camden and now including a full line up at The Roundhouse on both Saturday 30thApril and Sunday 1st May.
Founding owner of Desertfest Reece Tee comments, “Desertfest is 10 years old! I’m so proud that our independent festival has stood the test of time. What we have created is special, a decade of great bands, great friends and amazing memories. This year’s line up is a true reflection of how diverse Desertfest has become and with such a loyal audience, Desertfest can champion the underground for decades more to come.”
Headlining the Friday will be Swedish heavy rock masters Witchcraft, with a UK exclusive performance and their first UK show in over a decade. Saturday’s headliners are none other than Chicago’s Shellac, who in another UK exclusive will be bringing their experimental post-hardcore sound to the Roundhouse. Fronted by the iconic Steve Albini, Shellac are one of those bands we all need to experience live, at least once. Whilst closing the festival on Sunday will be UK doom legends Electric Wizard, whose heavy sound encompasses the spirit of Desertfest.
Other acts confirmed include the likes of Corrosion Of Conformity, Orange Goblin and Truckfighters who all played the festival in its debut year in 2012 and there are further UK exclusive performances from hardcore-punks Integrity and the Ukrainian psych space rock trio Somali Yacht Club.
The festival will also see desert legends Brant Bjork and Nick Oliveri’s new band Stoner, who will be playing the Electric Ballroom and doomed heavy metallers Khemmis making their UK debut at The Underworld.
Please see below for the full Desertfest 2022 line up / stage splits. Tickets are on sale now and are available at www.desertfest.co.uk
NEW TICKETS FOR 2022 Weekend Ticket (all venues) – £132 +fees Friday Day Ticket (all venues) – £45 +fees Saturday Day Ticket (all venues) – £50 +fees Sunday Day Ticket (all venues) – £50 +fees Saturday Roundhouse only – £35 +fees Existing ticket holders from 2020’s postponed event have a number of options as the festival is now larger, with an added Roundhouse line-up on Saturday 30th April & Sunday 1st May.
EXISTING WEEKEND + DAY TICKET HOLDERS OPTIONS Full refund Weekend roll-over to 2022 without Roundhouse upgrade (access only to Electric Ballroom, Underworld, Black Heart & The Dev) Weekend roll-over to 2022 with Roundhouse upgrade – £15 +fees Day ticket holders can upgrade to a full weekend ticket – £92 + fees – or will be issued a refund. Upgrade options only available until May 7th ’21. For any ticketing enquiries please contact sarika@desertscene.co.uk
Desertfest 2022’s artwork is hand drawn by legendary artist Arik Roper who has created illustrations for the likes of Sleep, Earth, Sunn O))), High on Fire, Kvelertak, Windhand and many more. As always, posters and other merch will be available to buy at the festival.
Posted in Whathaveyou on February 8th, 2021 by JJ Koczan
Well, yeah. I mean, who was really expecting Desertfest London to roll out this Spring like nothing happened? It’s a nice thought, and I wish we lived in that world, but I also wish we lived in the world where 2020 happened as scheduled too. We’re just not there yet.
So 2020 becomes 2021 becomes 2022. If you’re the type of person to hold this against those putting on the fest, or even the type to bitch about money or whatever, fuck off. Consider yourself lucky they’re talking about next year.
I want to be there when this happens. I don’t know anything they’ve got in store in terms of lineup, but I know that when Desertfest returns to Camden Town I want to see it. Don’t care if it’s out of my pocket. I want to go. I’ve marked my calendar for April 29-May 1, 2022, and I’ll hope to see you in London. I mean it.
From the Desertscene crew:
Desertfest London moves to 2022
Hello!
Thank you for bearing with us over the last few tricky months, we hope you are all keeping safe & sane! It’s with huge sadness, but probably no surprise, that we announce the 2021 edition of Desertfest London will be unable to take place in its full capacity this year, due to the on-going COVID-19 restrictions.
The next edition of Desertfest London will now take place April 29th – May 1st 2022 and we are thrilled to reveal will host a monumental TWO days at Roundhouse, alongside your most beloved venues Electric Ballroom, The Underworld, The Black Heart & The Dev. We might have a couple of additional surprises and stages to reveal over the coming year too…
This is going to be the biggest, loudest & most diverse Desertfest to date, we cannot wait to finally see you all and celebrate in style. The first acts for 2022 will be revealed on April 30th 2021, with general weekend tickets on sale at this time. We hope you understand the practical hurdles that we, and many other festivals, are facing with rolling over an entire line-up for two years in a row. There will be some changes (plus a tonne of amazing additions) for the 2022 line-up but trust us, you will not be disappointed with what’s to come.
All tickets and festival vouchers purchased in 2020 & 2021 remain valid, you don’t need to do anything but hold on to them! Our friends at DICE will handle the transfer to 2022 and no further action is required from you at this stage. We hope you’ll stick with us, but if you’d prefer a refund please contact help@dice.fm by April 30th 2021. Those who purchased day tickets will be updated on their options via DICE in due course.
Thank you for your patience, understanding and phenomenal support of independent music over the past 11 months. We’re truly lucky to be part of such an amazing community of heavy music lovers & getting together in 2022 is going to feel utterly incredible.
