Posted in Whathaveyou on June 11th, 2026 by JJ Koczan
Nine new names from Desertfest Belgium 2026, filling out the higher and lower ends alike of the increasingly croded poster. I don’t know how much more the now-Liège-based forerunnig autumnal Desertfest edition has to add to its three-day bill — if this was it, I don’t think you’d be able to argue you weren’t getting your money’s worth, but they say there’s more coming and I have no reason not to believe them.
Sólstafir, Khan and Yawning Man feel like the big names, but Planning for Burial and Kanaan certainly give that a run, let alone jazzy Norwegians Elephant9, who’ve now been around for 20 years. I don’t know The Hebridean Sheep, but am down for a bit of homework, and both Meatdripper and Celestial Sanctuary have featured at the London edition of Desertfest, the former this year and the latter in 2023.
It’s not like the bill for Deserfest Belgium 2026 was lacking before this, but with from desert sprawl to extreme pummel, there’s a lot to dig in this round of adds. So by all means, have at it:
Hi Desertheads
We’re thrilled to add another nine new names to our Desertfest Belgium sonic bliss list!
Here are the new bands that will grace the Desertfest Belgium stages this fall: the dark rays of SÓLSTAFIR, the aural experience of Yawning Man (Official) , the hazy stoner psychedelia of Khan, the DIY gloom of Planning For Burial, the hefty bass and drum of The Hebridean Sheep, the monstrous massiveness of elephant9, the great riffs of Kanaan – Band, the death metal of Celestial Sanctuary, and the raw energy of Meatdripper!
What’s more, this Friday 12th June at 11:00 CET, our day tickets will go on sale! Weekend tickets can be found right here on our website. https://desertfest.be/information/ticketing
We’ll be back with more sonic bliss news in the near future! 🤘 The DF-team
Posted in Whathaveyou on December 5th, 2013 by JJ Koczan
This morning brought a barrage of news from the Roadburn 2014 lineup and Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth‘s curated event. Swedish doom maestro Leif Edling will bring Candlemass aboard for a set that contains Ancient Dreamsin its entirety, as well as play with his new band Avatarium, and Promise and the Monster, Elephant9with Reine Fiske and Obliteration have also been confirmed as appearing on a roster of acts that continues to impress in both scope and profile.
Here’s the latest off the PR wire:
Swedish Doom Metal Legends Candlemass to play Ancients Dreams in its entirety at Mikael Åkerfeldt’s 2014 curated Roadburn Event; Leif Edling’s Avatarium to redefine doom at the 2014 Afterburner; Elephant9 with Reine Fiske, Promise and the Monster, Obliteration and Trettioariga Kriget also confirmed for Mikael Åkerfeldt’s curated Roadburn event on Friday April 11th at the 013 venue in Tilburg, The Netherlands
We’re beyond excited to announce that Swedish doom metal legends Candlemass will perform Ancients Dreams in its entirety at Mikael Åkerfeldt’s 2014 curated Roadburn Event on Friday April 11th at the 013 venue in Tilburg, The Netherlands.
“Wow, just wow!”, says Mikael Åkerfeldt, “I am friends with the entire band, and especially boss/bassplayer Leif Edling. He is just a text message away and we meet up frequently to talk music and eat spicy food. Under the influence of… beer. And fine Italian wine. When Opeth started, myself and founder David Isberg agreed that our sounds should be a mix of Mercyful Fate, Bathory, Mefisto and Candlemass. It’s such an amazing honour for me to share stage with one of my primal influences since the dawn of Opeth. Leif has always had a chip on his shoulder when it comes to their timeless masterpiece; ‘Ancient Dreams’. I don’t know what it is, since I’ve always held that record in such high regard. At Roadburn we’ll get a rare chance to witness it performed in its entirety. Maybe Leif has changed his mind, I don’t know, but I won’t f*cking complain though, that’s for sure.”
“It will be a total joy to perform Ancient Dreams at Roadburn!”, says Leif Edling, “It’s a classic record that has been a bit overlooked through the years, and quite truthfully, I haven’t been in total love with it since the production doesn’t reach “Nightfall” standards. But nevertheless, the music is good. Songs like ‘Mirror Mirror’, ‘Darkness in Paradise’, ‘Bearer of Pain’ and the title track are really cool pieces that we’ll love to play once again. Slow, heavy and majestic… they’re my own key words to describe this album, and to play ‘Incarnation of Evil’ and ‘The Epistle’ live for the first time will be interesting… hehe! I could never imagine that I would still be playing this weird doom metal that we started over 25 years ago, and to have a special performance doing Ancient Dreams is totally surreal if you ask me… but FUN AS HELL!! Maybe I can persuade Mikael Å to grab the microphone and join us on stage… I’ll work on it :-)” More info on Candlemass: http://wp.me/p1m0FP-8uN
In collaboration with Roadburn’s 2014 curator Mikael Åkerfeldt, we can’t wait to welcome Avatarium to the 2014 Roadburn Afterburner on Sunday April 13th at the 013 venue in Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Avatarium’s striking debut full-length (out of Nuclear Blast) easily ranks among the best Roadburn-related albums of 2013, and it also strikes the perfect balance between epic doom and classic rock, reminiscent of Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath and Rainbow. The crushing doom of Candlemass may be prevalent through the album, but Avatarium’s 60s/70s feel is also trippy, with a creepy and haunting vibe that makes space for moments of beautiful tranquility before pummeling you with surgically precise riffs of sheer Edling brilliance.
“Roadburn 2014 will be the first time ever I do gigs with two different bands in the same weekend”, says Leif Edling, “But playing with Avatarium at the Roadburn Afterburner show will be exciting as it will be one of our first gigs outside Sweden, and a rendezvous with the international press and fans. I hope we can pull it off!
The album has received great reviews – it feels like I’m 20 and about to make my live debut again. What’s cool is that many of the songs from the first album are written for a live situation, specially arranged to grow and become something more than the recorded versions, and now we have the opportunity to play them as we thought they could be played… or fail completely doing it, hehe. Well, guess we’ll find out at Roadburn!
Anyway, I’m thrilled, stoked and honoured about the whole thing. ‘Moonhorse’, ‘Boneflower’ and ‘Lady In The Lamp’ are songs that have the potential to capture an audience and it will be a thrill to present Jennie-Ann’s voice to the RB crowd as well! See ya soon!”
Mikael Åkerfeldt comments: “At another metal talk / wine session Leif once suggested we should write music together. I said ”of course”, not really aware that I had little time for anything apart from my current business. Leif is a workaholic and all of a sudden he texted me saying; ”I’ve got 2 songs ready! Come on!” I got somewhat stressed out and gradually it was understood between the both of us, that I would not be able to find the time to participate. However, Leif soldiered on, found an amazing line up, fronted by the charismatic genius vocalist-ess, Jennie-Ann Smith and has now released a 12” single as well as their debut album. Hearing some of the early demos made me go ”What the f*ck?!” Wishing I’d shuffled my priorities around. It was / is so good. So fucking good! Is it doomy? Goddamn right it is! Avatarium got a sound that is both traditional metal and something ”new” that I can’t put my finger on what it is. I think it might be the elusive ”magic”! They’ve got it.”
By the time Avatarium hit the main stage on Sunday April 13th, we’re certain that you’ll be enchanted and mesmerized by the band’s psychedelic atmosphere, classic-yet-timeless doom and perfect production. More info on Avatarium: http://wp.me/p1m0FP-8uR
Elephant9 with Reine Fiske, Promise and the Monster, Obliteration and Trettioariga Kriget have also been confirmed for Mikael Åkerfeldt’s curated Roadburn event on Friday April 11th at the 013 venue in Tilburg, The Netherlands.
