Freak Valley Festival 2022 has announced that Baroness and Planet of Zeus will play on the added-this-year Wednesday night of the fest, taking the place of Monster Magnet, whose European tour plans have been canceled owing to a back injury. Obviously that’s a bummer for Monster Magnet fans, and I am one, but you can hardly argue with the bands taking their place. Baroness are huge, and Planet of Zeus are killer, so yeah, I expect this news will go over with a “ah hell,” and then a distinct sound of life moving on. Obviously, back injuries or whathaveyou, there’s a lot of leeway for canceling shows at this point in human existence.

Normally I would’ve written this announcement, but I dropped the ball on this one. Sorry to the fest, but they seem to have done just fine without me, not at all to my surprise. I still need to book my flights and figure out where I’m staying, but yes, I’m planning on being at Freak Valley this June.

From socials:

FREAKS!

We are overjoyed to present you another highlight for our Freak Valley Festival. Please welcome the mighty and Grammy-nominated Baroness!

They will join us with their most ambitious work to date, fifth album Gold & Grey. Set for release on the band’s own Abraxan Hymns, Gold & Grey spills triumphantly past genre barriers, their anthemic alt-metal hooks ricocheting between the circuitous twists of prog and jazz, the moody swirls of space-rock and noise, and the hypnotic pulses of trip-hop and 20th Century minimalism. “This is the most clear representation of the artistic vision I have for the band that we’ve ever done,” says Baroness vocalist, guitarist and founder John Baizley. “I’m surprised that we got as far with it as we did.”

Another addition to our Wednesday-Lineup are the greek Heavy rockers Planet of Zeus who will grace us for an alive and kicking party full of heavy riffs, gritty melodies and foot stomping grooves. “How was the heavy rock scene in Greece” you ask, before Planet of Zeus made their debut at the dawn of the third millennium? A band that needs no introduction, for its enviable success and indisputable chemistry on stage are nothing short of becoming part of Greek Mythology.

Freak Valley Festival // No Fillers – Just Killers

Freak Valley Festival 2022 IS SOLD OUT.

June 15-18 2022

https://www.facebook.com/events/2434350453469407
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://www.instagram.com/freakvalleyfestival/
https://twitter.com/FreakValley
http://www.rockfreaks.de/
http://www.freakvalley.de/

Planet of Zeus, Faith in Physics (2019)

I wanna go to Freak Valley 2022 so bad I can taste it. There’s so much to see here — this time adding Duel, Toundra, Psycholona and Kosmodome to the mix — and between Slomatics and The Midnight Ghost Train and Geezer, IAH, Temple Fang, Green Lung, Pelican, Supersonic Blues and Elder, never mind any of the actual headliners — fucking MONSTER MAGNET — it’s never been so urgent, my need to go to Siegen, Germany, this June. That’s three months from now. I’m working on it. I’m doing my best.

Talk about once-in-a-lifetime lineups. I’ve got friends playing this and people I’ve never actually met but have spoken to for over a decade. I’ve got a logo on the poster! Doesn’t that count for something. It’s The Obelisk and Rock Hard magazine and Rockpalast. These people are fucking legends. I feel like I should be outside rattling the gate, begging my way in.

It may yet come to that. I wrote this announcement below, and there was originally another band included that got nixed last minute owing to some uncertainty, but still. Fuck this looks awesome. Let me go just this once. Let me get away with something.

To wit:

Freaks!

The world turns, the sky burns and we step up to bring you new additions to Freak Valley Festival this June!

We’ve been working diligently behind the scenes to bring you a safe and special fest to make up for our lost time together and we know you’ll dig the latest. Here goes:

Toundra

Marking their 15th anniversary in 2022, Spanish progressive instrumentalists Toundra will come back to Netphen with January’s ‘Hex’ album in tow. Released through InsideOut Music, the new record finds them as-ever honing their atmospheres between heavy post-rock and heightened-consciousness psychedelia. They’re not quite like anyone else, and we know they’ll be welcome on our stage.

Duel

These marauding Texans return by popular demand after having hit Freak Valley in 2019 on their European tour. After experiencing last year’s In Carne Persona, however, we couldn’t be more stoked to have Duel back. We already know their live sets are rippers – exclusively – and they’ll be here in June with their most ferocious batch of songs yet. This is the kind of band you should be telling your friends about.

Psychlona

Speaking of, Britain’s continually emergent Psychlona were among the slew of acts originally booked for 2020. We’ve known ever since they did their livestream with us that they’d be back in-person as soon as possible, and we’re proud today to make it official. They’ve made their bona fides by word of mouth in classic fashion, and we can’t wait to get weird when they play.

Kosmodome

The end of the year is always crazy, but if you missed the self-titled record Norway’s Kosmodome released in December, it’s by no means too late to dig in ahead of checking them out at Freak Valley 2022. The duo from the proggy hotbed of Bergen hold fast to classic melodies and mindsets, but you’re never calling anything but forward-looking. We can’t wait to have them here for the first time.

And first or not, we can’t wait to welcome you all back to Freak Valley Festival in June! If it feels like it’s been forever, that’s because it has been.

Much love,
Your FVF Crew

Still more to come!

Freak Valley Festival // No Fillers – Just Killers

Freak Valley Festival 2022 IS SOLD OUT.

June 15-18 2022

https://www.facebook.com/events/2434350453469407
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://www.instagram.com/freakvalleyfestival/
https://twitter.com/FreakValley
http://www.rockfreaks.de/
http://www.freakvalley.de/

Duel, In Carne Persona (2021)

I’m not asking for much here, just let me go. I just want to go. It’s only a few days, and it’ll be June so whatever wave of whatever variant we’ll be in of this endless fucking pandemic shouldn’t be too terrible. But come on. Pelican and Supersonic Blues and Slomatics and Temple Fang and Elder and Geezer and IAH and Fu Manchu and The Midnight Ghost Train and Green Lung and Revvnant and Monster Magnet headlining and, and did I mention Slomatics yet because increasingly it’s starting to feel like Freak Valley Festival 2022 is being put together as a favor to me and it seems like the very least I can do is go. I just want to go.

That’s all I’ve got. I wrote this announcement for the fest. It’s a good batch of bands and that’s about the depth of insight I have on the matter just now:

Happy New Year, Freaks!

We know things are crazy right now just about everywhere, but we’re still doing our best to bring you the biggest celebration of Freak Valley Festival ever. How could we do otherwise?

Today’s announcement is huge and includes another headliner! Let’s welcome RED FANG to Freak Valley!

This will be the first time in Siegen for America’s overlords of Pacific Northwest rock and roll, and they come supporting their new album ‘Arrows,’ which reminds that nobody out there throws a party quite like they do. Their shows are the stuff of legend, the record rules, and the time is right. We can’t wait to see what they bring to our stage!

BLACK MOUNTAIN will also play on the Wednesday of the festival. If you’ve bought three-day tickets, we’re making more tickets available for the Wednesday show, so don’t miss out! It will sell out again!

Progressive heavy rock mainstays ELDER will also return, along with Chicago’s instrumental innovators PELICAN and even more!

Behold!

NEW ADDITIONS TO FREAK VALLEY 2022:
Red Fang (headliner)
Black Mountain (playing Wednesday)
Pelican
Elder
Reignwolf
Mondo Generator
Daily Thompson
Leech
Green Lung
Temple Fang
Swedish Death Candy
IAH
The Re-Stoned
Les Big Byrd
Slomatics
Supersonic Blues
Revvnant

Still more announcements to come!

Freak Valley Festival // No Fillers – Just Killers

Freak Valley Festival 2022 IS SOLD OUT.

June 15-18 2022

https://www.facebook.com/events/2434350453469407
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://www.instagram.com/freakvalleyfestival/
https://twitter.com/FreakValley
http://www.rockfreaks.de/
http://www.freakvalley.de/

Red Fang, “Rabbits in Hives” official video

I just finished writing the below announcement for Freak Valley 2022. It’s Tuesday night, and I’m pretty sure this announcement goes live tomorrow. I only found out about it today, and I’m pretty sure the festival itself only confirmed it today, but when I sent Jens Heide — follow him on Instagram for enviable pics of heavy ’70s vinyl — and asked about it, he said he didn’t want to bother me on such short notice. Well. Maybe if I hadn’t spent a good portion of my morning talking to Tony Reed about his work ethic, I might’ve let that slide, but not today.

So here we are. The ones in this paragraph, I think, will be the last sentences I write today, and if they’re coherent at all I assure it has nothing to do with my level of consciousness, which is minimal. It was long day. Tomorrow is another one. But I’m happy I got this done. It means something to me to be able to do that. Tomorrow morning I’ll get up and start it again. Obligation and elation.

Here’s the announcement I wrote, as posted by the fest:

Buckle up, beloved Freaks!

Today brings confirmation of one of heavy-anything’s most legendary bands — MONSTER MAGNET — will play Freak Valley Festival!

Not only them, but VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY and GEEZER will both make return appearances on our stage!

More info:

MONSTER MAGNET

Why the hell would Monster Magnet need an introduction? More than 30 years on from their start, the legacy of Monster Magnet is simply unmatched. Not only were they among the first bands to tap into classic ’70s hard rock, psych and space rock in a new generation of Satanic-drug-thing-you-wouldn’t-understand attitude, but with frontman Dave Wyndorf as the core presence in the group, they gave us a singular weirdo icon as well as a catalog full of hits, tripouts, slam-home riffs and rock and roll from another dimension entirely. There are 7.75 billion or some such people on this wretched planet and still only one Monster Magnet. They’re a must-see every night they’re on stage, and we’re honored to welcome them to Freak Valley for the first time ever.

VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY

Having last joined us in 2016, Villagers of Ioannina City come back to Freak Valley Festival following their second album, 2019’s ‘Age of Aquarius.’ The Napalm Records release brought new spaciousness to the Greek outfit’s style, and as they look to celebrate their 15th anniversary in 2022, we can’t wait to find out what the years since we last saw them have seen them become on stage, especially as ‘Age of Aquarius’ did so much to expand their sound. Whether you were there six years ago or not, this is a return you will not want to miss. If you want a preview of what you’re in for, check out their 2021 live album, ‘Through Space and Time (Alive in Athens 2020).’

GEEZER

The Kings of Kingston, NY, first came to Siegen in 2017 and psych-blues-jammed their way right into our freaky hearts. Early last year, they joined forces with Italy’s Heavy Psych Sounds and released ‘Groovy’ in Spring 2020. Not a great time for shows, as you might remember. Still, in hard times, Geezer’s vibe was full-on and their easy-rolling spirit, embodied in the whiskey-vox of guitarist Pat Harrington, was a safe haven where one could go and make everything feel right again. With as much love as Geezer put into what they do, let alone the party that results, there was no way we weren’t going to bring them back.

We’ll have another announcement for our Wednesday lineup and more on tickets and all that, but before we go, thank you, thank you, thank you for your support of Freak Valley Festival. We’re putting together something truly special for 2022, and it wouldn’t be possible at all without your passion inspiring our passion. It means the world to us to be able to bring you this fest, and now more than ever, it’s crucial we don’t take that for granted. Thank you. 

Still many more announcements to come!

Lineup Freak Valley Festival 2022:
MONSTER MAGNET
FU MANCHU
HIGH ON FIRE
WITCHCRAFT
THE MIDNIGHT GHOST TRAIN
VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY
GEEZER
+MORE TBA!

Freak Valley Festival // No Fillers – Just Killers

Freak Valley Festival 2022 IS SOLD OUT.

June 15-18 2022

https://www.facebook.com/events/2434350453469407
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://www.instagram.com/freakvalleyfestival/
https://twitter.com/FreakValley
http://www.rockfreaks.de/
http://www.freakvalley.de/

Monster Magnet, “Solid Gold Hell” (The Scientists cover) lyric video

Since the last post about The Midnight Ghost Train coming back for shows in Europe in 2022, the Kansan trio have made it clear that they’ll only be doing nine select dates and are not, in fact, returning to any greater activity at this time. No US tour, no new material, etc. A week-plus abroad and that’s it.

Of course, you never know, right? Maybe they’ll be so inspired by the kickass response to their coming back they’ll want to do more. Or maybe not. Never say never as regards bands getting back together.

Today we find out that the first show The Midnight Ghost Train will play will be at Freak Valley Festival 2022, set for next June in Siegen, Germany. Seems like a good beginning to what one hopes will be a killer stint.

I wrote this announcement this morning. Actually I was up half the night phrasing it in my head, but I finally got there. Hope you dig:

Freaks!

Time for our next announcement!

It is with love in our hearts we announce that The Midnight Ghost Train will begin their nine-show European tour at Freak Valley Festival 2022!

Few bands have a reputation for relentlessness so well earned. Who does heavy blues with more heart? The Topeka, Kansas, trio recently announced they’d do a handful of select shows across Europe, and we’re honored to bring you their first performance since their breakup four years ago.

After a rampaging decade-long career that included a stop at Freak Valley 2014, The Midnight Ghost Train called it quits in 2018, ending their run at that year’s Maryland Doom Fest with a riotous blowout worthy of their legacy. In making a return, guitarist/vocalist Steve Moss and company bring to life a band who carved their own place in underground lore, and whose sound and style none could hope to duplicate.

If you’ve ever had the pleasure, you know their live shows are ragers through and through, and if you haven’t, get ready for something special. The band has made it perfectly clear that this isn’t a full-on return to activity — just a few dates to celebrate… life, probably — and we’re honored to have them on our stage.

Lineup Freak Valley Festival 2022:
FU MANCHU
HIGH ON FIRE
WITCHCRAFT
THE MIDNIGHT GHOST TRAIN

Still many many more to come!

Freak Valley Festival // No Fillers – Just Killers

Freak Valley Festival 2022 IS SOLD OUT.

New date: June 15-18 2022

https://www.facebook.com/events/2434350453469407
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://www.instagram.com/freakvalleyfestival/
https://twitter.com/FreakValley
http://www.rockfreaks.de/
http://www.freakvalley.de/

The Midnight Ghost Train, Cypress Ave. (2017)

More surprising than High on Fire being announced for Freak Valley next year is the fact that they’ve never played it before. The two entities have shared existence for long enough that you would’ve thought they’d run into each other sooner or later, but if there has to be a first time 2022 works just as well as any. As previously announced — an announcement I wrote and somehow didn’t post here, oddly — Freak Valley 2022 will run an additional day with ticket-purchase optional for those who’ve already got passes to the main fest, which is and has been sold out. Witchcraft will headline that extra day, and Fu Manchu‘s delayed 30th anniversary will feature at the fest-proper, along now with High on Fire and a universe of others still to be added.

Get stoked and stay stoked for this one. I am. I don’t care what it takes, 2022 is my year to get to Siegen. If the pandemic has taught me anything it’s that life is too short and too precious to screw around.

Here’s High on Fire‘s announcement, which again, I wrote for the fest:

Freakiest of Freaks!

Bear witness as the legends HIGH ON FIRE join the lineup for Freak Valley 2022!

If you’re reading these words, then in all likelihood, High On Fire need no introduction. Formed by guitarist/vocalist Matt Pike six months after SLEEP originally disbanded, the band would go on to become one of heavy music’s most essential acts, bridging thrash, doom and classic metal into a marauding style all their own and influencing a generation of bands in the process.

Records like ‘The Art of Self-Defense,’ ‘Death is This Communion,’ and ‘De Vermis Mysteriis’ are landmarks, but if you know High on Fire, you know they never do anything without utterly killing it. With Pike and longtime bassist Jeff Matz saying goodbye to founding drummer Des Kensel in 2019, the band recently enlisted Coady Willis (Big Business, ex-Melvins) to take on the role and are back to doing what they do best in blasting out some of the most intense and righteous heavy you’ve ever heard.

This will be High on Fire’s FIRST TIME on the Freak Valley stage and we know it will be a union to remember. Can’t wait to see you here in Netphen!

Lineup Freak Valley Festival 2022:
FU MANCHU
HIGH ON FIRE
WITCHCRAFT

Still many many more to come!

Freak Valley Festival // No Fillers – Just Killers

Freak Valley Festival 2022 IS SOLD OUT.

New date: June 15-18 2022

https://www.facebook.com/events/2434350453469407
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://www.instagram.com/freakvalleyfestival/
https://twitter.com/FreakValley
http://www.rockfreaks.de/
http://www.freakvalley.de/

High on Fire, “Blood From Zion” live in Austin, TX, June 19, 2021