So here’s a moment where I’m just going to be honest with you. I’m pretty sure this lineup has been announced for a bit. If you’ve been to Legalize Lex and you accordingly keep up with the Lexington, Kentucky-based two-dayer set for April 18-19 on social media, maybe you’ve seen that the likes of Horseburner, Lo-Pan, Temple of the Fuzz Witch and Hashtronaut are making the trip. Fine. So maybe it’s not ‘breaking news,’ as much as anything in the heavy underground short of Bobby Liebling memes could hope to be. I haven’t posted the lineup here yet, so even if it’s not new to you, it’s new to me. Thanks for indulging my late-to-the-party ass once again.

Crop are the affiliated act here, and they seem to be setting up the fest as a regional nexus, pulling bands from all cardinal directions to solidify what’s turned out to be a pretty banger bill. Reminds me of an old Emissions lineup, and not just because Rebreather are there, but also in some of the stoner-sludge later down the poster. The day-split is out — you can see the Saturday is more packed than the Friday, as it should be, but the first night is by no means lacking — and the lineups are rad. I won’t be there to see it, but if you get to go, I’d expect it to be a party as much as a festival. Certainly that’s the vibe I’m getting from the poster.

The day-split came down the PR wire as follows:

LEGALIZE Announces Full Lineup and Set Times for its 2nd Annual Festival in Lexington KY!

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/legalize-lex-tickets-1128795390399

Friday, 4/18
Doors: 6:00 p.m., show 7:00 p.m.

Temple of the Fuzz Witch
Hashtronaut
Swamp Hawk
Weed Demon
Shi
Pond Digger

Saturday, 4/19
Doors 4:20 p.m., show 5:00 p.m.

Horseburner
Lo-Pan
Rebreather
Crop
Friendship Commanders
Blind Scryer
Veilcaste
Radian
Stormtoker
Star Viper
Sympathy Jar

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/legalize-lex-tickets-1128795390399

https://www.facebook.com/share/18c7qA6wzL/
https://www.instagram.com/legalize_lex

Lo-Pan, “Northern Eyes” visualizer

Get Well Soon is the title of the upcoming fifth Lo-Pan album, to be released as their first offering through Magnetic Eye Records on April 4. The lead single and opening track, “The Good Fight” is up for streaming as of today and offers ready emphasis of several of the band’s strengths, be it songwriting, melody, energy of performance, or the general amount of sass being applied at any given moment. A band who’ve long since established ‘their sound,’ Lo-Pan are characteristic in “The Good Fight” and mature in their craft, and five records deep (not six?), still able to come across as brash when they want to be. You know the chorus is coming, and they know it too. Somehow the journey surprises.

Lo-Pan‘s last full-length, Subtle (review here), came out in 2019, which indeed feels a bit like a lifetime ago. I haven’t seen a lyric sheet or heard the full album, so don’t know how much of Get Well Soon is informed directly or otherwise with drummer Jesse Bartz‘s fight with cancer circa 2022-2024, but it doesn’t seem unreasonable given the title to think the subject might come up somewhere. In any case, the hope is that Lo-Pan get on the road and don’t stop, because it’s a better world when they’re on tour somewhere in it.

April’s a ways off, but the new song’s a killer tease. Have at it at the bottom of this post. The text comes from the PR wire:

LO-PAN drop first single ‘The Good Fight’ taken from the forthcoming new album “Get Well Soon”

Preorder link:
http://lnk.spkr.media/lo-pan-get-well

LO-PAN release the first advance single ‘The Good Fight’ taken from the American hard rockers’ new full length “Get Well Soon”. The new album from the long-running Columbus, Ohio foursome has been scheduled to hit the stores on April 4, 2025.

LO-PAN comment: “We rewrote ‘The Good Fight’ about 10 times over four years before recording the tracks and my drums were captured on the second take”, drummer Jesse Bartz explains to which guitarist Chris Thompson adds: “This is one of my favorite songs to play off the new album as it has a Lo-Panthem type quality to it, which is a phrase that Andrew Schneider coined during mixing”. Vocalist Jeff Martin has the final word: “Lyrically, the theme of ‘Get Well Soon’ is more of a ‘stuff is very much broken beyond repair now’ sort of message.”

Tracklist
1. The Good Fight
2. Northern Eyes
3. Wormwood
4. Ozymandias
5. Rogue Wave
6. Harpers Ferry
7. Stay with the Boat
8. God’s Favorite Victim
9. Six Bells

Since 2005, LO-PAN have laboured hard to earn a reputation as one of the most consistent and compelling acts in the modern heavy scene with their blue-collar ethic and singular artistic vision, which is strongly felt on “Get Well Soon”.

On this album, LO-PAN further define their brand of American Hard Rock, a wicked stylistic mix of deep fried heaviness sprinkled with metal and grunge, all fused through captivating songwriting into an irresistible fifth album.

“Get Well Soon” heralds another great leap forward for LO-PAN. Heavy, cool, catchy, and with a marked emotional resonance developed through experience and maturity, “Get Well Soon” will take the Americans to new places around the globe.

Recording by Joe Viers at Sonic Lounge, Grove City, Columbus OH (US)
Mix by Andrew Schneider at ACRE Audio, New York City, NY (US)
Mastering by Carl Saff at Saff Mastering, Chicago, IL (US)

Cover photography by Heidi Shapiro
Layout & Art Direction by Chris Smith (Grey Aria Design)

Line-up
Jeff Martin – vocals
Chris Thompson – guitar
Scott Thompson – bass
Jesse Bartz – drums

http://www.lopandemic.com
http://www.facebook.com/lopandemic
https://www.instagram.com/lopandemic/
https://lo-pan-rock.bandcamp.com/

http://store.merhq.com
http://magneticeyerecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MagneticEyeRecords
https://www.instagram.com/magneticeyerecords/

Lo-Pan, “The Good Fight” official visualizer

Lo-Pan, Subtle (2019)

Go figure that as I sit down to start typing out the year-end coverage to go up later this week (which is where there aren’t a ton of posts today and won’t be until it’s done; Thursday, maybe Friday at the rate I’m going?) along comes news of the sort that in my brain needs to be immediately posted. Ohio heavy rockers Lo-Pan moving toward the release of their next full-length — their first since 2019, fifth overall and what will be their first for Magnetic Eye Records — is very much that sort of news for me. The band are coming up on 20 years next year, and whatever else they do to celebrate that, the advent of a follow-up to Subtle (review here) will surely be enough reason for them to hit the road in some fashion. This too is good news.

The PR wire didn’t have any new music to go along with the signing announcement — which would’ve been nice, but you can’t have everything, even at Xmastime — but for me, Lo-Pan being part of a label roster that includes Greenleaf, Elephant Tree, Howling Giant, Brume, Heavy Temple, High Desert Queen, Psychlona, Restless Spirit and so on makes a lot of sense. I was lucky enough to see them in 2023, and I hope to do so again in 2025.

Here’s a photo of the band on a nice day and words from the PR wire:

LO-PAN sign with Magnetic Eye Records!

American hard rockers LO-PAN have set their signatures on a multi-album contract with Magnetic Eye Records. The long-running Columbus, Ohio foursome will release their fifth full-length via the label in 2025.

LO-PAN comment: “It’s an honor to be a part of the Magnetic Eye Records roster”, drummer Jesse Bartz writes on behalf of the band. “We are very excited about the plans that we have for 2025 and beyond. Watch this space for more news coming soon!”

Jadd Shickler adds: “I love breaking new talent, but this label is also a home for iconic heavy bands, and that’s exactly what Lo-Pan are”, the Magnetic Eye director explains. “These guys have been intertwined with the riff-rock, doom, and stoner scene going back over a decade, but they’re something else entirely. They deliver classic rock that’s somehow modern, heavy as hell and at the highest possible level since they started. I can barely express the pride and pleasure it gives me to welcome Lo-Pan to Magnetic Eye! It’s been far too long since we heard new music from them, and we can’t wait to be the ones bringing it to the world!”

LO-PAN are an American hard rock band hailing from Columbus, Ohio, well-known for their powerful blend of driving rhythms, melodic vocals, and immersive sonic landscapes.

Formed in 2005, LO-PAN have laboured hard to earn a reputation as one of the most consistent and compelling acts in the modern heavy scene with their blue-collar work ethic with singular artistic vision.

LO-PAN came together in the vibrant underground Columbus music scene out of a shared love of vintage rock, stoner metal, and modern heaviness. This united four musicians with a passion for pushing boundaries. It was no accident that they took their name from the sorcerous villain in the cult film “Big Trouble in Little China” as the band set out to blend cinematic drama with larger-than-life energy.

From their earliest days, LO-PAN distinguished themselves with an intense live presence and a sound that combined classic rock grit with the crushing weight of stoner and doom influences. What further set them apart was an uncanny combination of weighty power and soaring melodies. Their approach pays homage to the lineage of bands like CLUTCH and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY while carving out their own sonic identity.

LO-PAN’s 2009 debut album “Sasquanaut” was an immediate breakout, earning praise for its infectious hooks and monumental grooves, and established the band as a force to be reckoned with in the heavy underground. Sophomore full-length “Salvador” (2011) solidified their reputation, showcasing a more refined sound and greater musical maturity. 2014’s “Colossus” represented a significant leap forward, pushing into new territories with tighter arrangements and more expansive production by Andrew Schneider (PELICAN, UNSANE et al.). In 2019, LO-PAN released “Subtle”, which marked yet another step in the evolution of their sound. The band dared to take risks by exploring new emotional depths with a more introspective and atmospheric approach, which paid off with critics and fans alike.

LO-PAN have toured and shared stages with such heavyweights as HIGH ON FIRE, TORCHE, and RED FANG, among many others, and have taken their high-energy performances to audiences across the United States and Europe. One of the most vital bands in modern heavy music, LO-PAN inspire and captivate listeners with raw, honest, and unapologetically powerful rock that is both massively thunderous and heartfelt.

LO-PAN will release their fifth full-length via Magnetic Eye Records in early 2025.

Line-up
Jeff Martin – vocals
Chris Thompson – guitar
Scott Thompson – bass
Jesse Bartz – drums

http://www.lopandemic.com
http://www.facebook.com/lopandemic
https://www.instagram.com/lopandemic/
https://lo-pan-rock.bandcamp.com/

http://store.merhq.com
http://magneticeyerecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MagneticEyeRecords
https://www.instagram.com/magneticeyerecords/

Lo-Pan, Subtle (2019)

09.14.23 – Thursday – Saint Vitus Bar – Before show

A somewhat harried process getting to Brooklyn. Satnav calls it more than the usual traffic on the route, but I did it yesterday too and this evening was about right. An infinity of vehicles, all trying to squeeze into the same stupid tubes to get somewhere.

Tonight is the Desertfest New York 2023 pre-show at the Saint Vitus Bar, and the four-band bill — Sonic Taboo, Lo-Pan, Duel and Colour Haze — is a suitable precursor to the two full fest days to come. It’s not packed yet, but I expect it will be. There’s an awful lot of adventure that’s going to happen between now and Saturday night.

I’ll do my best to keep up as much as possible, and if you’re reading this or anything that comes out in the next couple days, thank you.

Here we go:

Sonic Taboo

By the skin of my earplugs, I made it to see New York’s Sonic Taboo, and the instrumental trio were already rolling out steady nod by the time I made it to the back to watch them. In medias res as it was, and out of my fucking mind as I was to be late, I won’t say I was in the headspace yet, but I did my best, saying a couple quick hellos while trying to position my brain in the moment. Sonic Taboo, who are apparently motorcycle aficionados, were conducive to digging in but not too elaborate or complex to give up the paramount roll. I wasn’t egregiously late, at least not in reality, but it was enough to throw me off. Missed three songs or so, which was about half the set. Lesson learned, about checking out Sonic Taboo, if not about leaving earlier, which I also should’ve done. But they sounded cool and were selling vinyl, so perhaps a Bandcamp perusal is in order. The pre-show here last year did right with Druids, and 2023 easing into the evening with Sonic Taboo’s palette-cleansing riffery worked well along similar lines conceptually, if not with the same sound.

—

Duel

Next week they’ll be at Ripplefest Texas in their native Austin. Next month they head back to Europe for another go there that also includes a Desertfest — in Antwerp — and I don’t know what’s up after that, but it’s Duel, so chances are it’s something. They put out Live at Hellfest (review here) earlier this year, and between that and having seen them the couple times I have at this point, including twice last summer, I feel reasonably comfortable with high expectations when it comes to their live show. They are, and have been, a rager, and they just go and go and go. Also rip. “Children of the Fire” is always a highlight, and I’ll put “Fears of the Dead” right up there with it in terms of this-is-a-chorus-you-want-to-dude-shout-along-with, but fresh off a plane as they were and maybe haggard for that, Duel only benefitted from the wild-eyed madness of improper sleep cycles, and the crazier they were the crazier the shit sounded and the more everybody went nuts. Total win. Nice when you know you’re getting something awesome and then you do. They fucking went on early. That’s who they are.

—

Lo-Pan

Jeff up front? It’s just crazy enough to work! It’s been just over four years since I last saw Lo-Pan, that long as well since they put out their most recent studio album, Subtle (review here), and that feels like too much time by at least half. To wit, at some point, Jeff moved out front. I stood over by bassist Scott Thompson, which meant that the low end was basically eating me alive, but hell, I’ve been down that road with Lo-Pan before, and you’re not going to hear me complain. To think of it, there is no wrong place to stand. If you’re over by Chris Thompson’s guitar, you’re not wrong. I sure as crap wasn’t wrong where I was, and if you’re up the middle you’ve got Jesse Bartz’s kick drum punching you in the face — or kicking — and Jeff Martin’s vocals cutting through, all soulful glissando and whatnot. So yes, they destroyed. Like Duel, it took them a song or two to warm up, but they locked it down quickly and it turns out they were fucking Lo-Pan and they destroy so that’s what they did. “El Dorado.” “Sage.” “Go West” and “Ascension Day.” They always seem to mix it up, but they hit it hard across the whole set and were a blast to see after some tumultuous years. One of those bands you miss after a while.

—

Colour Haze

Magic. A guy named John came up to me before Colour Haze went on to tell me I’d introduced him to the band. I heard that a couple times by the end of the night. That was a trip, though not nearly as much so as the set itself. The headline is they played “Peace, Brothers and Sisters!,” the 22-minute forge in which much of the genre of heavy psych was cast. That and the shorter-but-no-less-epic “Love” from the Munich outfit’s landmark 2004 self-titled LP (discussed here) closed out the night, but more recent stuff like the title-track of 2019’s We Are (review here) or “Ideologigi” from last year’s Sacred (review here) was definitely welcome too after they led off with “Turquoise” and “Goldmine.” The room was electric, before, during and after the set. Between songs, the shouts of “thank you!” and “you’re so good” made people laugh and the joy of the set was felt all the more as the band met that energy in their performance, keyboardist/organist Jan Faszbender tight on the Vitus Bar stage behind founding guitarist/vocalist Stefan Koglek on the left side while Mani Merwald — who might be one of the best drummers I’ve ever seen play, and I’ve seen a few at this point in my life — and bassist Mario Oberpucher held down stage right, the latter a quiet presence but a resounding fit with the band’s four-piece dynamic. “Peace, Brothers and Sisters!” ended noisy, as one would hope, and the unexpected addition of “Love” made my night, no shit. I was likely in a minority of people there who’d seen the band before, but even if this wasn’t my first experience with Colour Haze, in another incarnation or in this one — I was lucky enough to catch them last December in Stockholm — the fact that it was something special was inescapable, and as somebody who was there the last time Colour Haze came to the US, which was in 2006 for Emissions From the Monolith 8 in Youngstown, Ohio, I’ll say their sound has only grown richer since then. They’re playing the Main Stage of the first night of the festival-proper, so this won’t be the last word about them, but I have the feeling that, if you were there for this, you’re going to remember it for a long time to come. I am, anyhow.

—

More pics after the jump.

Read more »

This is some of the biggest news of my year, right here, and precisely some of what I’ve been hoping for since the advent of Desertfest New York in 2019. The NYC branch of Europe’s foremost heavy festival brand is slates do the seemingly impossible this Fall and bring German heavy psychedelic rock progenitors Colour Haze to the States for the second time as well as Greek heavy rock forerunners 1000mods, overcoming the pandemic-interrupted growth after a successful 2022 edition to realize a genuinely world-class event already just with the first reveal. And that’s before you get to the badassery of Lo-Pan, Heavy Temple, bringing Duel back, Boris, and so on.

I mean that. This puts Desertfest New York on a level of scope and reach with Psycho Las Vegas, Monolith on the Mesa or Fire in the Mountains or whoever else you want to namedrop, while maintaining club-show roots in its pre-party and secondary stages. I also wouldn’t surprised if a third stage isn’t added to the fest proper, as Knockdown Center certainly has that space available.

Either way, this is a big fucking deal and I’m excited at the prospect of what’s still to come. Will Steak return? My Sleeping Karma? Perhaps even a Green Lung US debut? The doors are thrown wide here as Desertfest New York 2023 takes it to that next level. The possibilities are that much closer to endless.

From the PR wire:

Desertfest New York returns for 3rd edition this September announcing
Melvins, Boris, Colour Haze, Truckfighters & more

TICKETS ON SALE NOW VIA WWW.DESERTFESTNEWYORK.COM

Leading independent stoner rock, doom, psych & heavy rock festival Desertfest returns to
New York this September. Hot off the heels of their largest US event to date in May ‘22, the
globally renowned festival will return to the unique space of the Knockdown Center in
Queens, alongside an exclusive pre-party at heavy metal institution, Saint Vitus Bar from 14th to 16th September 2023.

Headlining the 3rd edition of the festival will be genre-defining trailblazers the MELVINS.
With King Buzzo & Dale Crover at the helm ensuring their 40-year status as icons of the
underground, Desertfest attendees can expect a MELVINS performance unlike any other, as
they are treated to the bands’ expansive & iconic back catalogue.

Joining them on the Knockdown Center main-stage, with a rare New York performance, will
be Japan’s own BORIS. An exercise in auditory marksmanship for any whom are lucky
enough to bear witness, BORIS continue to redefine heavy on their own terms.

German psychedelic trio COLOUR HAZE will join the festival for a US exclusive,
headlining Thursday’s pre-party at Saint Vitus Bar. A band who move beyond a space of
labels, their continued evolution propels them out of any current galaxy recognised as ‘stoner
rock’. Thursday night will also welcome the infectiously groovy sounds of LO-PAN &
Texan goodtimers DUEL to help warm up the gears.

Long-time friends in the Desertfest-sphere, high-octane Swedish rockers
TRUCKFIGHTERS join proceedings for their first New York performance in three years.

Greece’s stoner rock heroes 1000MODS also make the jump overseas, ready to bring their
ear-worm worthy riffs to revellers. Local legends WHITE HILLS, raucous street doom
reapers R.I.P & ‘heavy primal psych’ outfit ECSTASTIC VISION all join the bill.

Elsewhere Desertfest NYC also welcomes HEAVY TEMPLE, CLOUDS TASTE SATANIC, MICK’S JAGUAR, CASTLE RAT, GRAVE BATHERS & SPELLBOOK, with more still to be announced…

3-day passes (incl. access to Saint Vitus Pre-Party) & 2-day passes (Knockdown Center
only) are on sale NOW via the following link – https://link.dice.fm/Desertfest_NewYork

Day Tickets will be released in April. There are no individual Day Tickets for Thursday’s
Pre-Party.

Full Line-Up
Saint Vitus – Sept 14th | Knockdown Center Sept 15th & 16th 2023
Melvins | Boris | Colour Haze | Truckfighters | 1000Mods | White Hills | Lo-Pan | Duel |
R.I.P | Ecstatic Vision | Heavy Temple | Clouds Taste Satanic | Mick’s Jaguar | Castle
Rat | Grave Bathers | Spellbook

https://facebook.com/Desertfestnyc/
https://www.instagram.com/desertfest_nyc/
http://www.desertfestnewyork.com

Colour Haze, Sacred (2022)

It’s a big ‘un. And if you’re like me, there are a couple names that stick out from the poster below, particularly Earthride and The Skull. Both are tribute sets, of course. The Skull frontman Eric Wagner passed away in 2021 after complications from a covid-19 infection and the loss of Earthride‘s Dave Sherman just a couple months ago continues to be keenly felt in and beyond the confines of the scene he called home. Karl Agell (ex-C.O.C.) will step in for The Skull, while Scott Angelacos of Hollow Leg is set to front a rotating cast of players for Earthride. You would be hard-pressed to find a more fitting occasion for honoring one’s own, except perhaps this gig in a couple weeks.

Plenty of familiar, returning acts as well as newcomers. Hippie Death Cult and will travel from the Pacific Northwest, Switchblade Jesus and Doomstress make an appearance (not the first for either) from Texas, and Red Mesa come straight out of the capital-‘desert’ Desert. Meanwhile, Faith in Jane, Black Lung, Bloodshot, Mangog, Mythosphere, Thonian Horde, Spiral Grave and plenty of others represent the Maryland home team, High Leaf and Thunderbird Divine trip down from Philly, Curse the Son (CT) and Guhts (NY) come from farther north, Hollow Leg make the trip out from Florida, and Lo-Pan, Doctor Smoke and Brimstone Coven head over from the Midwest. That’s just off the top of my head. I’m not sure there’s ever been a MDDF pulling so many bands from different parts of the country, though of course international bands have featured in the past as well.

There are always some shakeup between the first announcement and the final lineup, but so far so good here. Any way it works out, Maryland Doom Fest has nothing to prove at this point. Guaranteed banger.

Here’s the poster (oy) and the lineup, the latter in alphabetical order:

Maryland Doom Fest 2023

June 22-25 – Frederick, MD

We are proud to present to you The Maryland DooM Fest 2023 lineup roster and 2023 promotional art!!!!

We showcase over 50 kickass bands bringing you heavy riffs over these #4daysofdoom!!

The centerpiece art was created by Joshua Adam Hart (Earthride, Unorthodox, Revelation, Chowder, Stout, to name a few).

Josh is a career tattoo artist and is currently scheduling appointments at Triple Crown Towson Tattoo. Schedule to get ink from him at info@triplecrowntowson.com

The incredible flyer layout, coloring, and design is by our very talented Bill Kole (make sure to check out his band Ol’ Time Moonshine)!!

Above the Treachery, Akris, Black Lung, Bloodshot, Bonded by Darkness, Borracho, Brimstone Coven, Cobra Whip, Conclave, Crowhunter, Curse the Son, DeathCAVE, Doctor Smoke, Doomstress, Double Planet, Dust Prophet, Earthride, Faith in Jane, False Gods, Flummox, Fox 45, Future Projektor, Gallowglas, Grim Reefer, Guhts, Helgamite, High Leaf, Hippie Death Cult, Hog, Hollow Leg, Hot Ram, Las Cruces, Leather Lung, Lo-Pan, Mangog, Mythosphere, Orodruin, Red Mesa, Severed Satellites, Shadow Witch, Smoke the Light, Spiral Grave, Switchblade Jesus, The Skull, Thonian Horde, Thousand Vision Mist, Thunderbird Divine, Unity Reggae, VRSA, Weed Coughin, Wizzerd

https://www.facebook.com/MdDoomFest/
www.marylanddoomfest.com

Lo-Pan, “Ascension Day” live at Maryland Doom Fest 2019

Lo-Pan vocalist and my-favorite-person-on-social-media-to-whom-I’m-not-married Jeff Martin dropped me a line last night with the GoFundMe link above. The headline says it all. The band’s drummer, Jesse Bartz, whose kickdrum I’ve had the pleasure of having my ears blasted by on many, many occasions and always gratefully, has been diagnosed with cancer.

You know the deal here. This is community outreach. For over 15 years, Bartz has been an integral facet — essential personnel, in the parlance of our times — for Lo-Pan’s heavy groove, and I don’t care how many t-shirts you bought along the way, it’s time to step up and help out. I won’t sell you on it and I won’t keep you with some flowery description of Lo-Pan’s influence on heavy underground rock, their years of road-dog touring, or the quality of Bartz’s work.

Frankly, I shouldn’t have to. All of those things are great, but what matters here is that Bartz is a human being and this is an opportunity to help.

On behalf of myself and this site, I wish Bartz strength and a quick recovery. There’s no doubt in my mind he’ll beat it and be back to doing likewise to his kit on stage with all good speed.

Here’s the link to share: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-jesse-bartz-defeat-cancer

Spread that around as you will, but the point here is to donate. Now’s a good time.

Back for its second year and with a fourth day in tow, Ripplefest Texas 2022 confirms its full lineup, a total beast of legends and newcomers. Really, I don’t even know what to say here except that if you’re lucky enough to go, it’s probably the kind of thing you’re going to remember for a long gosh-darn time, and it’s the kind of lineup that serves as lording-over fodder on the part of those who were there to those who weren’t. Well, at least it would if the heavy underground weren’t too cool to each other for that kind of gatekeeping nonsense. In any case, this looks like a massive undertaking to put on, and the roster of assembled acts gets a hearty ‘fucking a’ from my corner of the universe.

Tickets for all four days will run you $150, but I feel like the festival earns that on both quality and quantity of product.

Here’s the announcement, info and links:

RIPPLE FEST TEXAS – The Far Out Lounge – July 21-24

4-day passes available now!

RippleFest Texas 2022 is back and the lineup is as big and hot as Texas itself! 4 days of blistering hot music at Austin’s premier music venue The Far Out Lounge. There will be everything from crushing heavy riffs, to acoustic and banjo picking, to improvisation jam sessions and puppet shows! So many legends and great music that this will be a 4 day weekend you will not want to miss!

TICKETS:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thefaroutloungestage/639551

FULL LINEUP:
Eagles of Death Metal, The Sword, Crowbar, Mothership, Big Business, The Obsessed, Stöner, Spirit Adrift, The Heavy Eyes, Sasquatch, REZN, Fatso Jetson, Heavy Temple, J.D. Pinkus, Lord Buffalo, Lo-Pan, Wino, El Perro, Void Vator, Hippie Death Cult, Howling Giant, Doctor Smoke, Nick Oliveri, High Desert Queen, Destroyer of Light, Ape Machine, High Priestess, Dryheat, Rubber Snake Charmers, Sun Crow, Holy Death Trio, Bone Church, Horseburner, Spirit Mother, Thunder Horse, Mother Iron Horse, The Age of Truth, Salem’s Bend, Las Cruces, All Souls, Kind, Fostermother, The Absurd, Godeye, Ole English, Mr. Plow, Snake Mountain Revival, Blue Heron, Grail, Formula 400, Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol, Eagle Claw, Bridge Farmers.

The Far Out Lounge is located at 8504 South Congress. Winner of Best New Venue at the Austin Music Awards 2020.

http://www.thefaroutaustin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ripplefesttexas
https://www.facebook.com/LOMSProductions/
https://www.facebook.com/theripplemusic/
https://www.instagram.com/ripplemusic/
https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/
http://www.ripple-music.com/

Lo-Pan, Live at the Grog Shop, Cleveland, Ohio, Feb 18, 2022