Posted in Whathaveyou on April 21st, 2020 by JJ Koczan
I knew this was coming — we all did — and I readily acknowledge that people are losing their lives and there are bigger concerns at play here than the fact that I don’t get to fly to Germany and see cool bands in June, but damnit, this was gonna be my year! And a fucking pandemic breaks out? Seriously? After years of being invited, after having a friggin’ Obelisk logo on the poster for the fest — next to the bloody likes of Rockpalast; do you have any idea what an HONOR that is? — I was finally, finally, finally going to make the journey to Siegen and bask in the glory of College Papers Services - Instead of concerning about dissertation writing find the needed help here experience the advantages of professional custom writing Freak Valley Festival. And, well, here we are.
Again, I know there are life-and-death concerns here, and I’m not at all advocating the position that they fest should take place as was planned for this June — it absolutely should not — but I just needed to take a second, step back, and whine about it for a while.
I was going to see 25% Discount On All Questions To Ask When Writing A Business Plan! Thats right Were offering a flat 25% discount on all Custom Dissertation Service orders. Be sure to make the most of it! Check Price Code: RP39646. What Happens After You Have Received the Topics? Once you have received the topics from our writers and chose one that suits your needs, the same writer can start to develop a dissertation Beastwars… I was going to hang out with the Are you looking for dissertation writing help? Purchasing An Essay Deal, a UK based agency is always ready to provide online assistance with custom writing. Slomatics guys…
I’m allowed to be bummed about this stuff.
Thank you for your indulgence.
I wrote this announcement, and it was painful to write, but I do honestly believe that the festival will work to build an even stronger 2021, and the invite has already come in, you can bet your ass that — notwithstanding global catastrophe — I’ll be there.
From social media:
Hi Freaks,
Well, we all know why weâre here, right?
Believe us when we say weâve held out hope as long as we could — and weâre sorry for the delay in news — but with Germany putting the lock on live shows until Aug. 31, obviously weâll have to postpone Freak Valley until next year.
Hereâs what you need to know quickly:
– FVF will happen June 3-5 2021. – Your 2020 tickets remain valid for the 2021 fest. – If you want/need to get a refund, email tickets@freakvalley.de. This option is valid till September 30 2020.
Every year, we sit down and think about what would make the most amazing heavy festival possible, and then we pour our hearts into making it happen. After 2019, we knew this year was going to blow doors down and we are crushed to not be able to see it do exactly that.
Of course the health of our beloved freaks, our performers, our crews and ourselves — let alone anyone else that any of us might come into contact with — has to come first. So here we are.
Today weâre sad not to be able to bring you Freak Valley Festival 2020.
Tomorrow weâre going to get on making Freak Valley 2021 even better.
Thatâs who we are. Thatâs what we do. And thatâs whatâs going to keep us going until all this madness is over and we can all stand together in front of the stage again.
Please stay well, take care of yourselves, and we promise weâll speak soon.
Posted in Whathaveyou on March 10th, 2020 by JJ Koczan
InnovGene Online Essay Help Writings Chennai provides PhD Dissertation Services for PhD Scolars of Engineering, Management, Computer Scince, Arts and Science Freak Valley 2020 has revealed its official poster art, once again contributed by Custom Essays to Make Your College Life Better. Our high-quality but still page are always at your disposal. Sebastian Jerke who has done the past I-don’t-know-how-many-years. It’s a kind of deer-fox-wolf-dragon-warthog beast that, well, if you look to long at it might just haunt your dreams, but is unquestionably exquisite in its detail and creativity. From the forked tongue to the fact that it’s holding a tattered black flag and the logo of the festival like a trophy it just won for Most Horrifying Thing With Feathers, it’s every bit the hoodie-worthy level of work one has come to expect from Our removing typewriter ink from paper service will not burn a hole in your pocket. But it is not only cheap papers which attract our customers. Apart from them, our cheap writing service and the best experts in their fields offer the most convenient as well as common payment methods, such as a bank card or PayPal. We stay flexible when it comes to prices and often offer discounts and coupons to our loyal clients. Our experts are always glad to offer you the best conditions for comfortable cooperation Jerke, who is no stranger to killing it.
Speaking of killing it — FUCKING It http://www.sanipa.de/?history-dissertation-proposal is not a do my thesis simple statement of fact. This guide gives simple and practical advice higher front dissertation english advanced BEASTWARS ARE PLAYING You need not to be worried at all as our UK Dissertation Writers are there to provide you the Birth Order Essay Conclusion service UK with high quality work FREAK VALLEY. I’m thrilled to say I’ve got my flight booked, and no, I have no clue how to get from the airport in Frankfurt to Siegen, and no, I have no clue where I’m staying when I get there, but hot damn, I’m going to MedEdits' medical school admissions consulting services will help and reputable medical school Essay Writing Service 3 Hours. Freak Valley 2020. Thanks so much to the festival for inviting me. This is a trip that has been years in the making and I could not possibly be more stoked on it, not the least because it means I’ll see Thats how we ensure the highest quality Mla Essay Purchase Mla Essay Purchase! At Scribbr we try to assign your thesis to an editor who is knowledgeable and passionate about your topic. However, our thesis editors are language specialists, not academic experts in your field. What do our customers say? So far, 1,765 students have rated us on the independent review platform Trustpilot. 4.9 . Trustpilot. 1765 Beastwars, whose work I’ve spent the last decade being pummeled by. research methods qualitative http://oreca.regionpaca.fr/?live-homework-help-gwinnetts order system thesis cotton dissertation Elder ain’t bad either. Ha.
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So here you go. If you’re going, I’ll see you there:
Freaks, The Countdown Is On!
Every one of these announcements brings us closer to Freak Valley Festival 2020 and we canât wait to welcome you all. There are some huge names coming to the lineup this time, so letâs get down to business!
Join us in welcoming Elder, Beastwars, Sunnata, The Great Machine, Hank Davison & Friends, and Revvnant!
ELDER
Do they need an introduction? We certainly donât think so. They stand among the next generationâs most crucial and most progressive heavy acts to be found anywhere. With guitarist/vocalist Nick DiSalvo and new drummer Georg Edert based in Berlin, the four-piece are half German at this point, so maybe weâll think of them coming to FVF as something like a hometown show! Why not? Their upcoming album, Omens, is out in April and paints a proggy wonderland of heavy riffs and lush melodies like never before, with DiSalvo and Mike Risbergâs guitars and keys fleshing ever further out and Jack Donovanâs bass holding down the bandâs inimitable groove. They are one-of-a-kind and stand among the upper echelon of modern heavy. There. Howâs that for an introduction?
BEASTWARS
You asked, we answered. Letâs face it, Beastwars coming from New Zealand to play at Freak Valley is a gift weâre giving ourselves as much as weâre presenting them to you. For years, weâve watched and admired from afar as their crushing riffs resonated from Aus/NZ tour after Aus/NZ tour and when the band broke up following 2016âs âThe Death of All Things,â we thought weâd never get the chance to witness them in-person. It was facing mortality that brought them back together for 2019âs âIV,â but their sound was as much a physical sonic force as ever, and their sludge will be even more epic coming from the stage. If you know their albums, you already know why weâre so excited. If not, thereâs still time to get yourself educated.
SUNNATA
Those whoâve paid heed to the weighted prog rock/metal of Polandâs Sunnata — whose style is like a plant grown from roots of grunge that reaches out to the stratosphere — can attest to the sense of poise and presence they bring live. Their studio work is melodic and forward thinking, to be sure, and on stage, the band transform themselves as a part of the ritual of playing. Itâs not just about headbanging or throwing themselves into the songs, itâs about watching their communion with the material as the play, and thus having your own experience with their work. While avoiding all cult rock cliche, they actually bring a ceremonial feel to each performance, and we know youâll agree as we bring them to Freak Valley 2020.
THE GREAT MACHINE
From the raging speed-punk of âBitch Tooâ to the sprawling nod and crash of âDM II,â Israeli three-piece The Great Machine made one hell of an impression with their 2019 album, âGreatestits,â and we knew there was no way we could let 2020 pass without inviting them back to play Freak Valley Festival for the second time. Maybe you caught them in 2017 as they were supporting their âLoveâ album — âSouth West Sugar Rush,â anyone? — but you can still expect something new and off the wall for their return. And anyone else who didnât see them last time? Yeah, youâre in for a treat.
HANK DAVISON & FRIENDS
You Freaks outside of Germany might not be as familiar, but Hank Davison is an institution when it comes to biker blues. From his days leading the Hank Davison Band to his solo acoustic work and more recently finding a middle ground performing unplugged with Hank Davison & Friends, the man himself brings a sense of outlaw country danger and classic blues to everything he does. At the tender age of 63, Davison sets the standard for badassery everywhere he goes, and you know we love our blues here at Freak Valley, so get ready to get down as the âFace of a Wanted Manâ itself comes to our stage for the first time. We promise itâll be something youâll be talking about long after the weekend is over.
REVVNANT
Back in 2018, it was with bittersweet joy that we played host to the final gig from Baltimore-based blues rockers The Flying Eyes, whom we loved dearly. Revvnant is a new project spearheaded by Elias Schutzmann (also of Black Lung) that brings him out from behind the drumkit to front the band based around psychedelic and progressive experimentation, analog synth, washes of effects noise, soulful vocals, the occasional bit of death-whistle and more. Joined by keyboardist Trevor Shipley and Burnpilotâs Sidney Yendis on drums, Revvnant seem poised to blow open the doors of perception, and we canât wait to watch them walk through as they forge their own path forward.
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 27th, 2020 by JJ Koczan
This is a good one, and I’m not just saying that because I wrote the announcement you can read below. If you find a typo, let me know. In any case, Freak Valley 2020 keeps the thread moving with its next batch of lineup adds, getting bigger and better is the way of such things. If all goes according my plans between now and then — sorry, but until I’m there, nothing’s a sure bet; plans change, fests decide I suck, customs agents decide my passport photo looks too much like someone else to let me through (has happened), planes crash, I accidentally get on a train to Switzerland, etc. — this will be my first year at Freak Valley Festival in Siegen, Germany, and the prospect of seeing Stoned Jesus for the first time ever is a big part of that. You think they’ll let me take pics from the stage? What about Elephant Tree? I’ve spend years staring at photos and videos from this fest. I’m only growing more excited at even the potential I’ll experience it for myself.
As I said, I wrote this announcement, and even apart from the two names above, it’s awesome. Pontiak rule and I’ll be more than thrilled to see Supersonic Blues again as they continue to work toward their inevitable debut album. New stuff coming from Daily Thompson too and Psychlona to boot, and yeah, it’s a winner. I can’t wait to get over there.
Here’s the digs for digging, straight from my own Word doc:
Greetings Freaks!
We hope your 2020 is off to an incredible start. While the rest of the universe was on holiday, weâve continued to diligently plug away at bringing you the biggest and best Freak Valley yet this June, and to that end that weâre thrilled to present the next round of lineup adds with six more bands!
Fourteen and a half million (and counting!) YouTube views canât be wrong when it comes to Ukrainian heavy rockers Stoned Jesus, but what we really love about the Kyiv trio is their refusal to compromise their sound or ever stop moving forward. Every record they do is a progressive step in the direction theyâre defining for themselves, and while 2012âs Seven Thunders Roar might be a landmark for so many, we loved 2018âs Pilgrims with its spirit of thoughtful protest and song-construction. Last year they gathered up old demos for release through Napalm Records as From the Outer Space, but itâs whatâs coming next from Stoned Jesus that has us most excited. We canât wait to find out what that is when they join us at Freak Valley 2020!
PONTIAK
If the sheer thought of seeing Pontiak live on the Freak Valley stage doesnât send chills up your spine, go back and listen again to 2017âs Dialectic of Ignorance. Really, do it. The Virginian three-piece of brothers Jennings, Van and Lain Carney bring washes of psychedelic classicism and inimitable presence of harmonies to their aural conversation, and amid welcoming tones and visions of rolling Appalachian foothills, they lace an underlying urgency of expression and tone to cuts like âIgnorance Makes Me Highâ and âWeâve Fucked This Upâ that is unquestionably of this chaotic moment. Freakouts to come, and all the better.
ELEPHANT TREE
As we bring London now-four-piece Elephant Tree to Freak Valley, they stand ready to make their debut on Holy Roar Records with their Habits LP on April 24. They recently unveiled the lead single from their new album — their second overall — in the form of a video for âSails,â and proved once more that thereâs nothing like making a great first impression. The whole record brings progressive and psychedelic edge to the warm tones and welcoming grooves one found on their 2016 self-titled debut, upping the complexity of songwriting, instrumental and vocal melody/harmony, while sacrificing neither song nor impact to do so. We canât wait to hear them play this stuff in-person.
DAILY THOMPSON
Dortmund fuzzbringers are set to finish recording their fourth long-player in early March and theyâve already announced a slew of tour dates to begin almost immediately thereafter. The three-piece harness the unhinged spirit of classic heavy rock without giving in to vintage-style aesthetics, and the result is a now-and-then blend that theyâre able to mess with how they see fit, tapping inspiration from past and present to craft a future vision of heavy rock that, frankly, still has us locked into 2018âs third full-length, Thirsty, even as we look forward to hearing how theyâve continued to progress with the new one. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for new-album news. Hey guys (and gal), got any demos you feel like sharing?
PSYCHLONA
There are a few things everyone can agree on, and we here at Freak Valley like to think riffs and kebabs are right up there with the best life has to offer. Tucked away north of Leeds in Bradford, UK, Psychlona unleashed their debut album, Mojo Rising, through Ripple Music and Cursed Tongue Records in 2018 and had us hooked from the opening roll of âStoneâ onward. With tone and groove likewise meaty, the four-pieceâs up-from-the-depths-of-the-mix vocals added spaciousness to already plenty plus-sized feeling bangers like âDown in the Valleyâ and though theyâre far out from the crowded London scene, theyâre also just plain old far out, and thatâs just fine by us. Weâre happy to introduce our beloved rock freaks to Psychlona at Freak Valley.
SUPERSONIC BLUES
With their sound rooted in the classic style of the heavy â70s, Den Haag three-piece Supersonic Blues bring an unpretentious warmth and electricity to their sound that is infectious. You watch them on stage and know theyâre having a good time too, and so their set becomes more like a party and everyoneâs invited to come in, hang out, enjoy, get crazy or donât, but find their thing and do that thing. Last we heard the trio were mixing their debut full-length follow two ultra-righteous Guy Tavares-recorded two-songer singles/EPs, and if theyâve got new songs, you bet weâll be right there in front as they hit stage at Freak Valley for the first time. Donât sleep on this band.
Posted in Whathaveyou on November 25th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
Long-since sold out, Freak Valley 2020 has made its second lineup announcement, and I know it pretty well because I wrote it. I like putting these things together. I’ve done various other fest writeups for years for different events — Roadburn, Desertfest, Psycho, etc. — but as far as I know, I’m the only one doing Freak Valley Festival lineup announcements, so I kind of feel like I’m responsible in part for creating the voice the fest uses to reach its audience. And since I think the thing is clearly driven by passion and a sense of being fans as well as presenters, I hope these posts convey that. I dig what Freak Valley do, and it will be nothing short of an honor for me to step foot in Siegen and witness it for myself next June.
Here’s the latest:
WITCHCRAFT | PELICAN | CAMERA | THE NEPTUNE POWER FEDERATION | WE HUNT BUFFALO confirmed for Freak Valley Festival 2020
Hails Freaks! Itâs time to get down!
Weâve been looking forward to this announcement since, well, pretty much since the first one, but we think youâll agree things are starting to take shape for Freak Valley Festival 2020.
Before we dive in, we here at FVF want to thank you all so much for the tremendous support and faith youâve shown in us yet again by snagging tickets less than half an hour after they went on sale, so long before the bands are even done being revealed. It means more than we can say to have your trust year after year, and we promise you, we will never take it for granted and stop working to bring you the best and biggest Freak Valley yet!
That said, letâs do this thing. Five bands this time, and like we do, itâs no fillers, all killers:
Witchcraft
From their earliest days defining the course of vintage-style heavy rock and doom to the later modern clarity theyâve found as theyâve followed the increasingly nuanced and progressive path of Magnus Pelanderâs songwriting, Witchcraft come to Freak Valley as utter legends, and not just because they pulled out a record called âLegendâ either. Theyâve left a mark on the underground like few of their generation, and like even fewer, they still hold as much promise for the future as they do glories of the past. In short, Witchcraft are essential. We welcome them to our stage for the first time as fans as well as those working behind the scenes.
Pelican
If Pelican arenât already on your must-see list for Freak Valley 2020 after just seeing the word above, take a second right now to make the addition. The Chicago natives are also first-timers at FVF, and weâre proud to host them as they celebrate their latest LP, âNighttime Stories,â which continues their distinguished progressive arc that has both inspired others in their wake on multiple continents and remained vital, as the record itself proves. This one feels overdue, and we canât wait.
Camera
When we heard Cameraâs 2018 album, âEmotional Detox,â we knew it was only a matter of time before their spacey, krauty, gorgeous melodic psychedelia and progressive rock flourished on the Freak Valley stage. Moving past their ultra-krautrock beginnings to a richer form of prog, their work remains equal parts hypnotic and adventurous, and as it will have been two years since the release by the time they get here, weâre keeping our fingers crossed for some new material as well!
The Neptune Power Federation
It will truly be a valley of the freaks when The Neptune Power Federation come to our humble stage. Weâll be blessed to be in the presence of Screaming Loz Sutch herself as she fronts this Sydney, Australia-based troupe of ultra-weirdo freakout psych rockers. Now signed to Cruz Del Sur Music, theyâll hit Netphen-Deuz in support of 2019âs âMemoirs of a Rat Queen,â and if youâre someone who thinks youâve heard it all, it wonât be half a minute before this album proves how wrong you are. We mean it. Listen to that record. See this band. It is no coincidence that weâre brought them on board.
We Hunt Buffalo
As to what the mighty buffalo ever did to them, we canât say, but We Hunt Buffalo are a trio from Canada whoâll celebrate a decade together in 2020. Their 2018 offering, âHead Smashed In,â was way friendlier than its title made it sound — we promise — their fuzz rock remains second to none from the Great White North, as theyâre more than happy to demonstrate to anyone fortunate enough to stand in front of the stage to see them. Guess what? We think that should include you. Expect a party with your new best B.C. buds when these Vancouver riffoliths bring their game to Freak Valley.
Posted in Whathaveyou on October 17th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
All I know is this: 2020 is my year for Freak Valley. I’ve been invited for years. In 2020 I’m going. And further, I’m saying it now. Normally I don’t commit really to anything that involves even a modicum of traveling until after all the plans are locked in and I’ve checked in at the airport, but Jens Heide at the fest passed along the invite once again, as he’s patiently done for a while now, and unless a piano falls on my head between now and then or my flight to Siegen crashes into the Atlantic, I’m gonna be there. Hell or high water, as it were.
I wrote the lineup announcement below, as I’ve done for the fest for a couple years now, and happily. It’s a great first round showing international reach and a range of styles, but of course look out for much more still to come. Freak Valley over the last few editions has begun to branch out in some fascinating ways, and I’d expect that to continue while also retaining its heavy core.
I can’t wait to get over there for it.
Freaks, the time is nigh!
Did you miss us? We missed you. Tickets go on sale TOMORROW (10/18) for Freak Valley 2020 and we couldn’t be more excited to bring you the first lineup announcement for next year’s fest! Get your calendar marked for 11-13 June and remember this is just the beginning and over the next couple months we’ll have so much more to come in terms of bands and other happenings for you. 2019 was our best year yet and we’re looking forward to topping it once again!
Tickets are officially on sale at our Freak Sabbath Vol.5 // Freak Valley Ticket Sale Kick Off, with Church of Misery and many more, but it’s time to dig into the first bands for Freak Valley Festival 2020 and we think you’ll agree it’s a great way to start.
FU MANCHU (30th Anniversary)
30 years of the Fu! Fuzz legends and heavy rock mainstays Fu Manchu are one of the most influential riff purveyors of all time. From the original stoner rock era in the ’90s through their modern takes on punk and spacey groove, Fu Manchu are, simply put, one of the most essential live bands you’ll ever see. They’ll mark three full decades of rock in 2020, and bringing them to Freak Valley was an absolute must. Of course we’re all huge fans and to have them on our stage is an honor no matter what the occasion, but this one is even more special considering their celebration. Happy birthday, Fu Manchu! Welcome to Freak Valley!
SLOMATICS
It was something of a tragedy in 2019 when our plan to bring Northern Ireland’s Slomatics over to play was cut short because of airline difficulties. That’s no way to go. We knew immediately we’d invite them back for 2020 and try it again and we’re glad to report that the band is on board as well. They’ll still be supporting their 2019 album, ‘Canyons,’ but where it was going to be brand new when they played this year, we’ve all had a little time to digest the massive riffs and wide-sprawling vibes that make their sound so distinctive. 2020 is the year! We can’t wait to finally see this band.
ENDLESS BOOGIE
There’s nothing better than a band with the perfect name, and New York-based mellow jammers Endless Boogie most certainly have that. The band are masters of hypnotic and class-style jams brought to life not with a wash of effects, but through sheer repetition and builds that are subtle in their dynamic but seem able to cover an infinity of ground that goes however far they choose at any given moment. Even among heavy and psychedelic rock, there’s nothing quite like them in terms of the character they bring to how they play. With onstage charisma, periodic improv vocals, and righteous jams, they’ll come to Freak Valley 2020 as one of our most anticipated acts.
MONOMYTH
From Den Haag in The Netherlands, Monomyth are a beacon of heavy progadelic instrumentalism. Their latest opus is ‘Orbis Quadrantis’ on Suburban Records, and its lush melodies and exploratory vibe carry the listener across its span with all the grace of masters of the form. They’ve been kicking around Europe and the festival scene for the last six years since their self-titled debut came out, and it feels only overdue to have them at Freak Valley as part of our 2020 lineup. Just look for the sea of nodding heads in front of the stage and you’ll know you’re in the right place. They are one not to miss.
TEMPLE FANG
Space, as ever, is the place, and Amsterdam’s Temple Fang are sure to take us there as they come to Freak Valley for the first of what we hope will be many happy returns. With former members of Death Alley and the vastly underrated MĂźhr, Temple Fang set out on a new voyage of their own last year, and while we anxiously await a debut release, the chance to bring them to Siegen to play was too good to pass up. Maybe you’ve heard them yet and maybe you haven’t, but trust us when we tell you that these guys are up to something special and this is a band you want to see or you’ll regret it later. We promise.
Many more to come!
Tickets will be available at these booking offices by Monday morning Oct 21st: Die Tintenpatrone & Siegener Zeitung
Online Tickets (print at home and Hardtickets) will be available Wednesday Oct 23rd 6pm cet
Ticketprice will be âŹ95 for all 3 dayz incl. camping. Camping will be possible from Wednesday June 10th next year!
The next installment of Freak Valley Festival will be held June 11-13, 2020, and I’m telling you right now, I want to be there. It’s held in Siegen, Germany, and as I’ve been writing lineup announcements for the fest over the last two years or so, I’ve been embarrassed to be invited and unable to make it. This year, Freak Valley was held not only the same weekend as Maryland Doom Fest in the US — where I was — but also as Hellfest in France, and probably six or seven other festivals throughout Europe I can’t think of off the top of my head. Was Copenhell this past weekend too? Yup.
Jesus.
This year, Freak Valley announced — I didn’t write it — they were teaming up with the iconic German concert-video institution Rockpalast to live stream the event as it happened, and the results were staggering. I sat in the early part of the day with my jaw hanging open and watched Monolord absolutely devastate the huge crowd assembled before them, the level of production and the job capturing it — audio and video — absolutely gorgeous. King Buffalo put on an incredible show. Electric Moon! So much awesome, so little time.
The only bummer was Slomatics having to cancel, but they’ve reportedly already been invited for 2020, so at least that’s something to look forward to, but the videos of the sets that came together and were streamed are awesome and still available for your perusal. Some aren’t up on YouTube yet, so I’m including the streams direct as they appeared on Thee Facebooks when they were live. I started out with five of them and then saw the Spaceslug one and had to add them as the sixth. Of course there’s also YOB, New Zealand’s Arc of Ascent and the aforementioned Monolord, Electric Moon and King Buffalo. I figure six-plus hours of live material should probably be enough to keep you occupied for a while. It’s certainly been doing right by me.
Posted in Whathaveyou on April 17th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
I’ll just go ahead and answer a question no one asked by saying that, yes, I was thinking of Arrested Development when I wrote the opening line of the announcement below with “MONSTER” in all-caps. Like Buster Bluth with his hook raised. But I mean, who could argue, anyway. Looking at the final lineup for Freak Valley 2019, long since sold out, it is indeed beastly. Even the final splurge of additions below, with Valley of the Sun, Tuber, Outsideinside, Great Electric Quest, A Place to Bury Strangers, Lacertilia, High Fighter and John Fairhurst Band shows the festival branching out in terms of style and geography, and there’s really no stopping it. Biggest Freak Valley yet? Yeah, I think maybe it is. They’ve had some righteous lineups in the past, but it’s hard to mess with Corrosion of Conformity playing Deliverance or the kind of reach that pulls in Arc of Ascent from New Zealand. For them and Spaceslug alone, this thing is masterful. If you go, well, good call.
It’s been a pleasure to help the fest in the small way I have by writing these lineup announcements over the last however long. Here’s the final one:
+++ A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS | TUBER | VALLEY OF THE SUN | JOHN FAIRHURST BAND | OUTSIDEINSIDE | GREAT ELECTRIC QUEST | LACERTILIA | HIGH FIGHTER +++
Freaks!
This is it — the last lineup announcement for FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL 2019, and itâs a MONSTER.
In grand finale fashion, weâre doing an absolute blowout to finish out the three-day lineup for this yearâs fest, and weâre continuing to add more and diverse acts from across a broad spectrum of heavy so you can, you know, broaden your horizons while you expand your consciousness.
So keep eyes, ears and mind open as we welcome A Place To Bury Strangers, Tuber, Valley of the Sun, John Fairhurst Band, Outsideinside, Great Electric Quest, Lacertilia and High Fighter to Freak Valley 2019!
A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS Chaos holds a strong sway in the aesthetic of Brooklynâs A Place to Bury Strangers, but out of that chaos has derived some of todayâs most essential post-space experimentalism. With over 15 years of tenure under their belt in one form or another, theyâve remained relentlessly committed to a forward-thinking, deeply affecting approach, and theyâll come to FREAK VALLEY with an intent to own the stage as only they can. Weâll just say it in advance: Youâre welcome.
TUBER The Greek four-piece Tuber made a definitive statement in 2017 with their second album, âOut of the Blue.â It was a record that took Krautrock and heavy vibes and keyboard-based nuance to a new level for the band and the ultra-populated, much-loved Greek scene from which theyâve emerged. Since their 2012 self-titled EP and the follow-up 2013 long-player, âDesert Overcrowded,â theyâve been geared toward doing their own thing, and we canât wait to bear witness to their doing exactly that.
VALLEY OF THE SUN Yes! You may or may not know it yet, but Valley of the Sun are about to release one of the best albums of 2019. Itâs called âOld Godsâ and itâs the perfect occasion to have the Ohio band over to play. As they approach a decade since their first release, they take their melodic, catchy, and heavy desert-style rock to a new level entirely and stand tall like the statesmen theyâve always been ready to be. If you thought you knew them, prepare to be surprised.
JOHN FAIRHURST BAND Got the blues? Want some? John Fairhurst is nothing short of an electric blues master and a troubadour for our tumultuous times. His latest work — released April 12 — is âThe Divided Kingdom,â and for the UK-based guitarist probably not much more needs to be said about the meaning behind the title. His modern perspective brings a much-needed edge to a classic blues style, and no doubt weâll all be dancing the merry dance when he comes to FREAK VALLEY.
OUTSIDEINSIDE Born out of the ashes of Carousel, the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based rockers Outsideinside — who are named for THE BEST Blue Cheer record; thatâs right, we said it — made their debut with 2017âs âSniff a Hot Rock,â a shred-laced paradise of â70s-style soul boogie. Theyâve been quiet since last Fall, but theyâll come roaring back to Europe to join our festivities and we know their warm vibes will turn heads when they hit the stage.
GREAT ELECTRIC QUEST The seekers of the flame themselves are coming to FREAK VALLEY! The legend of Great Electric Quest has spread far and wide and now weâll get the real deal right in our faces. The San Diego heavy rockers arenât shy about their classic metal leanings or anything else, and whether theyâre climbing on the amps or waving their banner, literally, their brash, all-out performance will be one youâll be talking about when the weekend is done. Get ready for true madness.
LACERTILIA Genre-spanning UK progressive, heavy, psychedelic, space, whatever-you-got rockers Lacertilia have a new album in progress right now. Theyâre done recording and were mixing last time we checked, so letâs say FREAK VALLEYâs their deadline. Get it done, gentlemen! Whether itâs on-hand or not for the fest, weâll be glad to see them doing new material after their debut album, âWeâre Already Inside Your Mind,â so thoroughly kicked our asses in 2016.
HIGH FIGHTER Speaking of new albums, High Fighter are in the midst of making their second full-length, taking their metallic sludgecore to new places with a fresh batch of songs to answer the accomplishments of 2016âs âScars and Crosses.â Theyâve been pretty secretive on what the new record sounds like, but we know already theyâll deliver something special, so while we all wait for the release date to be announced, get ready for one of the most aggressive sets youâll see all year.
Posted in Whathaveyou on February 15th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
Once again, Freak Valley 2019 adds a righteous swath of bands to its lineup for this June, and once again, I had the pleasure of writing the announcement. It’s shaping up to be a huge bill, and from YOB and C.O.C. marking 25 years of Deliverance to Slomatics heralding their next release and It’s Not Night: It’s Space making an awaited European debut, it’s a wide swath of heavy from Europe and the US and to be frank, it looks pretty unbelievable. Imagine seeing Spaceslug and King Buffalo on the same lineup. Woof. Or Arc of Ascent and Electric Moon? The heart breaks at the thought.
I’d go on about the bands added this time — what with the Monolord and the God is an Astronaut and the Stonefield and whatnot — but again, I wrote the announcement below, so I’ve kind of already done that. To do so again feels a little redundant.
Freak Valley posted word thusly:
FREAK VALLEY 2019 – GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT | MONOLORD | KING BUFFALO | STONEFIELD | DUEL | PRETTY LIGHTNING
Freaks, Assemble!
Gather âround the fires burning the dystopian fuel of your bygone expectations bear witness to another massive Freak Valley Festival 2019 lineup announcement! It. Is. Substantial. And we are accordingly substantially thrilled to bring to it to you.
First, it is with regret we inform you that Harsh Toke wonât be joining us this year. These things happen. However, the party must go on, so join us as we welcome God Is An Astronaut, Monolord, King Buffalo, Stonefield, DUEL, and Pretty Lightning to FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL 2019!
You know who these bands are, but just for fun, letâs go through, shall we?
GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT
More than 15 years on from getting their start, Irish instrumentalists God is an Astronaut seamlessly blend heavy post-rock and psychedelic soundscapes to an evocative degree that is all their own. In 2018, the band released âEpitaph,â which was somewhat ironically titled given the vital spirit of its creativity but nonetheless carried a melancholic feel, wistful even in its most colorful moments. This is a band we love and we know that theyâre going to be something truly special for Freak Valley 2019. We canât tell you enough: Donât miss them.
MONOLORD
Swedenâs reigning kingpins of tectonic riffery come to FVF on the heels of âRust,â their third and most expansive offering to-date. Itâs hard to believe it was only six years ago they made their debut, but in the time since, theyâve toured relentlessly across Europe and the US and have left nothing but destruction in their wake. As their influence begins to spread, Monolord only continue to look forward, and while they prepare to move on to next work, theyâll bring their inimitable groove to once more affirm the righteousness of their riff worship.
KING BUFFALO
Working with producer Ben McLeod from All Them Witches, last year King Buffalo released their second album, âLonging to Be the Mountain,â and indeed, they became it. They may hail from the cold reaches of upstate New York, but King Buffaloâs sound is warm and inviting and made all the more distinct by a level of craft that is their own. Their songs are spacious and tripped out with chemistry-driven jams, but they never seem to get lost either. At least not more than they want to. Weâre happy their path will lead them to Freak Valley this year.
STONEFIELD
The Findlay Family Band comes to Netphen! Melbourneâs Stonefield is comprised of sisters Amy, Sarah, Holly and Hannah Findlay, and their take on classic psychedelia is peppered with right-on fuzz, a penchant for memorable melody, and just a bit of synthy weirdness that made their 2018 album, âFar From Earth,â as dance-ready as it was nod-out. Get blissed as Stonefield come to Freak Valley for the first time and change all our heads in the process. Canât wait. Also, no one really calls them the âFindlay Family Band,â so donât do that.
DUEL
Duel have been doing their bit to âKeep Austin Weirdâ — as the bumper stickers say — for the better part of the last half-decade, putting out their debut âFears of the Deadâ in 2016 and following it up with âWitchbangerâ the last year. Theyâve put their noses to the tablesaw of touring ever since and we gladly open our doors, arms and hearts to welcome their acid-laced boogie intensity to Freak Valley. And their records are killer, no doubt about it, but live they absolutely bring it to another level. Youâll be buying a t-shirt, make no mistake.
PRETTY LIGHTNING
Far be it from us to tell you how to live your life or anything, but if you havenât go hit up Bandcamp at some point today and take a listen to Pretty Lightningâs âThe Rhythm of Ooze.â The SaarbrĂźcken duo released the LP in 2017 and used it to envision a psych-honed Delta blues vibe as much of the earth as it was stretched out on some cosmic ether. Soul music for those bound for the center of the galaxy. And once you take the time to listen, we wonât need to tell you to see them at Freak Valley. Youâll just know itâs where you have to be.
Line-up 2019: Wolfmother, Corrosion Of Conformity, Brant Bjork, Yob, God Is An Astronaut, The Obsessed Official, Monolord, The Vintage Caravan, Electric Moon, King Buffalo, Minami Deutsch, Pristine, Stonefield, It’s Not Night: It’s Space, Spaceslug, Arc of Ascent, DUEL, The Fierce & The Dead, Pretty Lightning, Dead Lord
Freak Valley Festival 2019 // No Fillers – Just Killers