You can see in the lineup for Rocky Mountain Riff Fest 2024 that the festival, which is set for April 20 in Kalispell, Montana, is expanding its reach. Yes, Wizzerd, Sorcia, Merlock, The Gray Goo and Spliffripper have played before — The Old Ones played Erosion Festival in 2016; I remember thinking that looked awesome and it did — but returning parties are accompanied by newcomers like Lord Velvet, Chokesetter and Hot Milk and the Flower Pallets, who play the pre-show, and I think they’ll have two stages going and Mos Generator are popping eastward from their home in Port Orchard, Washington, which is probably like a 40-hour drive or something, to headline. I’d go to this in a second, man. That’s a good way to spend a day, and you’re in Kalispell, which looks gorgeous.

The full lineup was announced on social media — I know, crazy, right? — and notes a venue change that looks like it’ll actually be pretty cool having it all in one place. Dig:

FULL LINEUP HAS ARRIVED!

We’re excited to reveal the lineup for #rmrf2024! We are welcoming back some heavy hitters, and introducing some bands to the Flathead valley for the first time.

-MOS GENERATOR-
-SORCIA-
-LORD VELVET-
-MERLOCK-
-CHOKESETTER-
-WIZZERD-
-GREASE CULT-
-THE GRAY GOO-
-THE OLD ONES-
-SURFBAT-
-SCHTICKY-
-SPLIFFRIPPER-
-FREE DRUGS-
-HOT MILK AND THE FLOWER PALLETS-

In years past, Riff Fest has been a block party between the legendary @oldschoolrecords134 and the Eagles in downtown Kalispell. Facing the closure of the 1st Street location of OSR, we are now taking over two levels of the Eagles! It’s going to be a party in the whole building, with our traditional free pre-party at the Glacier Park VFW.

We are also proud to bring on some local sponsors who are stoked to help bring some killer music to the valley!

-ALTITUDE-
-WHEATON’S-
-BIAS BREWING-

Spread the word, and see everybody in April!
🏔🤘🏔

Artwork by @isaacpasswaterillustration

Sorcia, Lost Season (2023)

A two-stage all-dayer with a killer pre-party the night before, Rocky Mountain Riff Fest 2022 looks like a gem. I know nothing about the Flathead Valley in Montana, or historic downtown Kalispell, where the event will take place, but they’ve put together a cool lineup with the likes of Mountain Tamer and Kadabra on board, and while I might not know all that much about Ncroflchr (from parts unknown) or Schticky, homegrown Montana acts like Swamp Ritual, Spliffripper and Wizzerd, along with Witch Bitch, ThroneStower and The Gray Goo, who’ll also play, speak to a burgeoning scene, and with LáGoon coming east from Oregon and Merlock doing the same from Washington, cutting across Idaho while Throne of Iron head north from Indiana, the fest is using its geography smartly to pull from the different regions surrounding. There’s a lot to dig here, and I bet the show(s) will be a good time.

I bet you go to this, you leave with new friends. If you’re traveling for it, I mean. This seems like the kind of thing where there’s going to be a bunch of people who already know each other, but I bet if you were to show up and be like, “Hi, I think your bands are cool,” you’d probably end up feeling like family by the end of the day. Sounds pretty nice, if you ask me. Also heavy. It’s a 37-hour drive for me, so I don’t think I’ll get there, but they make the prospect enticing.

Here’s the lineup, as per social media:

Rocky Mountain Riff Fest 2022

Rocky Mountain Riff Fest Returns!!

Our 2022 lineup! Stoked to have so many friends joining us this year. The party goes down April 22 and 23 – see everybody there!

LINEUP:
Main day 4/23:
Mountain Tamer (CA)
Throne of Iron (IN)
LáGoon (OR)
Merlock (WA)
Wizzerd (MT)
Witch Bitch (MT)
ThroneStower (MT)
The Gray Goo (MT)
Schticky (MT)
Ncroflchr (???)

Eagles 234 and Old School Records – $20 for all day

Preparty 4/22:
Kadabra (WA)
Swamp Ritual (MT)
Spliffripper (MT)

Glacier Park VFW Post 2252 – 10pm – 21+ –

Heavy Riffs and good times in the mountains of the Flathead Valley, Montana.

https://www.facebook.com/events/517002376483902/
https://www.facebook.com/blackmagickbooking

Mountain Tamer, “Living in Vain Pt. II” from ‘Live in the Mojave Desert’

You wanna know how much of a stoner I’m not? I tried to look up what a ‘bing’ is without realizing that the band is just screwing around and using ‘bing’ as opposed to ‘bong.’ No bings, just bongs. Get it?

Desert Records has signed on to enable Spliffripper, these Montana-based, reefer-minded miscreants, whose sludgy “Left is Law” you can stream premiering at the bottom of this post. The three-piece will issue their basement-recorded (one assumes if the basement wasn’t dank when they got there it was by the time they left) self-titled full-length debut through the noted imprint on March 26. Their mission is shouty sludge with due crust and no pretense about the various influences sonic and otherwise under which they’re working. You’ll note in the tracklisting below that the album closes with “Jazz Cabbage,” and that happens to be my particular favorite euphemism for weed.

Wonder how these dudes feel about edibles.

Either way, their anti-marijuana “weed kills” stance is a riot, and brings a very specific kind of charm. I haven’t heard it yet, but I’m sure “Funeral Bong” is a good time.

The PR wire has this:

Spliffripper – Desert Records

!!ATTENTION ALL POT-SMOKING, DRUG-ADDLED, HIPPY-TRIPPING DEGENERATES!!!

Preorder: https://spliffripper.bandcamp.com/album/spliffripper

The anti-stoner reefer-enforcement squadron has arrived: SPLIFFRIPPER!!!

Assault your earholes with our message of the true dangers of the illegal narcotic: MARIJUANA!!!

Prepare your feeble, hazed-out minds for a sonic assault of sludgy death, cultic tone worship, and cannabis-fueled rage, with riffs so nasty, you’ll drink the bongwater!

Songs of overdose, addiction, loss, and insanity that are a direct result of this dangerous chemical substance!

Your skull will cave in from the sheer power of our propaganda, and you will immediately relinquish all hazardous or unlawful substances, which shall be placed in our possession henceforth!

!!!WE ARE COMING FOR YOUR WEED. YOUR GRASS SHALL BE OURS!!!

“Spliffripper is the living embodiment of propaganda, spewing forth the inane truths of the dangers of cannabis. Rage-fueled, hate-inducing riffs are bound to turn you into a murderous reefer fiend.”

“No bings
No bubblers
No bullshit
BONGS ONLY
*spliffs and jays are A-okay*”

Tracklisting:
1. Bongbreaker
2. Left is Law
3. Vietbong
4. Chief Kief
5. Maui Waui
6. Funeral Bong
7. Jazz Cabbage

Members:
Granddaddy Purple – Riffweaver/Exhaler
Sgt. Stoned – Doomstick
Smokey “Bong” McBongwater – Primitive Skin Slapper

https://www.facebook.com/spliffripper/
https://spliffripper.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/desertrecordslabel/
https://desertrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://desertrecords.bigcartel.com/