A few different tours coming together here, right? Stoned Jesus, Greenleaf and Somali Yacht Club on the road together. Elder, Pallbearer and Irist. Hippie Death Cult out there on their own now that their would’ve-been-tourmates High Reeper dropped off. Naxatras making the rounds. Sasquatch doing like they do on a stretch with Orange Goblin before continuing a longer European run (you should always stretch first; ain’t nobody getting younger). Electric Citizen out with Fu Manchu. All of this is organized, mapped out ahead of time, and a lot of it is starting this weekend at Up in Smoke 2022 in Pratteln, Switzerland, as though to save you the time, money and effort necessary to hit up all these individual tours, which may or may not be routed everywhere to start with.

You can see the final lineup below with Fu Manchu, Orange Goblin and Elder getting top billing, and as the first of Sound of Liberation‘s Fall festivals in Europe — Keep it Low in Munich and Desertfest Belgium will follow in the coming weeks, and there’s a bunch of others besides — Up in Smoke is distinguished by vibe even more than timing. I’ve always been curious what it would feel like to sleep in the venue after a show. Indoor camping. Are there showers? Could be a pretty smelly affair by the third day; Up in Stink Lines, if you will. But more about the mindset. Are you so locked into the experience at that point that you wake up, find breakfast and are ready to roll as a part of the thing? I’m not sure I’d ever actually be brave enough to do it — not exactly the camping type in any context — but it could be interesting. Sound of Liberation has also posted the time-table, if you’d like to know more about what time to wake up.

The lineup below is final final final, and the day splits make it look like one hell of a festival. If you’re going to be there, I hope it’s a blast. I’d love to hear about it:

UP IN SMOKE 2022 – DAY SPLIT & DAY TICKETS – UP IN SMOKE FESTIVAL Z7 Pratteln 2022

Hey Friends,

we are getting closer and closer!

Check out the festival line up day split below!

Day Tickets are available from now on!

(#127915#)Day Tickets & 3 Day Passes:
www.sol-tickets.com

(#127915#)Day Tickets & 3 Day Passes with sleep over possibility in the venue:
www.z-7.ch

Friday, September 30th:

Fu Manchu
monkey3
Mother Engine
Temple Fang
Electric Citizen
ECHOLOT

Saturday, October 1st:

Orange Goblin
Elder
Sasquatch
Slomosa
Pallbearer
Irist
CARSON
Midnight Deadbeats

Sunday, October 2nd:

Stoned Jesus
Mars Red Sky
Greenleaf
Naxatras
Somali Yacht Club
HALF Gramme of SOMA
Hippie Death Cult

Cheers,
Your SOL-Crew

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https://www.upinsmoke.de

Orange Goblin, Live at Hellfest 2022

True, most of the lineup for Up in Smoke 2022 — set for Sept. 30 through Oct. 2 in, as ever, Pratteln, Switzerland — was previously announced, and some of it goes back to what the fest would’ve been in 2020, but I’ve got two reasons for posting it now. First, it’s a new announcement and the festival’s social media has fallen into some kind of digital chasm I don’t and couldn’t hope to understand, and second, that lineup is perfect.

Seriously, they say there are more bands coming. Don’t on my account. This’ll be just fine. There was one band on this poster with whom I was not immediately familiar by name, and that was Midnight Deadbeats, who released their debut album, Moonshine Carnival, in late 2020 on Sixteentimes Music. You can stream it below. To me it sounds like earliest Dozer and if you think I’m about to complain about that you’re out of your mind. And everybody that surrounds on this bill is someone I’d like to see, whether I’ve seen them before or not. Fu Manchu and Slomosa. Irist and Orange Goblin. Naxatras and Echolot. Stoned Jesus and Sasquatch and Mars Red Sky and The Heavy Eyes. Greenleaf. Somali Yacht Club, High Reeper and Hippie Death Cult. Fucking a.

I won’t get there — these Fall fests are perennially out of my reach — but god damn what a show this weekend will be. Sound of Liberation is handling the promotion and that’s where to go for social media at this point. They just made the announcement that follows:

UP IN SMOKE FESTIVAL: LINE-UP ANNOUNCEMENT

Hey friends,

Today we’re absolutely stoked to present you the majority of bands for our beloved Up In Smoke Festival!

Get ready for three days of heavy psychedelic, stoner rock and doom at the Z7 Fabrik in Pratteln, Switzerland!

Already (re-)confirmed for 2022:

FU MANCHU – ORANGE GOBLIN – ELDER – STONED JESUS – PALLBEARER – GREENLEAF – SASQUATCH – NAXATRAS – MARS RED SKY – SOMALI YACHT CLUB – ELECTRIC CITIZEN – SLOMOSA – MOTHER ENGINE – IRIST – HIPPIE DEATH CULT – HIGH REEPER – THE HEAVY EYES – CARSON – ECHOLOT – MIDNIGHT DEADBEATS

More bands to be announced!

Tickets: https://www.sol-tickets.com

Tickets + 3 Day Sleepover Ticket: http://www.z-7.ch

FB & Insta: @soundofliberation

Cheers,

Your SOL-Crew

https://www.facebook.com/events/598002655273695/
https://www.facebook.com/Soundofliberation/
https://www.instagram.com/soundofliberation/
https://www.sol-tickets.com/
http://www.z-7.ch/
https://www.upinsmoke.de

Midnight Deadbeats, Moonshine Carnival (2020)

Fu Manchu, Live at Freak Valley Festival 2022

Well, we knew Elder and Pallbearer were going to be on tour this Fall, and we knew the same of Truckfighters and Greenleaf. Doesn’t seem unreasonable Fu Manchu and Electric Citizen might keep company on the road in Europe, but of course I don’t know that. Either way, the former was slated to play in 2020 for their 30th anniversary, so it’s nice to think that delayed party will go ahead, and having Naxatras, Irist and Echolot rounding out the first lineup announcement certainly does nothing to hurt Up in Smoke.

There will be more adds, of course. With Keep it Low in Munich and the now-two Desertfest Belgiums in Antwerp and Ghent, Into the Void 2022 in the Netherlands a week after this, and sundry other festivals taking place this Fall, it will be packed (hopefully) and those bands on tour — listed here and otherwise, like Hippie Death Cult, High Reeper, Mothership, and Sasquatch from the US, who’ll all be in Europe for at least part of the season — will have plenty of stops to anchor their runs. It’s a good system. Nice to see it back.

Up in Smoke‘s Spring counterpart, A Day in Smoke, took place in Pratteln this past weekend, and the fest-proper — helmed by Sound of Liberation — had this to say:

UP IN SMOKE 2022 // ARTWORK & FIRST BANDS

Right in time for our single day event ~ A Day In Smoke Festival ~ in Pratteln TOMORROW, we are super happy to share with you the artwork and first bands for its big sibling end of this year:

UP IN SMOKE FESTIVAL
30. September – 02. October 2022
@ Konzertfabrik Z7 – Pratteln

ALREADY CONFIRMED
Fu Manchu, Truckfighters, Elder, Pallbearer, Greenleaf, Naxatras, Electric Citizen, Irist, ECHOLOT

TICKETS
Available on side at our A Day In Smoke Festival tomorrow
E-Tickets available at www-sol-tickets.com

Killer artwork by Brookesia Estudio

Mark your calendars, get your tickets and hopefully see you all tomorrow already!

Cheers,
Your Up In Smoke Crew

https://www.sol-tickets.com/
http://www.z-7.ch/
https://www.facebook.com/UpInSmokeIndoorFestivalInZ7/
https://www.facebook.com/events/545324436300685/
https://www.upinsmoke.de

Fu Manchu, “My Wave”

Fu Manchu are in the studio now and I think they said on Instagram they’re eyeing a May release for their next album, which would rule and would arrive in timely fashion as they celebrate their 30th anniversary all year on the road. They joined the Up in Smoke 2020 lineup at the end of last week along with Mars Red Sky, Pallbearer, The Heavy Eyes — still waiting for the full tour to be announced — Sons of Morpheus and Mother Engine.

It’s a pretty efficient bundle if what you’re looking for is ‘awesome,’ and I think probably it is. It seems early for the Fall fest season to start taking shape, but it always does when it happens around now, so points for consistency at very least, and Sound of Liberation, which is behind this fest as well as Keep it Low and has a hand in several others along the way — Desertfest in Berlin, Antwerp and New York, and so on — rarely leaves this kind of thing to chance. Pro-shop and all that.

The latest announcement is below. I’m late with it but I’m late with everything. I’m a pitiful old man, give me a break.

Have at it:

FU MANCHU + 5 MORE BANDS JOIN UP IN SMOKE LINE UP

Grab your tickets here: bit.ly/UpInSmoke_2020

Smokers, we’ve been eager to share some line up news with you and we could for sure do it slowly and patiently, announcing one band after another… but you know what? It’s Friday, so take them all!!

Californian legends Fu Manchu are celebrating their 30th anniversary and we’re super stoked they’ll celebrate it with us!

They’ll make your neck hurt alongside mighty US doomsters Pallbearer, French’s unique psych-doom wizards Mars Red Sky, groove masters The Heavy Eyes, also from the USA, German Instrumental wonder Mother Engine and beloved Swiss psychedelic trio Sons of Morpheus !

We’re super proud and excited to welcome those amazing acts on board! Can’t wait, see ya there!

??Up In Smoke takes place at Konzertfabrik Z7 – Pratteln in Pratteln on 2-3-4 October 2020.

https://www.sol-tickets.com/
http://www.z-7.ch/
https://www.facebook.com/UpInSmokeIndoorFestivalInZ7/
https://www.facebook.com/events/545324436300685/
https://www.upinsmoke.de

Fu Manchu, “Il Mostro Atomico” live at Stoned & Dusted 2019

The festival artwork hasn’t even been posted yet, as evidenced by the letters-floating-on-black placeholder above, but the eighth Up in Smoke Festival set for Oct. 2 and 3, 2020, in Pratteln, Switzerland, has already unveiled its first three confirmations. The announcement sneaked out just before the holiday, but it’s already bringing together a couple native Swiss acts with a killer band from beyond the borders. That latter is Somali Yacht Club, and they’re joined by Unhold and Echolot on the Sound of Liberation-presented bill.

Of course, this is the time of year when rampant speculation about new releases is most fun, so I’m wondering if Somali Yacht Club might be touring Europe in Fall to herald a follow-up to early 2018’s The Sea (review here), but it was four years between their debut and that sophomore outing, so that would be cutting that time-split significantly. We’ll see. They’re a cool band either way and bring an atmospheric edge to their heavy that makes an encouraging leadoff to Up in Smoke 2020’s first announcement.

Which, as it happens, follows here:

SOMALI YACHT CLUB, UNHOLD & ECHOLOT are the first names for Up in Smoke 2020

Early bird ticket sale ends on Monday noon, you can get them here: https://www.sol-tickets.com

We are stoked to welcome Somali Yacht Club from Lviv, Ukraine. The band creates their very very own sound by mixing psych and stoner with elements of shoegazing and post-metal in their music.

The Swiss formation Unhold has been an active band for over 25 years, fusing together a unique mix of sludge, doom, post metal and noise rock. We are happy to finally welcome the extreme and hard hitting institution at UP in SMOKE festival at Z7.

ECHOLOT from Basel City are delivering an ocean of sound, fresh and psychedelic jams that drive you from the depths of doom into cosmic lightness.

We are back in January with the next band announcement, the artwork, festival passes, sleepover Tickets and additional info.

We wish you all some merry X mas days and a happy new year!!!

Your UIS Team

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http://www.z-7.ch/
https://www.facebook.com/UpInSmokeIndoorFestivalInZ7/
https://www.facebook.com/events/545324436300685/
https://www.upinsmoke.de

Somali Yacht Club, The Sea (2018)

You can call me crazy if you want, but I’m kind of still hoping that one of these days I’m going to load up my shitty webmail interface and there’s gonna be a note there that says there’s a new Colour Haze album done and it’ll be released probably in like two weeks from whenever the email arrived. I’d like it to be out before the end of the year, because as far as I’m concerned, the best album of 2019 is still well up for grabs, but it’s already September, so maybe that’s a fool’s line of thinking. Plus, I’m just always kind of hoping to open my email and find news of a new album from Colour Haze. Why the hell wouldn’t I be?

Of course, In Her Garden (review here) is only two years old, so it’s not like they’re overdue for a release or anything, but it’s the 25th anniversary of the band and they might want to take advantage of the occasion. On the other hand, they’ve been doing so by playing live throughout the year and they’ll continue this Fall as they play fests like Up in Smoke in Switzerland, for which they’ve newly been confirmed. This is the same week they headline at Høstsabbat in Oslo, Norway, so it may be that they’ll add more dates — have they been confirmed for Keep it Low yet? one would expect that given it’s their hometown of Munich and they always seem to play — or this might be it as, maybe, just maybe, they finish up the record to come.

Or so one hopes.

Here’s Up in Smoke‘s announcement:

COLOUR HAZE confirmed for Up in Smoke Festival

What awesome news to start the week, brothers & sisters !!! The german heavy psych institution surely doesn´t need an introduction anymore.

We all know their excellent songwriting skills and unbelievable live performance. Colour Haze are celebrating their 25 years anniversary and we can expect a unique show from one of the most outstanding bands of the genre.

Only one month left so join the madness and get your tickets: https://www.sol-tickets.com/produkte/36-tickets-up-in-smoke-konzertfabrik-z7-pratteln-am-03-10-2019

http://www.z-7.ch/event.php?eventid=1665
https://www.facebook.com/UpInSmokeIndoorFestivalInZ7/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1811016498954043/
https://www.upinsmoke.de

Colour Haze, In Her Garden (2017)

Sometimes these Euro fest announcements just feel like bragging. Like, “Oh yeah? Think you’re so great ‘cuz you got Nebula and Lowrider and Truckfighters and Amenra and The Obsessed and Lo-Pan and… well shit, I guess that is pretty great.” Kudos to Up in Smoke 2019 on what is thus far a standout bill even among its shared aspects with the other autumnal gatherings, be it Into the Void or Keep it Low or Desertfest Belgium or probably others at this point I just can’t think of off the top of my head let alone track the announcements for. I’ve never been to Switzerland, and I’m not sure it would take much convincing to get me there were the funds available, but needless to say, something like this would easily do the trick.

I particularly like the idea of Nebula and Lowrider on the same bill, what with their by-now-classic split (discussed here) and all. I know there’s no guarantee their sets will be back to back, but some acknowledgement of the two sharing the stage would be cool in light of that release. It was something special.

Oh, and having just seen Steak at Desertfest New York this past weekend, you’re gonna want to show up for that set. Just a heads up.

Full announcement follows as per thee social medias:

Truckfighters + Nebula + Lowrider + Steak + Lord Kesseli & the Drums

Smokers,

Please join in on this little announcement with five great bands. This time we’re going local and of course also international. We have some aces up our sleeves and back in the good old wild west we would probably get shot in the back for that. Hopefully for us, we will instead get some love from you by sharing these names with you:

Yes, they’re back! They’re not from the middle of nowhere, but from the middle of Sweden. Truckfighters have already toured the world, spread the fuzz, got robbed in the US and put the band on hold. Now they return with full strength and play their legendary debut album “Gravity X” from the finish to the start. Make sure to put on your helmet, the gravitation will be ruthless this evening.

On June 7th Nebula is releasing their new album “Holy Shit”, their first album in ten years. We are happy to present them for you so that you can experience some of the new tracks live. What we also hope is that they play the songs from the Meteor City split they released with Lowrider. Both bands will be at the festival and play on the same day. Smokers, get ready for the cool riffs and some holy shit!

Over the last five years the Swedes in Lowrider have been like Phoenix rising from the ashes. The band has specialized in delivering fantastic stage performances wherever they play, regardless of circumstances or stage size. We are psyched and hope they play tunes from their classic MeteorCity split with Nebula! The band is soon releasing a brand new EP called “Refractions”, the first new material since 2001.

Steak played at the first festival and we are happy to bring them back to you after all these years. The Londoners knows how to write catchy tunes with a groovy vibe. These four rock ‘n’ rollers will fulfill everyone’s dreams of a smokin’ good air guitar riff. This is the shit if you want to jump around and party hard.

Dominik Kesseli and Michael Gallusser is hiding behind the dynamic duo Lord Kesseli & The Drums. This is laid back, melodic, with harmonies, yet it sometimes erupts like a volcano with a heavy riff. Here is the band that will fill your ears with balm and for you to catch your breath. Enjoy the Swiss duo that for sure will stand out at this year’s festival.

Tickets http://www.z-7.ch/event.php?eventid=1665

https://www.sol-tickets.com/produkte/36-tickets-up-in-smoke-konzertfabrik-z7-pratteln-am-03-10-2019
http://www.z-7.ch/event.php?eventid=1665
https://www.facebook.com/UpInSmokeIndoorFestivalInZ7/
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https://www.upinsmoke.de

Lowrider, “Lameneshma” live at Desertfest Berlin 2017

Here we are, it’s not even March yet, and already the Fall festival season is starting to take shape. We know Amenra will be around celebrating their 20th anniversary, and The Obsessed and Lo-Pan have already had other confirmations as well — possible they’re touring together? — and Mantar continue to get heavy rock bookings despite not at all being a heavy rock band, which is hilarious and ongoing in kind. Up in Smoke, like Keep it Low, is a Sound of Liberation-backed event, so it makes sense to find the likes of agency mainstays Greenleaf and My Sleeping Karma on the bill, and we already know Elephant Tree will have a new album out, so they’ll be touting that as they go. I don’t think they’re anywhere near done announcing bands for the now-three-dayer, but it already looks like a win. Simple as that.

And airfare, I guess.

Announcement from the fest follows, as seen on the social medias:

UP IN SMOKE – AMENRA + THE OBSESSED + MANTAR + LO-PAN + NO MUTE + HATHORS!

Smokers!
We’re back with a new batch of great bands, who are eager to share their great music with you. This time we’re also presenting the first Swiss bands for this year’s festival. Legendary Z7 offers two big stages and a fantastic atmosphere. It’s with big honour that we present the following bands for you;

AMENRA, one of Europe’s leading forces when we’re talking about post metal. Their live performances are legendary and the heaviness from their music will probably make you gasp for oxygen. With six critically acclaimed albums on their CV, lots of splits and a few EP’s there will for sure be expectations and also dedication from you guys. Drum beats that sounds like an explosion, guitar and bass riffs so heavy that they turn your gut upside down and then everything breaks down to a melodic paradise. That’s very much what Amenra is all about.

THE OBSESSED, do they really need an introduction? The band has broken up a few times and somehow Wino has continued to believe in the bands mission and reformed it every time after a few years break. Last time he reformed The Obsessed were in 2016, then he also signed a deal with Relapse records. In 2017, 23 years after “The Church Within”, they released “Sacred” which is their fourth studio album. We are happy to give you the opportunity to experience the bands doomy sound and the great voice of Wino.

MANTAR shocked the metal underground five years ago with their debut album “Death By Burning”. During the past five years the duos extreme music has convinced lovers of heavy music that this is the real deal. You may call the music what you want, the only thing we’re sure of is that it isn’t doom or sludge. The duo’s live performances are an energetic madness that doesn’t leave anybody emotionally untouched. Get ready for heavy riffs, uncompromising music and an intense stage show, these two guys are heavier than most other bands.

LO PAN is the band that you can play on your first date with somebody who say they doesn’t like heavy music. The guys know how to perfectly blend melodies with heavy riffs. There is that intensity in the band’s music and still they manage to keep these melodies in there. A great vocalist that has the power and a great stage personality where he tries to hide behind the drumkit. There is a new album right around the corner and that’s going to be massive. If you can’t wait any longer, just put on “Marathon Man” and push that volume knob to 11.

HATHORS is a trio from Winterthur that has released three albums since their formation in 2010. Sometimes they bring some punk rock herbs to their music, which normally is in the vein of rock/alternative rock. It’s a nerve to their music that infects you, the listener, with energy and the desire jump around and be a part of the party.

NO MUTE is a Swiss rock band formed in 2006. They are from a little town called Olten between Zurich and Berne. Their music is dirty, distorted and energetic, simply put hotter than hell. They go with the classic rock ‘n’ roll line-up with drums, bass, guitar and a spastic vocalist. This is all about the good live performance, they always try to give you the show of your lifetime.

https://www.sol-tickets.com/produkte/36-tickets-up-in-smoke-konzertfabrik-z7-pratteln-am-03-10-2019
http://www.z-7.ch/event.php?eventid=1665
https://www.facebook.com/UpInSmokeIndoorFestivalInZ7/
https://www.facebook.com/events/1811016498954043/
https://www.upinsmoke.de

Lo-Pan, Live in Cleveland, OH, Jan. 5, 2019