New England Metal and Hardcore Fest Set For 9/21 + 9/22 + Featuring KsE, Converge, Machine Head, Nails + More

New England Metal & Hardcore Fest launched back in 1999 and took place at the famed Palladium in Worcester through 2018. It was often held over two or three days, with multiple stages and top-tier acts like Megadeth, Manowar, DragonForce, Opeth, Between the Buried & Me, Meshuggah, Killswitch Engage, Suicidal Tendencies, Anthrax, and more appearing through the years. It was always a "who's who" of the metal and hardcore scene and was a "not to be missed" event each Spring.

It took a brief break after 2018 but returned to much fanfare in 2023 with Parkway Drive, Lamb of God, Hatebreed, and more. 

Today, the 2024 edition has been announced and the lineup is stacked. It features literally every single band you'd want to see at a metal and hardcore festival.

The two-day extravaganza will take place on September 21 and 22 at the Palladium. NEM&HCF faves Killswitch Engage will be playing a special 25th anniversary show and will headline the first night. Slaughter to Prevail will headline the second night. 

"I think this lineup is one of the top five best in the festival's history," says Scott Lee, founder of the festival. "It will appeal to all fans of all genres of extreme music."

"The place where it all began for us was The Worcester Palladium our first show and our first Metal Festival," says KsE singer Jesse Leach. "Here we are, 25 years later, returning to the same venue to perform a unique set to celebrate our legacy as a band  We are honored and excited to be a part of this legendary festival once again. 25 years of Killswitch Engage!"

VIP tickets are available here.

LINEUP
HEADLINERS:
Killswitch Engage — 25th Anniversary Show (SATURDAY)
Slaughter to Prevail (SUNDAY)

IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, WITH MORE TBA:
200 Stab Wounds
After The Burial
Alluvial
As I Lay Dying
Balmora
Bane
Better Lovers
Brand Of Sacrifice 
Brat
Converge
Corpse Pile
Death Before Dishonor
Disembodied Tyrant
Ends of Sanity
Fleshgod Apocalypse
Full of Hell
Incendiary
Integrity
Jarhead Fertilizer
Life Cycles 
Machine Head
Mammoth Grinder
Missing Link
Mouth For War
Nails
No Cure
On Broken Wings
Overkill
Pain of Truth
Psycho Frame
Shadow of Intent
Simulakra
Since The Flood
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicide Silence
The Red Chord
The Zenith Passage
Throwdown
Trail Of Lies
Tribal Gaze
Two Piece
Upon Stone
With Honor

Announcing New Metal Fest HEAVY CHICAGO! With Corrosion Of Conformity, DRI (40th anniversary of ‘Crossover’), Repulsion (Only 2023 Show), Trouble, Over 3 Weekends: Oct 28, Nov 4, Nov 5

Kuma’s Corner and PBR in association with Last Rites and Live Wire announce

HEAVY CHICAGO!

 

New Metal Fest At Avondale Music Hall 

3 Shows Over 2 Weekends: Oct 28, Nov 4 & Nov 5

 

Featuring … Corrosion Of Conformity

DRI (Celebrating 40 years of Crossover)

Repulsion (ONLY Show for 2023),

Trouble (First Chicago Show in 5 Years)

& Many More

 

Ticket Pre-Sale Begins Friday, June 23 at HeavyChicago.com

Chicago’s newest music venue, Avondale Music Hall, announces a brand-new metal festival – Heavy Chicago – offering three shows happening over two weekends this fall.

 

Saturday, October 28 will host the return of Chicago’s own Trouble after five long years, along with Acid King featuring the return of Chicago native Lori S, plus stoner rock act Bongzilla from Madison, Wi. and Chicago act Novembers Doom to kick off the night.

 

The following weekend, Saturday, November 4 and Sunday, November 5 keep Heavy Chicago rolling with a Saturday night headlining spot from Corrosion Of Conformity and support from California space rockers Nebula as well as Milwaukee’s The Crosses featuring Die Kreuzen singer Dan Kubinski for an “all Die Kreuzen” set. Sunday wraps things up with legendary crossover thrash kings DRI celebrating 40 years of Crossover as well as the only 2023 worldwide show date for grindcore legends Repulsion and Chicago’s own Macabre. More acts will be announced soon. In addition to the music, Kuma’s will be onsite selling burgers and there will be PBR drink specials.

 

A presale begins Friday, June 23 for 24 hours, with the general public onsale beginning Saturday, June 24 at www.HeavyChicago.com. Options include limited 3-day passes for $100, 2-day passes for November 4-5 for $80 and a special “24 Hour Only” 2-day pass for October 28 and November 4 for $70. Single night tickets will also be available soon.

 

"We are so excited to be partnering with Live Wire, Kuma’s and Pabst Blue Ribbon to bring a brand-new metal festival to Chicago, hosted in the city's newest music venue, Avondale Music Hall, which even Time Out says is located in one of the buzziest neighborhoods in the world. Three shows over two weekends will bring some of the heaviest music the Northside has seen, including Trouble's first Chicago show in over five years, Acid King, Corrosion of Conformity, DRI on their 40th anniversary tour for Crossover and the ONLY show in 2023 for Repulsion. We wanted to make sure to bring out as many metalheads as possible and have kept the prices super affordable with three-day tickets starting at $100 (that's just $33.33 a day). We look forward to seeing everyone in the inaugural year in what we hope is an annual event," says Last Rites founder Sean Duffy.

 

OCTOBER 28

Trouble

Acid King

Bongzilla

Novembers Doom

& more to be announced!

 

NOVEMBER 4

Corrosion Of Conformity

Nebula

The Crosses

& more to be announced!

 

NOVEMBER 5

DRI

Repulsion

Macabre

& more to be announced!

 

For more information on Heavy Chicago, visit:

www.heavychicago.com