News: KNOTFEST AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCE SIDESHOWS!

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KNOTFEST AUSTRALIA
ANNOUNCE SIDESHOWS!

KNOTFEST, the destination festival brand curated by SLIPKNOT, is returning to Australia this year, and today we are thrilled to announce a horde of headline sideshows from some of the artists on the festival lineup.

In addition to their entirely sold out Adelaide headline sideshow, SLIPKNOT will also headline in Auckland on Tuesday 11 March, while A DAY TO REMEMBER are set to perform a one and only Australian headline show in Brisbane on Monday 3 March.

BABYMETAL, SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, WITHIN TEMPTATION, ENTER SHIKARI, HATEBREED, MISS MAY I, VENDED and SUNAMI will also perform their own headline sideshows this year, with the hill-hiking, metal music-loving stand up comic LUKE SEVEREID also set to head down under all the way from Seattle as part of KNOTFEST, interviewing bands at the festival and also performing his own sideshows.

Knotfest Member pre-sale tickets on sale Friday 24 January @ 9am local timeEarly bird pre-sale tickets on sale Friday 24 January @ 10am local time

Register here -> https://knotfestau.com/25sideshows

General tickets are on sale Tuesday 28 January @ 10amlocal time
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Without further adieu, we present to you Knotfest Australia 2025 sideshows…

SLIPKNOT
WIITH SPECIAL GUESTS VENDED^Tuesday 4 March – AEC Arena, Adelaide^ Sold Out
Tuesday 11 March – Spark Arena, Auckland

Following their monumental performances launching Australia’s first ever KNOTFEST in 2023, SLIPKNOT will return down under in 2025 to headline proceedings for this not-to-be-missed rock and heavy music festival alongside these freshly announced sideshows.As always, attendees can expect a performance unlike any other, from a band who only get more thrilling, exciting and cathartic as time goes on. Having released a new record in 2022, The End, So Far (crowned at #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart; their fourth consecutive album to do so), SLIPKNOT refuse to rest on past glories and continue to innovate, with fan favourites including as many new songs as older. Between enduring fan-revered singles like Duality, Psychosocial and Wait and Bleed, as well as deeper cuts and newer material over the years, SLIPKNOT’s drive and creativity bleeds through their jaw-dropping live performances.

Hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, VENDED has been pushing the limits of combustible energy and raw aggression since their 2018 inception. Their bold, honest, passionate take on heavy music raises the flag for a new generation. Revolver heralded them as one of 10 Bands Leading the New Wave of Nü-Metal and they have shared stages supporting Bring Me The Horizon, Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, and Knocked Loose and headliners/festivals in North America, Europe and South America.

A DAY TO REMEMBER
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THORNHILL & OCEAN GROVEMonday 3 March – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane

No strangers to Australian shores, Florida-hailing quartet A DAY TO REMEMBER head to Australia for the first time since 2019 for KNOTFEST. Wielding an irresistible melting pot of metalcore, pop-punk and post-hardcore, A DAY TO REMEMBER have remained one of the most versatile and vigorous acts to emerge from the early 2000s, with the group remaining an active force from the halcyon days of Myspace and physical media through to the modern era of TikTok and streaming. In command of hundreds of millions of Spotify streams and YouTube views, seven studio albums, including two certified Gold records, entirely sold out tours in their wake, and their own curated Self Help Festival.

Melbourne purveyors of artful and engaging heavy creations, THORNHILL possess a flair for nuanced rock that has captivated on a global scale. Via their ARIA Award-nominated 2022 album Heroine, Thornhill solidified a steadfast reputation as one of the most innovative and immersive heavy acts in the Australian scene, and have gone on to amass a heaving array of accolades over the years. Recently, the band gifted some insatiable new material courtesy of standalone singles Viper Room and Obsession, as well as a live album, Live On Tour!, boasting performances captured in the wild across the globe.

OCEAN GROVE are the enigma of the heavy music landscape, blending elements of nu metal, hardcore and alternative rock to create a sound that is uniquely their own, i.e. Oddworld Music. Since their inception, OCEAN GROVE have captivated audiences with their high-energy performances, visually striking aesthetics and infectious melodies, earning them a devoted legion of followers at home and abroad. Most recently, OCEAN GROVEreleased their fourth studio album ODDWORLD, which debuted at #8 on the ARIA Australian Albums Charts.

BABYMETAL
WITH DIAMOND CONSTRUCT (BRIS)
& FUTURE STATIC (SYD)Tuesday 4 March – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
Thursday 6 March – Enmore Theatre, Sydney

Electrifying purveyors of kawaii metal, BABYMETAL, will bring their kaleidoscopic infusion of J-pop-meets-heavy-metal wizardry. BABYMETAL have taken the heavy world by storm since first forming in 2010. Between their exclusive global fanbase, THE ONE, ongoing chart success, including the rare feat as becoming the first Asian act to storm to the top of the Billboard Rock Albums chart, avant-garde creative aesthetics and direction, and a legion of celebrity fans, including Corey Taylor, Rob Zombie, Metallica, Deftones and Limp Bizkit, BABYMETAL unleashed their fourth studio album The Other One in 2023 and sold out their first Australian headline tour in 2023. The group also recently teamed up with German metal partystarters Electric Callboy on the hyper and heaving track RATATATA.

Hailing from Taree in NSW, metal mavericks DIAMOND CONSTRUCT fuse relentless sonic aggression with lashings of grooves, hooks and blazing modernity, with their full-throttle dexterity leading to tours with the likes of Justice For The Damned, Alpha Wolf, Stray From The Path and many more. With their sophomore 2016 EP, Event Horizon, hitting #1 on the iTunes metal charts, the group’s 2019 debut self-titled full-length album and sophomore 2024 full length, Angel Killer Zero, solidified DIAMOND CONSTRUCT‘s blockbuster ways to the world; and 2025 is shaping up to be a monster year for the band.

Melbourne five-piece FUTURE STATIC blend a palpitating mix of alternative rock, melodic pop and progressive metal flair, cultivating a unique and refreshing brand of emotional yet heavy music. Releasing their AIR #1 Independent Album Liminality in 2023, FUTURE STATIC went on to tick off their first ever international tours, headlining in Europe and the UK and supporting Electric Callboy and TesseracT, and are currently wrapping up their debut headline Australian run. One of Australia’s most buzzed about heavy acts capable of endless light and shade, FUTURE STATIC‘s live show must be witnessed to be believed.

SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL

Thursday 27 February – Northcote Theatre, Melbourne

After obliterating Aussie crowds with their debut Australian performance as part of Good Things Festival in 2023, Russian-hailing deathcore behemoths SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL led by the formidable frontman, Alex Terrible, bring a ferocious amalgamation of deathcore and blackened metal sonic onslaught that leaves no survivors.

The band’s relentless pursuit of metal domination has led them to conquer stages across the globe, most recently supporting Five Finger Death Punch on an extensive North American run in 2024 along with performances at Resurrection Fest, Hellfest, Copenhell and Graspop.

Bolstered by Alex Terrible’s signature guttural growls and the band’s collective crushing tendencies, SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL are set to release their third studio album in 2025, with Grizzlyfollowing on from 2017’s Misery Sermon and 2021’s Kostolom. In command of hundreds of millions of streams, monster fan-favourite tracks like Demolisher, Baba Yaga and VIKING, a relentless dedication to their craft and their unwavering stance against violence, SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL endlessly captivate audiences with their brutal yet melodic compositions; and they’ll be bringing their signature brutality back to Australian stages this year.

WITHIN TEMPTATION

Monday 3 March – Princess Theatre, Brisbane
Thursday 6 March – Max Watts, Melbourne

Pioneers of dark and anthemic music, Dutch collective WITHIN TEMPTATION has captivated audiences for over 20 years, with 2025 marking the first time that the powerhouse modern rockers will perform down under.

With a career that spans eight studio albums, over four million records sold and dominating the Billboard Mainstream Rock Charts, WITHIN TEMPTATION have consistently evolved their sound, exploring within and beyond the symphonic rock genre alongside metal, atmospheric and melodic elements. Via their most recent album, 2023’s Bleed Out, WITHIN TEMPTATION tackled societal and political themes, with the album also reaching #2 in the Netherlands, and top ten chart entries in various countries, including Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.

Famed for their powerful and immersive live performances and production, WITHIN TEMPTATION have ticked off massive headline runs, performances at the biggest metal international festivals, and tours alongside Iron Maiden, Evanescence and In Flames. And after decades of existence, WITHIN TEMPTATIONwill finally grace Australian soils for their debut live appearances.

ENTER SHIKARI

Monday 3 March – Solbar, Sunshine Coast
Wednesday 5 March – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
Thursday 6 March – King St Bandroom, Newcastle

Forming in 2003, British rockers ENTER SHIKARI exploded onto the scene via their 2007 debut album Take to the Skies, generating significant chart success and certified Gold status. A band who wield an exhilarating amalgamation of alt rock, and electronica along with drum and bass, dubstep and beyond, ENTER SHIKARIalso delve into societal and personal themes, seen most recently on 2023’s A Kiss for the Whole World, which debuted #1 on the UK album charts.With seven studio albums, multiple award wins and nominations, and a dedicated fanbase worldwide, ENTER SHIKARI have also extensively toured the globe as headliners, as well as with the likes of You Me At Six, WARGASM and a staggering who’s who of the heavy world at high profile festivals for decades.

Most recently in Australia performing at Good Things Festival in 2023, the return of ENTER SHIKARI to Aussie shores in 2025 is yet another opportunity for fans to witnsss the group’s unforgettable onstage prowess.

HATEBREED

Tuesday 4 March – The Triffid, Brisbane
Wednesday 5 March – 170 Russell, Melbourne
Friday 7 March – Metro Theatre, Sydney

Celebrating three decades as a band in 2024, American heavy metal hardcore icons HATEBREED are set to detonate their monstrous live show celebrating their seminal sophomore album Perseverance for Australian fans in 2025. Paving the way for the fusion of hardcore and metal, Perseverance received worldwide recognition upon release in 2002, with permeating praise placing HATEBREED as forefronts of the genre.From garnering a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance in 2005 for their track Live for This, through to releasing eight full length albums, HATEBREED‘s unwavering devotion for their craft and respect from their fans and critics alike continues to elevate their dedicated exploration of every gamut of the heavy music realms, armed with a stage presence that dazzles in ferocity, empowerment and, ultimately, unity.

MISS MAY I

Tuesday 4 March – Stay Gold, Melbourne
Wednesday 5 March – Crowbar, Sydney

All the way from Ohio, MISS MAY I will lend their trademark sonic fury to the KNOTFEST experience, following the recent unveiling of their entirely re-recorded 15^th anniversary version of their beloved 2009 debut album Apologies Are for the Weak.An undisputed fixture of the modern heavy music community, MISS MAY I merge passion with savagery and proficiency, constantly defying expectations while also enamouring in a live setting. Forming in 2007, MISS MAY I released their game-changing 2009 album, Apologies Are for the Weak, while still in high school, kickstarting a creative journey that has included chart success, seven studio albums, and songs that have permeated popular culture, including material featured on SAW VI‘s soundtrack and as part of the soundtrack to Saints Row: The Third.

With Apologies Are for the Weak catapulting MISS MAY I into an instant success story, the band went on to perform with Pierce The Veil, We Came as Romans and Parkway Drive, while also continuing to sharpen their wares, add to their ever-growing catalogue, and grow a diehard community of fans across the globe.

VENDED

Wednesday 5 March – The Brightside, Brisbane
Thursday 6 March – Stay Gold, Melbourne

Over the years, VENDED have shared stages supporting Bring Me The Horizon, Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, and Knocked Loose, as well as headliners and festival slots in North America, Europe and South America. A band actively seeking to push the limits of energy and aggression at every turn, the key to VENDED‘s enduring success and popularity is the group’s authenticity, with their bold, honest and passionate music constantly turning heads at every turn.

Releasing their debut self-titled studio album in 2024, VENDEDfirmly stamped out their reputation for raw, urgent and engaging craftsmanship, with a defiant yet empowering amalgamation of introspection and reflection of the world at large. With tours in their wake alongside Jinjer, P.O.D. and While She Sleeps, VENDED‘s ultimate goal is nothing less than world domination. No compromises.

SUNAMI

Tuesday 4 March – Prince Bandroom, Melbourne
Wednesday 5 March – Manning Bar, Sydney

Originally intended as a short-lived joke band, San Fran bay area hardcore group SUNAMI formed in 2019 and swiftly gained notoriety for their violent debut live performance. The band rapidly continued past their planned time frame with the release of three EPs and, ultimately, their self-titled debut album in 2023, with Revolver crediting them as “in the upper echelon of bands dominating the hardcore zeitgeist”.

Surprise-releasing their debut self-titled album in 2023, SUNAMIsurpassed all expectations, with the self-released album barrelling into view with zero warning and sending the hardcore community reeling. From Distorted Magazine declaring “the album goes obscenely and extremely hard” through to critics praising its down-tuned riffs, riot-ready breakdowns and furious lyrics that packs a mean yet tasty punch, SUNAMI have become leaders in their genre; and their frenzied live shows have become the stuff of legend.

LUKE SEVEREID

Saturday 1 March – Sitdown Comedy Club, Brisbane
Wednesday 5 March – Stay Gold, Melbourne
Friday 7 March – Factory Floor, Sydney

LUKE SEVEREID is a hill-hiking, metal music-loving, chrome-dome-having stand-up comedian from Seattle, WA. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest with the plaids and IPA-fueled husk to prove it, he has spent the last decade yelling jokes all over North America (and soon: THE WORLD).

LUKE‘s comedic style has been described as insightfully idiotic, aggressively absurd, and most accurately, unmedicated ADHD in action. Besides looking identical to your favorite bouncer and or bass player, LUKE was also recently in the Big Sky Comedy Festival, a semifinalist in both the Seattle and San Francisco International Comedy Competition, and a winner of Best Comedy Film at HUMP! Film Festival. Millions have enjoyed his stand-up videos online so it’s most likely he’ll be able to get a giggle or two out of you.

KNOTFEST AUSTRALIA 2025 LINEUP:

Slipknot
A Day To Remember
BABYMETAL, Slaughter To Prevail, Polaris
Within Temptation, Enter Shikari, Hatebreed
In Hearts Wake, HEALTH, Miss May I, Vended, Sunami

DATES AND VENUES:
Friday 28 February 2025 – Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
Sunday 2 March 2025 – Brisbane Showground, Brisbane
Saturday 8 March 2025 – Centennial Park, Sydney

Tickets on sale from Knotfest.com/Australia

Find KNOTFEST AUSTRALIA Online
https://knotfest.com/australia/