Summer may be winding down, but the party’s not over!
On Friday October 4th, Mammoth Live and 89.7 The River are going to blow the roof off Westfair Ampitheater with one of the Midwest’s sickest festivals. We’re here to tell you why Megafest is an absolute must see show.
With an incredibly killer line-up featuring everything from Irish punk rock, to hardcore, metal, and ska, this soirée is going to be one for the ages.
Let’s take a look at everything you’re going to get for your $25 ticket. Yes, you read that right, the biggest party of the season is only $25! Have you heard enough? Click HERE for tickets.
Still not convinced? Read on for more awesomeness.
Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys are one of the best in the business. Touring since 1996, these Boston punk legends definitely know how to put on a show stopping performance. You want bagpipes? Check. You want breakneck drum speeds? You got it. You want banjos with lightning fast riffs? Say no more. How about massive circle pits and Irish flags? You know it. Combine all these things with a massive pyro display and you’ve got one heck of a headliner.
Dropkick Murphys are currently touring in support of their latest album, 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory. While researching all the bands on the bill I took a deep dive into 11 Short Stories and I’m happy to tell you, it’s a great record. In today’s culture of mumble rappers, SoundCloud DJs, and YouTube stars, it’s refreshing to hear a full album of well crafted songs that (as the title suggests) tell a story!
11 Short Stories clocks in at just 38 minutes, but packs a serious punch with tales of youth, love and loss, heartbreak and glory. There’s a lot to enjoy here. From punk rock thrashers to heartfelt ballads, the album keeps a steady pace and paints a vivid picture of a rough and tumble Bostonian life. I can’t wait until the crowd burns down Westfair to the tune of “Shipping up to Boston” like a bunch of drunken soccer hooligans! 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory is available now wherever you stream music.
Song to watch for: “Rebels with a Cause”
Clutch
Clutch is that one band you just can’t put your finger on. Are they blues? Are they funk-metal? Are they hard rock? It’s hard to put them in a neatly wrapped box. All I know is everywhere I go I hear “Clutch is the best live band around.”
Since forming in 1991, Clutch has built a serious underground following akin to Phish or 311. For all these years Clutch has managed to fly under the radar of mainstream radio while quietly celebrating their success with 12 studio albums and several live recordings. Even without much love from radio, Clutch’s 2013 album Earth Rocker managed to take home album of the year at the MetalHammer awards.
Clutch’s latest release Book of Bad Decisions has taken them on the road with Sevendust, Lamb of God, and now Dropkick Murphys with direct support from Hatebreed. I’ll be interested to see the crowd reaction on this most eclectic of lineups.
Song to watch for: “Electric Worry”
Fever 333
Fever 333 in my humble opinion, is one of the best live bands to come out in the last ten years. You think you’ve seen high energy acts? Let me tell you, until you’ve seen Fever 333, you haven’t seen anything! If you’ve been following our site for a while then you already know we have a major passion for Fever 333 and the message they promote. Jason Aalon is one of the greatest frontmen to ever grace the stage. Every show, Jason puts his body on the line to perform some crazy Evil Knievel type stunt that leaves the crowd gasping. I’ve had the ultimate pleasure of taking photos for Fever four times now and I can’t wait to do it again. The band’s latest album Strength in Numb333rs is still going strong and Fever just released the video for their next single “Animal.” So stream that hot track and get ready to have your mind blown!
Song to watch for: “Hunting Season”
Hatebreed
Hatebreed is one of the hardest working bands in metal and they are led by one of the hardest working dudes in media, Jamey Jasta. Not only does Jamey have Hatebreed to worry about, he has a side band Jasta, which has new music coming soon by the way, and a podcast The Jasta Show, that produces two new episodes every week. On top of all that, last year Jamey produced a record for the legendary Dee Snider and has more producing projects lined up for next year! It makes me tired just thinking about all that work. We were lucky enough to catch up with Hatebreed in early 2018 and then again in May of this year. Both shows were completely brutal with crushing cave man riffs, blast beats, and booming bass that makes you want to smash a window! I know Hatebreed is going to whip the crowd into a frenzy and leave them screaming for more.
Song to watch for: “Looking Down the Barrel of Today”
The Interrupters
The Interrupters are having a crazy year! Just coming off a successful run with 311 and Dirty Heads, which we caught in Kansas City, the band has already been booked as the opening act for what could be the biggest tour of 2020 featuring Green Day, Weezer, and Fall Out Boy. The Interrupters were really fun when we caught them back in May and I expect the same level of energy at Megafest in a few weeks.
Song to watch for: “She’s Kerosene”
The Urge
The Urge has been making hits for nearly 30 years! Mixing up punk rock, hip-hop, and ska The Urge knows how to get the party started. I’ve been lucky enough to catch The Urge several times over the years and they’ve always put on an amazing show. Get ready to mosh with some of the best songs of the 90s and 2000s when The Urge hits the stage at Westfair.
Song to watch for: “Going to the Liquor Store”
Now, if all this wasn’t enough, You’ve got Amigo the Devil and local Irish rockers The Killigans rounding out the bill. Gates are at noon. Make sure to get there early so you can catch all the action. You can find a list of all the rules for things you can bring, etc. HERE. If you don’t already have tickets, what are you waiting for? Click HERE and get ready for one of the biggest parties of the year. We’ll see you in the pit!
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