As we hit the halfway mark of 2024, music enthusiasts are gearing up for a thrilling lineup of rock and metal festivals and cruises that promise to electrify the remainder of the year. From headbanging concerts to epic cruises, here’s your guide to the must-attend events that will rock your world.
Festivals Galore
The year kicked off with a bang thanks to Sick New World, Welcome to Rockville, and Creed’s cruises, setting the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable second half. But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Prepare for the following festivals:
- InkCarceration – Combining music with the eerie backdrop of a former penitentiary, this festival offers a unique experience for metalheads and rock aficionados alike.
- Rock Fest – Held in Cadott, Wisconsin, Rock Fest boasts a lineup that spans classic rock to contemporary metal, ensuring there’s something for every musical taste.
- Lollapalooza – A staple in the festival scene, Lollapalooza brings together top-tier rock, alternative, and electronic acts in Chicago’s Grant Park.
- Rocklahoma – As the name suggests, Rocklahoma celebrates the best of rock ‘n’ roll in Pryor, Oklahoma, drawing fans from across the country for a weekend of high-energy performances.
- Riot Fest – Known for its diverse lineup that includes punk, rock, and alternative acts, Riot Fest in Chicago promises three days of non-stop music and fun.
- Furnace Fest – Returning after a hiatus, Furnace Fest in Birmingham, Alabama, is a paradise for hardcore and punk rock enthusiasts, featuring both legendary bands and rising stars.
- Aftershock – Sacramento hosts Aftershock, a powerhouse festival showcasing heavy hitters in rock and metal against the backdrop of California’s capital.
- Louder Than Life – Louisville, Kentucky, is the place to be for rock fans looking to experience top-tier performances and gourmet food offerings.
- When We Were Young – This festival caters to those nostalgic for the emo and alternative rock scenes, featuring bands that defined a generation.
- New England Metal and Hardcore Festival – Bringing together the best in extreme metal and hardcore, this festival in Massachusetts is a haven for those who like their music heavy and intense.
Rocking on the High Seas
For those seeking a different kind of musical adventure, several cruises offer the ultimate experience:
- Lamb of God’s Headbanger’s Boat – Set sail with Lamb of God for a cruise filled with live performances and exclusive experiences that true metalheads won’t want to miss.
- Slipknot’s Knotfest – Slipknot brings their signature festival to the seas, promising a lineup of heavy hitters and a unique atmosphere that only Knotfest can deliver.
- Zakk Wylde’s Berzerkus – Guitar virtuoso Zakk Wylde launches Berzerkus, promising a cruise experience that’s as wild and thrilling as his legendary performances.
Choose Your Musical Adventure
Whether you’re into extreme metal, punk rock, or something a bit more alternative, 2024 has an event that will cater to your musical tastes. These festivals and cruises not only celebrate the power of rock and metal music but also create unforgettable experiences that bring fans together from around the globe.
So, step right up and secure your tickets because the second half of 2024 is packed with opportunities to rock out and make memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you’re moshing in a festival crowd or cruising the high seas with your favorite bands, the stage is set for an epic musical journey.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the official websites of each festival and cruise. Get ready to rock on!
2024 Rock + Metal Festival + Cruise Guide
Here’s your chance to see a lot of bands! Gallery Credit: Chad Childers, Loudwire
Ottawa Bluesfest
Ottawa Bluesfest
Dates: July 4-14
Location: Lebreton Flats in Ottawa, Ontario
Notes: Nickelback, Motley Crue, Mother Mother, 50 Cent, Maroon 5, Zac Brown Band, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Tyler Childers and Nas lead the list of performers.
Festival D’ete de Quebec
Festival D’ete de Quebec
Dates: July 4-14
Location: Quebec City, Quebec
Notes: Nickelback, The Offspring, Motley Crue, Rise Against, Killswitch Engage, Kansas and more will play.
Camp Punksylvania
Camp Punksylvania
Dates: July 5-7
Location: West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert, Pa
Notes: The Bronx, Big D. & the Kids Table, Laura Jane Grace, The Dirty Nil are set to perform.
Great South Bay Music Festival
Great South Bay Music Festival
Dates: July 18-21
Location: Shorefront Park in Patchogue Village, New York
Notes: Former Yes frontman Jon Anderson, Dark Star Orchestra, Joe Bonamassa, Pepper, The Disco Biscuits, Justin Hayward, Jim Messina, Streetlight Manifesto, Martin Barre, Badfish and more are all taking part.
Minnesota Yacht Club Festival
Minnesota Yacht Club Festival
Dates: July 19-20
Location: Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul, Minn.
Notes: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gwent Stefani and Alianis Morrissette headline, with The Black Crowes, The Offspring, Gary Clark Jr., Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and more set to play.
Danny Wimmer Presents
Inkcarceration Festival
Dates: July 19-21
Location: Historic Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio.
Notes: Shinedown, Breaking Benjamin and Godsmack will headline, with Bad Omens, Halestorm, Parkway Drive, Killswitch Engage, I Prevail, Machine Head, Sevendust and Chimaira all set to perform.
Rock Fest
Rock Fest 2024
Dates: July 18-20, 2024
Location: Cadott, Wis.
Notes: Full lineup yet to be announced, but Jelly Roll named as Saturday headliner.
Ticketing Info: https://rock-fest.com/tickets/
Upheaval Festival
Upheaval Festival
Dates: July 19-21
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Notes: Godsmack, Bad Omens, Killswitch Engage, Sevendust, The Hu, Saliva, Ayron Jones, Beartooth, Badflower, From Ashes to New, Stabbing Westward and more.
Project Pabst
Project Pabst
Dates: July 27-28
Location: Waterfront Park in Portland, Oregon
Notes: Billy Idol and Big Thief, with support from T-Pain, The Violent Femmes, Gossip, Denzel Curry, Manchester Orchestra, Jeff Rosenstock, STRFKR, Soccer Mommy, Militarie Gun and more.
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Dates: Aug. 1-4
Location: Grant Park in Chicago
Notes: Blink-182 and The Killers are among the headliners, with sets from Deftones, Pierce the Veil, Destroy Boys, In This Moment, Militarie Gun and more.
Bell
Osheaga Festival
Dates: Aug. 2-4, 2024
Location: Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal, Quebec
Notes: Full lineup still to be announced, but Noah Kahan, Green Day and Sza will headline the three days.
Ticketing Info: https://osheaga.com/en
This Is Hardcore
This Is Hardcore
Dates: Aug. 2-4
Location: Philadelphia, Pa.
Notes: E. Town Concrete, Cold as Life and Black Flag will headline.
Loud as Hell Open Air
Loud as Hell Open Air
Dates: Aug. 2-4
Location: Drumheller, Alberta
Notes: Beyond Creation, Malignancy, Green Jelly, Striker, Vitriol, Ripcordz, The Convalescence and more will play.
Northwoods Rock Rally
Northwoods Rock Rally
Dates: Aug. 14 – 17
Location: Glen Flora, Wisconsin
Notes: Nonpoint, (hed) p.e., Accept, Smile Empty Soul, Any Given Sin and American Hitmen will perform.
Ticketing Info: https://www.northwoods-events.com/?fbclid=IwAR29PonyJ_0WVEQT7xJz-nXQP0zJYF1kJuOSuLhAi0V0-0Gi5yZCnL_Aw0E
All Your Friends Festival
All Your Friends Festival
Dates: Aug. 23-24
Location: Burl’s Creek, Ontario
Notes: Fall Out Boy and Billy Talent will headline, with Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, All-American Rejects, Silverstein, Mayday Parade, Gob, Lights, Plain White T’s, Grandson, The Maine and more.
Michigan Metalfest
Michigan Metalfest
Date: Aug. 24
Location: Leila Arboretium in Battle Creek, Michigan
Notes: Mushroomhead, (hed) p.e., Gideon, Filth, Traitors, VCTMS and more playing.
Danny WImmer Presents
Rocklahoma
Dates: Aug. 30-Sept. 1
Location: Rockin’ Red Dirt Ranch in Pryor, Okla.
Notes: Avenged Sevenfold, Evanescence, Disturbed, A Day to Remember, Slipknot and Lamb of God will headline, with Halestorm, Kerry King, Mastodon, Anthrax, Skillet, Clutch, Nothing More, Coal Chamber and Tom Keifer set to play.
Live Nation
Summer of ’99 and Beyond Festival
Date: Aug. 31, 2024
Location: Glen Helen Amphitheatre in San Bernardino, California
Notes: The single-day festival features the Creed reunion, with support from 3 Doors Down, Daughtry, Finger Eleven, Fuel, Vertical Horizon and The Verve Pipe
Ticketing Info: https://www.livenation.com/
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NOFX
Punk In Drublic (Brockton)
Dates: Aug. 31-Sept. 1
Location: Brockton, Mass.
Notes: NOFX will be joined by August Burns Red, Coheed and Cambria and Underoath as headliners, with Coalesce, Poison the Well, Trapped Under Ice, Better Lovers, The Devil Wears Prada, Haste the Day, He Is Legend, Saosin and Unearth.
Full Terror Assault Open Air
Full Terror Assault Open Air
Dates: Sept. 4-7
Location: Cave-In-Rock, Illinois
Notes: Suffocation, Cancer, Misery Index, Mantar, Weekend Nachos, Devil Master, No/Mas and more have signed on.
Crucialfest
Crucialfest
Dates: Sept. 13-15, 2024
Location: Metro Music Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah
Notes: Black Tusk, Mars Red Sky, Jaye Jayle, The Otolith, Frail Body, Midwife, Howling Giant, Horseburner, The Well and more will play the three-day event.
Ticketing Info: https://www.crucialfest.com
Berzerkus
Berzerkus
Dates: Sept. 14
Location: Poconos Park in Bushkill, Pa.
Notes: Black Label Society headlines, with Cody Jinks, Clutch, Rival Sons, Black Stone Cherry and more.
Danny Wimmer Presents
Bourbon and Beyond
Dates: Sept. 19 – 22
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Notes: Zach Bryan, Dave Matthews Band, Tyler Childers, Neil Young, Beck, The National, My Morning Jacket, The War on Drugs, Matchbox Twenty, the Beach Boys + more will play.
Riot Fest
Riot Fest
Dates: Sept. 20-22, 2024
Location:‘RiotLand at SeatGeekStadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.
Notes: Fall Out Boy, Beck and Slayer will headline, with performances from Pavement, The Offspring, St. Vincent, Rob Zombie, Public Enemy, Bright Eyes, Sublime, Dr. Dog, The Marley Brothers, Spoon, Sum 41, Something Corporate and more.
Ticketing Info: https://riotfest.org/
WHFS
HFStival
Dates: Sept. 21, 2024
Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
Notes: The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, Incubus, Bush, Garbage, Jimmy Eat World, Girl Talk, Violent Femmes, Tonic, Filter and Lit will all perform.
Ticketing Info: https://impconcerts.com/event/hfstival/
knotfest.com
Knotfest Iowa
Dates: Sept. 21
Location: Waterworks Park in Des Moines, Iowa
Notes: Knocked Loose, Hatebreed, Poison the Well and GWAR will join Slipknot on the bill.
Metal Injection
Metal Injection Festival
Dates: Sept. 21-22, 2024
Location: Brooklyn Monarch and Meadows in Brooklyn, New York.
Notes: Jinjer and Converge headline, with God Forbid, 3 Inches of Blood, Cave In, Hanabie, Revocation, Goatwhore, Pallid Veil, Oceans of Slumber Rivers of Nihil, Born of Osiris and more set to play.
Ticketing Info: Dice.fm
New England Metal & Hardcore Festival
New England Metal & Hardcore Festival
Date: Sept. 21 + 22
Location: The Palladium Outdoors in Worcester, Mass.
Notes: 25th anniversary festival! Killswitch Engage, Slaughter to Prevail, Suicidal Tendencies, As I Lay Dying, Bane, Suicide Silence and more all playing.
Ticketing Info: https://metalandhardcorefest.com/
Danny Wimmer Presents
Louder Than Life
Dates: Sept. 26-29
Location: Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky
Notes: Slayer, Motley Crue, Slipknot, Korn, Disturbed, Judas Priest, Five Finger Death Punch, Evanescence, Falling in Reverse, Breaking Benjamin, The Offspring, Staind, Till Lindemann + more will play.
Ohana Festival
Ohana Festival
Dates: Sept. 27-29
Location: Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, Calif.
Notes: Pearl Jam will play two headline sets with Neil Young and Crazy Horse leading the third night. Garbage, Maren Morris, Crowded House, Alanis Morrisette, Turnpike Troubadours, Black Pumas, Jenny Lewis, Idles, Cat Power, Glen Hansard and The Breeders are also on the bill.
Oceans Calling
Oceans Calling
Dates: Sept. 27-29
Location: Ocean City Boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland
Notes: Blink-182, The Killers and The Dave Matthews Band will headline, with Cage The Elephant, The Offspring, Mt. Joy, Rebelution, Counting Crows, 311, The Beach Boys, Boyz II Men, O.A.R., Young the Giant, Barenaked Ladies also on board.
Soundside Festival
Soundside Festival
Dates: Sept. 28-29, 2024
Location: Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Notes: Noah Kahan and Foo Fighters will headline with Queens of the Stone Age, Goo Goo Dolls, Fleet Foxes, Norah Jones, Teddy Swims, Boyz II Men, The Kills and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram set to play.
Ticketing Info: https://www.soundsidemusicfestival.com
South Star Festival
South Star Festival
Dates: Sept. 28-29
Location: John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala.
Notes: Blink-182 and Gwen Stefani headline, with support from Shinedown, Jane’s Addiction, Beck, Sublime, Goo Goo Dolls, Jimmy Eat World, Ludacris, Big Boi, Pete Yorn, TLC, Juvenlie, Gin Blossoms, Candlebox, Vanessa Carlton and more.
Evolution Festival
Evolution Festival
Dates: Sept. 28-29
Location: Forest Park in St. Louis, Mo.
Notes: The Killers and Beck will headline the two-day music weekend, which also features sets from Jane’s Addiction, Blondie, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Killer Mike, Elle King, Todd Rundgren, Pete Yorn, Son Volt, Robert Finley, Beachwood Sparks and more.
Furnace Fest
Furnace Fest
Dates: Oct. 4-6
Location: Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Ala.
Notes: August Burns Red, Coheed and Cambria and Underoath will headline with Coalesce, Poison the Well, Trapped Under Ice, Better Lovers, The Devil Wears Prada, Haste the Day, He Is Legend, Saosin, Unearth and more playing.
Rock the Locks
Rock the Locks
Dates: Oct. 4-6
Location: Umatilla, Ore.
Notes: Halestorm, Stone Temple Pilots and Barenaked Ladies will be joined by Tim Montana, Eclipse, Sponge, Jeff Scott Soto and Jason Bieler, Hoobastank, Puddle of Mudd, Winger, Steelheart, Josey Scott, Philip Phillips, Warrant and Chase the Bear among others.
Austin City Limits Festival
Austin City Limits Festival
Dates: Oct. 4-6, 11-13, 2024
Location: Zilker Park in Austin, Texas
Notes: Blink-182, Chris Stapleton, Dua Lipa, Pretty Lights, Tyler the Creator and Sturgill Simpson head up this year’s fest, with Leon Bridges, Renee Rapp, Norah Jones, Foster the People, Khruangbin, Teddy Swims, Dominic Fike and more set to play.
Ticketing Info: https://www.aclfestival.com
Tennessee Metal Devastation
Tennessee Metal Devastation
Dates: Oct. 5, 2024
Location: The Amp in Jackson, Tennessee.
Notes: Summoner’s Circle, Autumn Lies Buried and Aresnil Addiction headline, with sets from Violence System, The Red Mountain, Diabology, H1Z1 and more set to play.
Ticketing Info: Hub City Events
Danny Wimmer Presents
Aftershock Festival
Dates: Oct. 10-13
Location: Sacramento, California’s Discovery Park
Notes: Iron Maiden, Slayer, Five Finger Death Punch, Judas Priest, Motley Crue, Slipknot, Pantera and Disturbed are all set to play.
Best Friends Forever Festival
Best Friends Forever Festival
Dates: Oct. 11-13
Location: Downtown Las Vegas Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
Notes: Bright Eyes, Sunny Day Real Estate, Cap’n Jazz and The Jesus Lizard will be joined by Unwound, The Dismemberment Plan, Built to Spill, American Football, The Get Up Kids, Jawbox and more.
Hit Parader
Mayhem Festival
Dates: Oct. 12, 2024
Location: Glen Helen Amphtitheater in San Bernardino, California.
Notes: Bad Omens, Parkway Drive, Architects, Jinjer, Poppy, Kittie, August Burns Red and more will play.
Ticketing Info: https://mayhemfest.com/
Audacy
Halloween Hullabaloo
Dates: Oct. 13, 2024
Location: Accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington.
Notes: Godsmack will headline this radio festival for KISW-FM, with Halestorm, The Warning and Flat Back also set to perform.
Ticketing Info: https://www.accessoshowarecenter.com/events/2024/kisw-halloween-hullabaloo
When We Were Young
When We Were Young 2024
Date: Oct. 19, 2024
Location: Las Vegas Festival Grounds, Las Vegas, Nev.
Notes: Many of the bands on the festival will be playing full album sets, including headliners My Chemical Romance, who will perform The Black Parade. Other bands of note on the bill include Fall Out Boy, A Day to Remember, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Pierce the Veil, The Used, Simple Plan, All-American Rejects and more.
Ticketing Info: https://www.whenwewereyoungfestival.com/
Headbangers Boat
Headbangers Boat 2024
Dates: Oct. 28-Nov. 1, 2024
Location: Miami to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.
Notes: Lamb of God brings back their cruise for a second year, welcoming Dethklok, Chimaira, Poison the Well, At the Gates, Soulfly, Exodus, Napalm Death, Corrosion of Conformity, After the Burial, Unearth, Eyehategod, Frozen Soul and Unity TX on board.
Ticketing Info: https://www.headbangersboat.com/
Apocalypse Fest
Apocalypse Fest
Dates: Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2024
Location: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Notes: Motionless in White headlines both nights with support from The Devil Wears Prada, Silent Planet, Like Moths to Flames, SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Kublai Khan, Dark Divine
Ticketing Info: https://mohegansunarenapa.com/events/motionless-in-white/
blissmas
Blissmas
Dates: Dec. 14, 2024
Location: Riverworks in Buffalo, New York.
Notes: Better Lovers welcome Converge, Fleshwater, Twitching Tongues, Dying Wish, Teenage Wrist, Anxious and Atomic Rule.
Ticketing Info: https://buffaloriverworks.com/event/blissmas-2024-w-better-lovers-friends/
iHeart
ALTer EGO
Date: Jan. 13, 2024
Location: Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
Notes: Paramore, The 1975, The Black Keys, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Bush, Sum 41, Yellowcard, Lovely The Band and The Last Dinner Party.
Ticketing Info: https://www.ticketmaster.com/
RokIsland Fest
RokIsland Festival
Date: Jan. 17-20, 2024
Location: Key West, Fla.
Notes: Night Ranger, Bret Michaels, Tom Keifer and Stone Temple Pilots will headline the four days with performances from Mr. Big, Winger, Wig Wam, Dee Snider, Lou Gramm, Jefferson Starship, Trixter, Don Felder, L.A. Guns, Enuff Z’Nuff, Buckcherry, Lit and Bowling for Soup.
Ticketing Info: https://www.rokislandfest.com/
Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Rager at Sea
Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Rager at Sea
Dates: Jan. 26-30, 2024
Location: Miami to Cozumel
Notes: Fozzy, The Georgia Thunderbolts, Trixter, Bulletboys, Kuarantine and James Durbin & the Lost Boys lead the music lineup, while wrestlers Bully Ray, Devon, Jim Ross, Matt Cardona, Jerry Lynn, Ultimo Dragon and more are also on board.
Ticketing Info: https://www.sixthman.net/
Disturbin’ the Peace
Disturbin’ the Peace
Date: Jan. 27-28, 2024
Location: Baltimore Soundstage in Baltimore, Md.
Notes: Biohazard, H20, Gut Instinct, The Outburst, The Chisel, Raw Brigade and more set to perform
Ticketing Info: https://www.ticketmaster.com/
the rock boat
The Rock Boat XXIII
Dates: Jan. 30-Feb. 4, 2024
Location: Miami to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas to Costa Maya, Mexico
Notes: This rock cruise features Young the Giant, The Struts, Bowling for Soup, Lit, KT Tunstall, Jon Foreman of Switchfoot and hosts Sister Hazel among others.
Ticketing Info: https://www.therockboat.com/
Homesick Festival
Homesick Festival 2024
Dates: Feb. 2-3, 2024
Location: The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, Calif.
Notes: Superchunk, Julie, Fucked Up, Spellling, Harms Way, Eternal, Zulu and more.
Ticketing Info: https://www.axs.com/
ShipRocked
ShipRocked
Dates: Feb. 4-10, 2024
Location: The cruise starts in Miami, hits Bimini, Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman
Notes: I Prevail, Killswitch Engage, Beartooth, Highly Suspect, Code Orange, Badflower, Black Stone Cherry, Crobot, Dorothy, Eva Under Fire, Fire From the Gods, From Ashes to New, The Warning and more.
Ticketing Info: https://www.shiprocked.com/
Rock Legends Cruise
Rock Legends Cruise XI
Dates: Feb. 22-26, 2024
Location: Miami to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Notes: Sammy Hagar and the Circle headline, with Billy F. Gibbons, Bret Michaels, Rick Springfield, Collective Soul, Geoff Tate, Jefferson Starship, Last in Line, The Kentucky Headhunters, Canned Heat and more.
Ticketing Info: https://rocklegendscruise.com/
