Plans are underway for this year’s Armstrong Metalfest, taking place July 15 and 16 at Armstrong’s Hassen Arena.
Organizers West Metal Entertainment have announced the first of 12 high calibre Western Canadian metal bands for this year’s lineup.
Confirmed so far are Kelowna’s ArkenFire, Edmonton’s Bleed and Trollband, Vancouver’s Black Wizard, Apprentice and Dead Asylum, Calgary’s WMD and Kataplexi, Reed Deer’s Leave the Living, Grand Forks’ Slagduster, Nanaimo’s Cryptic Enslavement and Vernon’s Xul.
The festival launches with an Armstrong Metalfest 2015 Year in Review concert at The Green in Vernon’s Village Green Mall, Feb. 18.
Taking influence from Europe’s music festival circuit, Armstrong Metal Fest is a heavy metal celebration that encourages metal heads from across Canada and the globe to mosh and camp with the backdrop of the great outdoors of the Okanagan Valley.
What started as a backyard party in 2009 with 11 local metal bands such as Terrifier, Xul and Odinfist, has grown into a successful festival admired by the Western Canadian metal scene, said Jon Asher, with Asher Media, publicist for the event.
“This will be the eighth year of the festival and is planned to be the largest year for music and attendance yet,” said Asher. “This year’s team of organizers, known as the West Metal Entertainment Society, is the most dedicated to date and are excited to present an incredible lineup along with some changes to come for AMF 2016.”
Early bird weekend passes are now $120, available online at www.armstrongmetalfest.ca/tickets. Camping is included in the ticket price. For those who can only make certain nights, day passes will be available at the festival.