FEST-IVE NEWS FROM ALL OVER: PUNK IS DEAD AND OBSCENE EXTREME

Summer is here, and that means the long string of European metal fests has begun un-spooling, sadistically torturing those of us who live light years from those venues. But even those of us in the U.S. can be consoled in our longing by the knowledge that, here and there, our own summer will be dotted with some outstanding convocations of metal. I’m spotlighting one of those in this post, but I also want to spread the word about a noteworthy come-on for one of those European festivals.

PUNK IS DEAD

The sharp-eyed among you will remember that I’ve already given passing mention to the Punk Is Dead Fest (at the end of this review), but it’s just so damned hot shit that I wanted to give it more complete attention. First, gave upon the final  flier for this festival, which was designed by Ethan Lee McCarthy of Clinging To The Trees Of A Forest Fire and Primitive Man. Feel free to click on it for a bigger version upon which to gaze:

This festival is scheduled to take place in Lancaster, California, on August 30 and 31, and as you can see, it features a killer line-up of bands. You can see another listing of the line-up and get ticket info via the festival website, here:

http://punkisdeadfest.givepraiserecords.com/

OBSCENE EXTREME

The 15th edition of this festival in the Czech Republic is set for July 3-7, just days away now. As you can see from the flier above, the line-up is gargantuan and fully loaded with amazing bands, including including Napalm Death, Aborted, Cryptopsy, Grave, Krisiun, Exhumed, and Anaal Nathrakh.

This morning I learned that this year Obscene Extreme has teamed up with headliner Napalm Death to raise funds for Doctors Without Borders, which is a great organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, and inability to obtain essential health care. The fundraising vehicle will be a special t-shirt, in a limited edition of 200. Napalm Death has provided the shirt design with ‘Obscene Extreme’ styled in the same way as the Napalm Death logo. Check it out:

More info about the festival can be obtained here. I’m hoping that some of these shirts will become available for purchase by unfortunate bastards like me who can’t be at the festival to pick one up there. If I find out whether and how this might be done, I’ll provide an update.