Music festival season usually takes place during the spring and summer months, but that doesn’t mean music fans will not get any festivals during the cooler months. On Monday (April 9), Aftershock Music Festival organizers unveiled their lineup for the 2018 incarnation of the annual event. System of a Down, Deftones, Incubus, Alice in Chains, and Godsmack are just some of the bands that will make the trek to California during the second week of October for Aftershock 2018.
For System of a Down, their appearance at Aftershock will not only be their first time playing at the event, it will also mark their first show in the United States in three years. Their confirmed performance also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the group’s self-titled debut; System of a Down was released in 1998.
As if celebrating their debut album’s “China” anniversary wasn’t enough, the group has also unveiled plans to go on a short, weeklong trek coinciding with their appearance at the event. Hitting the road alongside them will be fellow Aftershock performers, At the Drive-In. Those dates can be found on SOAD’s website.
“Sacto, we’re coming for you. Proud that you’re our capital and not DC,” System of a Down’s Serj Tankian said in a press statement.
“It’s been a minute since we’ve played Sacramento, so it just felt right to return by headlining Aftershock,” continues guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian.
Joining System of a Down as one of the headliners this year will be Sacramento-founded band, Deftones. The California guys previously played the event in 2012 and 2015, but this year, they will be one of the big-print acts. Even though the Deftones call the capital of California home, this will be their first headlining gig in their hometown in nearly seven years. This all comes as the guys celebrate their 30th anniversary later this year.
In addition to System of a Down, Deftones, Incubus, Alice in Chains and Godsmack, this year’s lineup will also include Shinedown, 311, Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, At the Drive-In, Seether, Jonathan Davis, Bullet For My Valentine, Underoath, Black Veil Brides, Hellyeah, Asking Alexandria, Sevendust, Everlast, GWAR, and many more. According to the official press release from Danny Wimmer Presents, more artists will be announced as the show gets closer.
Aftershock Music Festival will return to Discovery Park in downtown Sacramento during the weekend of Oct. 13-14. Tickets for the two-day show will go on sale beginning this Friday, April 13, at noon PST. General admission and VIP tickets will be available as well as hotel options. Service fees on all tickets purchased will include a 50 cent charity fee for the T.J. Martell Foundation. Attendees are encouraged to buy their tickets as soon as they go on sale because tickets have sold out for three years straight.
For more information about Aftershock 2018, head on over to the festival’s website here.
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