Provided / Stuff
Kaosis, one of 13 bands performing at Distortion Fest in February.
A brand new rock and metal festival will bring together bands from Manawatū with raffles from out of town for a one-day event.
Thirteen bands will take the stage at Castle 789 in Palmerston North on February 12 for the first Distortion Fest.
Organizer Joel Thompson said there would be a good mix of old faces and new blood on display.
The lineup included three tribute sets and 10 original acts, consisting mostly of local bands with a few bands from across the country.
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Provided / Stuff
Promoter Joel Thompson says there hasn’t been an event like this in Manawatū for a long time. Pictured is funk rock band Kokoa Nashi.
Thompson said there was a good variety of styles among local bands and out-of-town artists would only add to that.
He held a similar event in Hamilton called Rail Fest, and he said groups in Manawatū had shown strong interest in starting something in their area.
There hadn’t been an event like this in Manawatū for a long time.
The featured tribute performances would pay homage to three of the biggest names in hard rock and heavy metal, Metallica, Megadeth and Iron Maiden.
The Metallica and Megadeth sets would be performed by Auckland thrash tribute band Metadeth, while the Iron Maiden tribute would be performed by Deathnir.
Another out-of-town act, Kaosis, would perform with heavy industrial sound and a full show including lasers, smoke, dancers and cold spark pyrotechnics.
Other bands that have played include The Rising Tide, Kokoa Nashi, Deadset, Defetus, Kavort, Government Pest, Drakaris and Feral.
Thompson said tickets were $10 and sold well.
The low ticket price was to encourage a full house.
The bands all had tight-knit fanbases and they were trying to organize an event where they could all come together.
He said metal bands don’t really get their music played on the radio and that takes away a lot of funding opportunities as well as chances of getting booked for festivals.
“There aren’t really any opportunities for these metal bands to play outside of their own gigs most of the time.”
Tickets are available on Eventfinda.
