Over the weekend, John Gerhardt, founder of the annual two-day Ironfest, announced the massive lineup for this year’s festival, which takes place Nov. 9 and 10 at Newport’s Southgate House Revival.
Ironfest — entering its ninth year — has become one of the most anticipated events of the year for many area music lovers. This year’s Ironfest again features more than 50 acts over two nights, including tons of Cincinnati’s bands, generally (but not exclusively) from the Rock, Punk, Metal, Hardcore and Post Punk realms.
Touring acts this year include Australia’s Strawberry Fist Cake (with whom local Punk group The ZGs have toured extensively) and Louisville, Ky. “Scream Pop” duo GRLwood (check the twosome’s video for “Bisexual” below).
There will also be some debut performances from new local acts, including Still Witches (featuring members of The Sundresses and White Girls) and Metal quartet Blessed Black, which just released its debut single (listen below).
Ironfest will also feature local internationally-touring Hard Rock group Valley of the Sun‘s first time on stage in two years.
Gerhardt (who works regularly in the road crews of a variety of notable touring acts) founded Ironfest to honor the memory of his friend, the late “Iron” Mike Davidson, a fellow musician and huge music fan. CityBeat’s Nick Grever spoke with Gerhardt in 2016 ahead of Ironfest VII about how the event was actually Davidson’s idea, sparked one night over drinks.
“We were both talking about funerals and dissertations and wakes and we both were like, ‘Dude, if anything were to happen, don’t worry about going to the funeral or the layout, just throw a big party,’ ” Gerhardt said.
Click here to read the full CityBeat article about Ironfest’s inspiration, philosophy and history.
Below is the full lineup announced for Ironfest IX. Tickets (just $5 in advance per night) are available now here and here.
Friday, Nov. 9
Boss’ Daughter
Black Owls
Blood on the Blade
Blessed Black
Blacklight Barbarian
Burn Burn Burn
Calumet
Carian
Casteless
Draculas
The Handsome Scoundrels
Hellcat Matt
King Serpent
Knife the Symphony
Lockjaw
Mollusk
The Nothing
Prize the Doubt
OC45
Old City
Reuther
The Skulx
SlutBomb
Smoke Signals…
Tommy Grit & the Pricks
Veronica Grim & the Heavy Hearts
Saturday, Nov. 10
500 Miles to Memphis
Ball of Light
Brother O Brother
Casino Warrior
Dead Man String Band
The Dopamines
Frayle
From Parts Unknown
Go Go Buffalo
GRLwood
Hand of Doom
Heavy Hinges
JIMS
The Perfect Children
Raging Nathans
The Shanks
The Shivers
Smokehealer
Smoke Parade
Still Witches
Strawberry Fist Cake
Tiger Sex
Trash Knight
Valley of the Sun
Wonky Tonk & the Highlife
Yardboss
The ZGs
This article appears in Sep 5-12, 2018.