Knotfest
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Knotfest is a music festival created in 2012 by American rock band Slipknot and their longtime manager and CEO of 5B Artist Management, Cory Brennan. The event has been held both as a destination festival and touring festival in several countries including the United States, Canada and Mexico in North America; Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia in South America; Finland, France, Germany, United Kingdom* in Europe, Japan in Asia; and Australia.
Aside from Slipknot, Knotfest has featured a diverse alumni of past performers including metal acts Korn, Deftones, Bring Me the Horizon, Avenged Sevenfold, Limp Bizkit, Lamb of God, Gojira, Judas Priest, Bad Omens; Hardcore bands Turnstile and Knocked Loose; Hip-Hop acts $UICIDEBOY$ and Ghostface Killah and many more[1]
History
[edit]Creation
[edit]Knotfest was officially announced on June 4, 2012. Among the activities, the festival offered as part of its "dark carnival experience" were circus big-top tents, pillars of fire, amusement park rides, burlesque performers, firebreathers, stilt walkers, drum circles made of junkyard cars and graffiti walls. The two shows also debuted a Slipknot museum.[2]
"It's all about having fun and going crazy, bringing it to the standard it used to be," Slipknot's Shawn "Clown" Crahan told Rolling Stone. "It's time for us to really engulf this idea known as Knotfest where we're in control, we make a day devoted to our mindset, our ideas, the people that we want to play with, the people that we think our fans want to be around... When everyone leaves their senses [will be] overloaded, and I'm talking about smells, sights, hearing, your body, everything is overloaded with stimulation, because that's what Slipknot does."[2]
The inaugural Knotfest was a two-city event and took place on August 17, 2012, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and August 18, 2012, in Somerset, Wisconsin.[3] Among the line-up were bands such as Deftones, Lamb of God, and Cannibal Corpse.[2] On March 24, 2014, it was officially announced that "Knotfest Japan" would be held in November 15 and 16 at Makuhari Messe, Tokyo.[4] Headliners were Slipknot, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Lamb of God, Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach, Bring Me the Horizon, Trivium and In Flames. On the first date of the Mayhem Festival 2014, Knotfest 2014 was announced, with it being held at the San Manuel Amphitheater in San Bernardino, California, on October 24–26.[5] Knotfest 2015 was to be held at the same location, from October 23 through 25. In December 2019, it was announced that Knotfest would be held in the United Kingdom for the first time in 2020.[6]
Broadcast
[edit]On July 11, Slipknot announced that their closing performance at Knotfest would be broadcast via a pay-per-view streaming website.[7] Shawn "Clown" Crahan said, "It means everything for everyone to see the live spectacle we're creating in the flesh, but we understand some fans around the world can't be at the show. We've now made it possible for you to be there in spirit - so join us live on August 18."[7]
Website
[edit]On May 27, 2020, Slipknot and 5B Management relaunched the Knotfest website as a "global media hub" for news, interviews and more.[8][9][10]
Knotfest launched Hardlore: Stories from Tour hosted by Colin Young and Bo Lueders on March 22nd, 2022 [11]. The series is routinely in the Top 25 of Music Podcast charts and the top weekly heavy music podcast [12]
The Knotfest site is home to She's With the Band, a weekly podcast hosted by Tori Kravitz that focuses on women in the music industry.[13]
In addition, Knotfest is the home to the guitar driven interview series, Defender of the Riff hosted by Daniel Dekay [14] which has appeared live at Blue Ridge Rock Festival [15] and will be appearing at Download Festival in 2025 [16]; as well as the behind the scenes docu-series Beyond the Breakdown [17] hosted by Tori Kravitz.
Performers
[edit]2012 line-up
[edit]| Friday 17 August[18] | Saturday 18 August[18] | ||
| Main Stage | Second Stage | Main Stage | Second Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lamb of God |
Lamb of God | ||
2014 line-up
[edit]California
[edit]| Friday 24 October | ||
| Stage 002 | Stage 003 | Campground Stage |
|---|---|---|
|
Suicide Silence |
||
| Saturday 25 October | |||||
| Rockstar Energy Drink Main Stage | Stage 002 | Stage 003 | Headbang for the Highway Stage 004 | Extreme Stage 005 | Campground Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Testament |
In This Moment |
The Faceless |
|||
| Sunday 26 October | |||||
| Rockstar Energy Drink Main Stage | Stage 002 | Stage 003 | Headbang for the Highway Stage 004 | Extreme Stage 005 | Campground Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot |
Killswitch Engage |
Dead for Denver |
Napalm Death |
||
Japan
[edit]| Saturday 15 November | Sunday 16 November |
|
Slipknot |
Slipknot |
2015 line-up
[edit]California
[edit]| Friday 23 October |
| VIP + Camping Kickoff Party |
|---|
|
Sepultura |
| Saturday 24 October | |||||
| Rockstar Energy Drink Main Stage | Stage 002 | Stage 003 | Extreme Stage 004 | Headbang for the Highway Stage 005 | Campground Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kataklysm |
Fire from the Gods |
||||
| Sunday 25 October | |||||
| Rockstar Energy Drink Main Stage | Stage 002 | Stage 003 | Extreme Stage 004 | Headbang for the Highway Stage 005 | Campground Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot |
Dying Fetus |
I, of Helix |
|||
Mexico
[edit]| Saturday 5 December | |
| Main Stage | Tecate Stage |
|---|---|
|
Slipknot |
Cradle of Filth |
2016 line-up
[edit]"Ozzfest Meets Knotfest" California
[edit]| Friday 23 September | ||
| Saturday 24 September | |||
| Lemmy Stage | Monster Energy Drink Stage 001 | Monster Energy Drink Stage 002 | Nuclear Blast Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Black Sabbath |
Municipal Waste | ||
| Sunday 25 September | |||
| Lemmy Stage | Rockstar Energy Drink Stage 001 | Rockstar Energy Drink Stage 002 | Nuclear Blast Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot |
Whitechapel | ||
Mexico
[edit]| Saturday 15 October | |
| Main Stage | Iowa Stage |
|---|---|
|
Avenged Sevenfold |
Meshuggah |
| Sunday 16 October | |||
| Main Stage | Iowa Stage | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot |
Opeth | ||
Japan
[edit]| Saturday 5 November | Sunday 6 November |
|
Slipknot |
Slipknot |
2017 line-up
[edit]Mexico
[edit]| Saturday 28 October | |||
| Tecate Stage | Day of the Gusano Stage | The Maggots Stage | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
A Perfect Circle |
Anthrax |
||
Ozzfest Meets Knotfest 2017
[edit]| Friday November 3 | ||
|
Monster Magnet | ||
| Saturday 4 November | |||
| Lemmy Stage | Monster Energy Drink Stage 001 | Monster Energy Drink Stage 002 | Nuclear Blast Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ozzy Osbourne |
1349 |
Municipal Waste | |
| Sunday 5 November | |||
| Lemmy Stage | Rockstar Energy Drink Stage 001 | Rockstar Energy Drink Stage 002 | Nuclear Blast Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rob Zombie |
Testament |
Sid Wilson of Slipknot | |
2018 line-up
[edit]Colombia
[edit]| Friday 26 October | ||
|
Judas Priest | ||
Mexico
[edit]Canceled due to lack of organization.[20]
2019 line-up
[edit]Knotfest meets Hellfest 2019 France
[edit]| Thursday 20 June[21] | ||
|
Slipknot | ||
Knotfest Roadshow 2019 USA & Canada
[edit]| Lineup[22] | ||
Knotfest meets Forcefest 2019 Mexico
[edit]| Knotfest 30 November | |||
| Main Stage | Tecate Stage | Monster Energy Stage | Prudence Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot (cancelled) |
Godsmack |
311 |
Carcass |
Colombia
[edit]| Friday 6 December | |||
| Knot Stage | Carnaval Stage | Alternative Stage | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot |
W.A.S.P. |
Carnifex | |
2021
[edit]Iowa
[edit]| Saturday 25 September | |||
| Stage 1 | Stage 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot |
|||
Knotfest Roadshow USA
[edit]| Lineup | ||
Los Angeles
[edit]| 5 November | ||
|
Slipknot | ||
2022
[edit]Knotfest Roadshow USA & Canada
[edit]Jinjer was announced to appear in the first leg, but cancelled due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, their homeland.[23]
| March 16 - April 17 | May 18 - June 18 | September 20 - October 7 |
Germany
[edit]| 30 July | ||
|
Slipknot | ||
Finland
[edit]| Friday 12 August | |||
| Main Stage | Pulse of the Maggots Stage | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nightwish |
Huora | ||
| Saturday 13 August | |||
| Main Stage | Pulse of the Maggots Stage | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot |
Huoratron | ||
Knotfest Roadshow Argentina
[edit]| 8 December | 13 December | 15 December |
| Movistar Arena | C Complejo Art Media | |
|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot |
Judas Priest |
Trivium |
Colombia
[edit]| 9 December | ||
|
Judas Priest | ||
Chile
[edit]| 11 December | ||
|
Slipknot | ||
Brazil
[edit]| 18 December | |||
| Knotstage | Carnival Stage | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slipknot |
Judas Priest | ||
2023
[edit]Australia
[edit]| 24 March - 26 March | ||
|
Slipknot | ||
- Bad Omens pulled out of the Melbourne show on 24 March due to their vocalist Noah Sebastian losing his voice. [citation needed]
Japan
[edit]| 1 April[24] | 2 April[25] |
|
Slipknot |
Slipknot |
Italy
[edit]| 25 June |
|
Slipknot |
2024
[edit]Australia
[edit]| Knotfest Australia | ||
| 21 March - 24 March | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Stage 2 | |
|
Pantera |
Disturbed | |
| Knotfest Australia Sideshows | |||||||||
| 17 March | 19 March | 20 March | 25 March | 26 March | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | Melbourne | Sydney | Brisbane | ||||||
|
Pantera |
|||||||||
Iowa
[edit]| 21 September |
|
Slipknot |
Brazil
[edit]| 19 October | 20 October |
|
Slipknot |
Slipknot |
Argentina
[edit]| 26 October |
Chile
[edit]| 2 November |
|
Slipknot |
2025
[edit]Australia
[edit]| Stage 1 | Stage 2 |
|
Slipknot |
A Day to Remember |
PULSE OF THE MAGGOTS
[edit]Knotfest launched Pulse of the Maggots as an emerging artist series that has featured three digital festivals (2020, 2021 + 2022),[26] one in-person festival (Birmingham 2022),[27] and one showcase at South by Southwest in 2023.[28][29] The Pulse of the Maggots brand also appears as naming on stages at full Knotfest festivals including Knotfest Finland 2022 [30] and Knotfest Iowa 2024. [31]
Pulse of the Maggots Festival 2020
| NOV 13, 2020 |
|---|
| Hacktivist October Ends |
Pulse of the Maggots Festival 2x21
| June, 25, 2021 |
|---|
| Hyro the Hero As Everything Unfolds |
*announced but did not perform
Pulse of the Maggots Festival 3x22
| March 11, 2022 |
|---|
| Shadow of Intent Brutus |
Pulse of the Maggots Festival: Birmingham 4x22
| August 10, 2022 |
|---|
| Sylosis Orbit Culture |
Pulse of the Maggots Showcase: SXSW 5x23
| March 18, 2023 |
|---|
| The Callous Daoboys Creeping Death |
References
[edit]- ^ "KNOTFEST: The Story So Far - Festicket Magazine". Festicket (in French). Archived from the original on 2019-12-29. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
- ^ a b c Baltin, Steve (2012-06-04). "Slipknot to Launch Own Music Festival, Knotfest". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
- ^ Smith, Jay (2012-06-04). "Slipknot's 'Knotfest' Lineup Revealed". Pollstar. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
- ^ "KNOTFEST JAPAN 2022 -ノットフェス・ジャパン-". www.knotfestjapan.com. Archived from the original on 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
- ^ Kaufman, Spencer (2014-07-04). "Slipknot Announce 2014 U.S. Knotfest Featuring Danzig, Five Finger Death Punch, Volbeat + More". Loudwire. Archived from the original on 2014-08-20. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
- ^ "Watch Slipknot headbang to their epic new video for 'Nero Forte'". NME. 16 December 2019. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Slipknot to pay-per-view stream their Knotfest headline set". NME. 2012-07-11. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
- ^ Smith-Engelhardt, Joe. "Slipknot are reimagining Knotfest through exclusive online content". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
- ^ Borba, Ryan (2020-05-27). "Slipknot Launches New Knotfest.com Media Platform With Streamed Event Friday". Pollstar News. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
- ^ Neilstein, Vince (2020-05-28). "Let's Talk About Slipknot's Re-Launched Metal News Website". MetalSucks. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
- ^ KNOTFEST (2022-04-13). HardLore: Stories From Tour | The Electric Chair. Retrieved 2025-05-19 – via YouTube.
- ^ Spotify. "Podcast Charts". Podcast Charts. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ Columns, Sherry Thomas (2024-06-10). "Women, Music, & Have You Heard That (Music) Podcast?". The Aquarian. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
- ^ "Defender of the Riff". Knotfest. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ KNOTFEST (2024-09-06). Mick Thomson (SLIPKNOT) Defender of the Riff - Live at Blue Ridge '23. Retrieved 2025-05-19 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Step into the world of District X". Download Festival. 2025-03-26. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ "Beyond the Breakdown". Knotfest. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ a b Freeman, Phil (2012-06-04). "Slipknot Announce Knotfest'". Roadrunner Records. Archived from the original on 2012-06-13. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
- ^ Appleford, Steve (2017-11-06). "8 Highlights From Ozzfest Meets Knotfest 2017". Revolver. Archived from the original on 2018-06-24. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
- ^ Bassman, Leo (3 December 2019). "Knotfest México: crónica de una crisis de marca anunciada" [Knotfest Mexico: chronicle of a foretold brand crisis]. Runner Up Records (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ "Knotfest Meets Hellfest 2019". knotfestfrance.com. Archived from the original on 2018-12-09. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ "KNOTFEST Roadshow". Archived from the original on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2019-03-06.
- ^ "Jinjer Officially Cancel North American Touring Plans to Focus on Relief Efforts in Their Native Ukraine, Launch Charitable Shirts". 4 March 2022.
- ^ "KNOTFEST JAPAN 2020 -ノットフェス・ジャパン-". www.knotfestjapan.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
- ^ "「KNOTFEST JAPAN 2020」 振替公演日程が発表". Yahoo! Japan. 2020-04-21. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
- ^ Grow, Kory (2020-11-05). "Slipknot's Knotfest Plans Pulse of the Maggots Fest to Spotlight Rising Bands". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ "Sylosis, Heriot and more for first-ever UK Pulse Of The Maggots Fest". Kerrang!. 2022-05-26. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ "Knotfest Pulse of the Maggots Showcase". SXSW 2025 Schedule. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ "THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS, CREEPING DEATH, ESCUELA GRIND and more announced for Knot Fest SXSW showcase". lambgoat.com. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ Janka, Tanu (2022-08-26). "Knotfest first time in Finland – Slipknot shaked the ground part 2/2". Chaoszine. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
- ^ Werner, Kyle. "Slipknot's Sid Wilson embodies the pain at Knotfest; Gwar teleports to show". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
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