Help out Tidal Wave fest

My favorite photos of Hirax are from when they played San Francisco’s Tidal Wave festival. It’s sunny out, headbangers line the stage, and it’s a hell of a party. Check out the photos – don’t you wish you had been there?

If you’re in the Bay Area this weekend, you can experience the magic again. Tidal Wave fest is this Saturday and Sunday, and the lineup is bonkers.

Saturday features, among others, Abysmal Dawn (I just saw them play – look out for some cool new material), Giant Squid (don’t sleep on their Ichthyologist record from last year), old schoolers Anvil Chorus, and super old schoolers Raven. Raven!!! This looks like a special one-off. Their new album Walk Through Fire is sooo much fun.

Raven – “Against the Grain”
[audio: RAVEN_AGAINSTTHEGRAIN.mp3]

Sunday features blackened thrashers Witchaven, chamber rock outfit Amber Asylum, Vastum (the new band of Leila Abdul-Rauf of Saros/Hammers of Misfortune; she’s not on their demo, but I’ve been digging it anyway – stream and get it here) – and Blind Illusion. What??? And they just put out a new album??? (That takes them off the one-album wonders list.) I’m guessing Larry Lalonde and Les Claypool won’t be in the lineup. But, still…Blind Illusion!

Vastum – “Cruel Sun Rising”
[audio: VASTUM_CRUELSUNRISING.mp3]

Is this not the most random yet awesome lineup? (Maybe someday I’ll put on Truly Random Fest with Mayhem, Stuck Mojo, and Weekend Nachos as headliners.) And not only is it an all-ages festival, it’s free!

Well, it’s free to get in but certainly not free to put on. Tidal Wave has always run off of donations, and it looks like they need to raise $3700 in the two days until the fest. If you’re attending, or know people who are, or simply want to support metal, donate a few bucks here. Or if you’re a potential advertiser or sponsor, or know of one, contact the email addresses at that link. Again, the donations page is here, with links to the festival’s details.

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