The Rage Network Preview - June 2024

It's been a sec, but we're back on it and in perfect time for June, now that Pride Month is upon us! Not only that, it’s also the beginning of festival season proper which is a wonderful feeling, so we’ve got a nice set of gigs and fests for you all here!

Download:

Ahhh Download Festival, the spiritual home of alt music in the UK. Download XXI is the closest to a soft reset that we’ve seen thus far, with a duo of new headliners in Fall Out Boy and Queens Of The Stone Age, alongside 2017 headliners Avenged Sevenfold, and notably no bands from the 80’s - the first album release from any of the three came in 1998! With a plethora of queer and female bands throughout the bill, this is one of the strongest full lineups we’ve seen in years! Bands like The Callous Daoboys, Enter Shikari, Scene Queen, Bambie Thug, and of course Limp Bizkit will make this a weekend to remember.

Flatspot World:

On the same weekend as Download, there is a smaller pair of gigs showcasing some amazing hardcore at The Dome in London. Flatspot Records are showing off a few acts on their roster, and it’s sure to be one hectic set of shows. Scowl, Zulu, Chubby and the Gang and Speed will be bringing the heat, and Jivebomb, Stiff Meds, Higher Power and Dynamite are supporting.

Foo Fighters:

Dave Grohl and co are trucking their mighty post-grunge hard rock goodness across the pond for a couple mighty mighty stadium shows around the UK, playing in Manchester, Glasgow, London, Cardiff and Birmingham. Their latest album ‘But Here We Are’ will be played in front of UK audiences for the first time ever, and the legendary rock group will be playing here for the first time since the Taylor Hawkins memorial show at Wembley.

Exploring Birdsong:

The relatively elusive Liverpudlian trio Exploring Birdsong are returning to nearly as close to their hometown as they can get, with a show at Manchester's very own Deaf Institute. The genre-bending band have played at festivals across the UK and Europe, and after a London headliner at the beginning of this year they are once again going to be flexing their musical muscles onstage.

Underoath:

Florida metalcore act Underoath released their seminal album 'They're Only Chasing Safety' twenty years ago, and so for the anniversary they're embarking on a worldwide tour with some amazing support acts. In the UK, they're going to be playing four shows with Static Dress late this month, in Brsitol, Birmingham, London and Manchester. For what promises to be an unforgettable night of 2000's metalcore, get yourself a ticket or two.

Outbreak:

Outbreak Festival 2023 is where Out Of Rage was born, whilst some of the management team were watching a Trapped Under Ice set. This year's edition promises to once again be a home for some of the best hardcore and emo in music, with American Football headlining as well as bands like Killing Me Softly, Demonstration Of Power, Chat Pile and Poison The Well playing.

AC/DC:

Scottish Australian Geordie riff gods AC/DC are returning to Great Britain for what could be the very last time to play some of the greatest rock songs in history. Stadium rock hasn’t ever been the same since they hit the top tier, and  the heroes of so many guitarists shall be providing one more tours worth of singalong belters. At the very end of this month and early next, the eyes of rock music will be on the United Kingdom as the rock and roll train makes a stop here, one more time.

Words: Jake Longhurst

Cover Photo: Nick Davarias