The hard-rocking heavy metal fest returns to Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park Friday and Saturday. Get the preview, festival essentials and a full schedule at Local Spins.
Back at Belknap: Upheaval rocks the Grand Rapids park on Friday and Saturday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
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If anything distinguishes Upheaval Festival as one of Michigan’s premier hard rock/metal festivals, it’s the enthusiasm of the fans who flood Grand Rapids’ Belknap Park from across the state and across the country every year.
The distinctive setting just north of downtown has proven to be an ideal venue for headbangers, moshers and crowdsurfers immersed in the window-rattling, mega-energetic, guitar-searing volleys produced by many of the scene’s international stars, a roster this year includes the likes of Godsmack, Bad Omens, Killswitch Engage, Beartooth, Sevendust and Stabbing Westward.
But the festival — which runs from 1 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday — also gives a nod to emerging Michigan acts, namely Mount Pleasant DJ Dylan Delato and Detroit bands As We Divide and Splinters.
Metalcore’s As We Divide is actually playing Grand Rapids for the first time, so igniting Upheaval at 5:50 p.m. Saturday “is an insane introduction to the metal scene out there,” said singer Robbie Hunt. “People can expect to enjoy a set that requires you to get involved, jump around … Can’t beat the fact that we get to see Beartooth and Bad Omens there as well.”
Splinters: Hoping to bring a unique, high-energy vibe to Upheaval. (Courtesy Photo)
Singer Nick Ehrlich of Detroit/Port Huron’s gritty nu-metal band Splinters also plays Upheaval for the first time.
“We are looking forward to bringing our unique sound to a larger audience and being able to showcase our high-energy live show to hype up the crowd. … People should expect a brutal, high-energy and heavy crowd engagement show. We strive to lay everything out that we can truly give all of ourselves to the performance that always leaves the crowd asking for more.”
The band, which plays The Rising Stage at 8:10 p.m. Saturday, releases a new single, “Rot,” on Friday (July 19), the day before its Upheaval appearance.
“We touch base on a lot of personal issues involving mental health, suicide, anger, abandonment and many other subjects. Our hope is to inspire others to be comfortable with these topics. … Our sound is unique to the bands on the bill, but we feel as though we fit in perfectly with the lineup and can hype up the crowd.”
Hyping up the crowd will be the mission of many bands this weekend. Check out festival essentials, must-see performances and the full schedule below.
UPHEAVAL FESTIVAL ESSENTIALS
Crowd-Surf City: Upheaval Festival (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
WHERE: Belknap Park, 30 Coldbrook St. NE in Grand Rapids
WEBSITE: https://www.upheavalfest.com/
THE DRIVE:
53 miles (48 minutes) north of Kalamazoo
157 miles (2 hours, 18 minutes) west of Detroit
68 miles (1 hour, 2 minutes) west of Lansing
141 miles (2 hours, 8 minutes) south of Traverse City
THE LINEUP: Godsmack, Killswitch Engage, Bad Omens, Beartooth, Badflower, From Ashes to New, Stabbing Westward, Drowning Pool, I See Stars, Sevendust, Of Mice & Men, Saliva, Ayron Jones, Austin Meade and many more.
TICKETS: Two-day general admission tickets are $159; single-day tickets are $85, available online here. A waitlist for VIP tickets also is available.
CAN’T-MISS PERFORMER PICKS
Killswitch Engage, 7:05 p.m. Friday, Main Stage – Regarded as one of the more influential metalcore bands of the past couple of decades, Massachusetts-bred Killswitch Engage has been teasing fans about finally releasing a new studio album this year — the follow-up to 2019’s “Atonement.”
Listen/Video: “Know Your Enemy”
Sevendust (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Sevendust, 8:35 p.m. Friday, Lookout Stage – Georgia road warriors Sevendust are celebrating nearly 30 years of alt-metal/nu metal savvy while boasting plenty of Billboard Hard Rock Chart success along the way. A Detroit reviewer from LoudHailerMagazine recently raved that “they never disappoint with their killer live performances.”
Listen/Video: “Everything”
Stabbing Westward, 6:10 p.m. Saturday, Lookout Stage – Formed in the mid-1980s, industrial rockers Stabbing Westward actually broke up some two decades ago, but reunited for a 30th anniversary celebration in 2016, continued to tour and even released their first album in 21 years, “Chasing Ghosts,” in 2022. A recent review of a Chicago concert described the “invigorating” outfit “as fierce and committed as ever.”
Listen/Video: “I Am Nothing” (Live)
Badflower, 4:55 p.m. Saturday, Main Stage – In the world of hard rock, this Los Angeles bunch is relatively new to the scene (the band’s first full-length album, “OK, I’m Sick,” was released in 2019 and hit Top 20 on several charts), but boasts a throwback sound and a reputation for uber-lively shows.
Listen/Video: “Teacher Has a Gun”
Beartooth, 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Main Stage – This Columbus metalcore band revels in high-energy, fun shows. Local Spins photographer Chelsea Whitaker says: “I’ve always connected with their sound and lyrics, and love how they’ve evolved over the years. I also love how open (singer/multi-instrumentalist) Caleb Shomo has been about his mental health struggles.” She also notes the band’s latest album, “The Surface,” shows they’ve “grown out of pain and into a good place now.”
Listen/Video: “Riptide”
Michigan Contingent: Dylan Delato, 1:10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Main Stage; As We Divide, 5:50 p.m. Saturday, The Rising Stage; Splinters, 8:10 p.m. Saturday, The Rising Stage
UPHEAVAL FESTIVAL: THE 2024 SCHEDULE
REVISIT: Local Spins coverage of Upheaval Festival 2023.
Copyright 2024, Spins on Music LLC
