Spring is finally here, and she brought with her round two of Skeletal Lightning Fest. The festival’s organizer, Sean Hermann, succeeded last year in bringing together DIY bands of all sorts from around the Midwest, including festival headliner Into It. Over It., to play the Red Herring and Channing Murray Foundation. This year, the festival has expanded into a three-day long weekend event, beginning Friday night at Error Records and continuing Saturday and Sunday at the IMC.
While the fest is certainly not genre-specific, the bands all fall under the blanket of punk or metal, and the lineup seems to be heavy on screamo bands. Some of last year’s best performances are returning to the fest, including haunting sludge metal band Northless, The Reptilian, whose set last year was the most energetic one of the weekend, Springfield sweethearts Our Lady, the three-drummer assault that is My Dad from Chicago, Kittyhawk, Foxing and more. There’s also a few new and returning local bands playing, including Enta, Hank. and Doomsayer.
This year also features veteran doom metal group Thou, and screamo band Circle Takes The Square, who are headlining Saturday night. Weekend Nachos will headline Friday, and Tenement on Sunday. There are also after-shows at Dingbat Dungeon and Hank. Haus. on Friday and Saturday night, respectively. Other highlights of the fest should be Brighter Arrows, Joie De Vivre, Angry Gods and an Ice Hockey v. Yusuke battle set, but don’t take my word for it, listen to the bands and see for yourself what a wonderful showcase of Midwest DIY this weekend is bound to be.
Friday, April 11th @ Error Records [Sold Out]
6:40-7:00 – Doomsayer
7:20-7:40 – Angry Gods
8:00-8:20 – Northless
8:40-9:00 – Cloud Rat
9:20-9:50 – Thou
10:10-10:40 – Enabler
11:00-11:30 – Weekend Nachos
Saturday, April 12th @ The IMC
12:20-12:40 – Hank.
12:55-1:15 – Our Lady
1:30-1:50 – Laika
2:05-2:25 – Enta
2:30-3:00 – Dessa Sons
3:15-3:35 – Estates
3:50-4:10 – Marcy
4:25-4:55 – Droughts
5:00-5:20 – Coma Regalia
5:35-5:55 – Brighter Arrows
6:10-6:30 – Flesh Born
6:30-7:00 – (Break)
7:00-7:20 – Locktender
7:35-7:55 – Tyler Daniel Bean
8:10-8:30 – Aviator
8:45-9:05 – Scowler
9:20-9:40 – Life In Vacuum
9:55-10:15 – Two Knights
10:30-10:50 – Annabel
11:05-11:25 – The Reptilian
11:45 – Circle Takes The Square
Sunday, April 13th @ The IMC
1:30-1:55 – Ice Hockey v. Yusuke BATTLE SET
2:10-2:30 – Acidic Tree
2:45-3:05 – Kittyhawk
3:20-3:40 – (Secret set)
3:55-4:15 – GRYSCL
4:30-4:50 – Griswold (formerly Sleepyhead)
5:05-5:25 – Anodes
5:40-6:00 – My Dad
6:00-7:00 – (Break)
7:00-7:20 – Sender Receiver
7:35-7:55 – Foxing
8:10-8:30 – Itto
8:45-9:05 – Victor Shores
9:20-9:40 – Tiny Moving Parts
9:55-10:15 – Joie De Vivre
10:30-11:00 – Tenement
For more info on Skeletal Lightning Fest, check out the Facebook event, and also be sure to read interviews with Weekend Nachos and Tenement.