With Slipknot's only Knotfest sideshow, in Adelaide, already sold out, Knotfest organisers have added a stack of new sideshows to the 2025 gig calendar.
The new run of concerts includes dates with A Day To Remember, BABYMETAL, Slaughter To Prevail, Within Temptation, Enter Shikari, Hatebreed, Miss May I, Vended and Sunami (scroll down for specific dates-venues)."The sideshows you've been asking for. . . Melbourne and Brisbane we are excited for our first ever Australian headline shows this March," declares Within Temptation. There won't be any rest for Hatebreed who play a trio of sideshows: "Off day shows from Knotfest announced!"
While Enter Shikari will be visiting three new places to perform live: Sunshine Coast, Belgrave (in Melbourne) and Newcastle. "AUSTRALIA! Three intimate sideshows in places we've never played before!"
Miss May I are equally charged to headline their own concerts while down under. "Melbourne and Sydney! We're stoked to announce two intimate headline shows this March ❤️." Lastly, Vended have extended their visit. "❗️AUSTRALIA❗️ We're stoked to announce two headline shows this March. . . We'll also be supporting Slipknot in Adelaide."
Metal music-loving stand-up comic Luke Severeid is also set to head down under all the way from Seattle as part of Knotfest, interviewing bands at the festival and also performing his own sideshows.
"I'm going to Australia to yell some jokes in March! This has been in the works for a while now and I'm so GD stoked to finally be able to tell all of you about it," shares Luke.
"I'm going to be there the same time as KNOTFEST which isn't just a fun coincidence, so I'll be able to finally find out once and for all if the circle pits spin the same way in both hemispheres or if that's just a myth like the toilet thing."
Tickets to all sideshows on sale from 9am (local time) on 28 January.
A Day To Remember
No strangers to Australian shores, Florida-hailing quartet A Day To Remember head to Australia for the first time since 2019. Wielding an irresistible melting pot of metalcore, pop-punk and post-hardcore, A Day To Remember have remained one of the most versatile and vigorous acts to emerge from the early 2000s, with the group remaining an active force from the halcyon days of MySpace and physical media through to the modern era of TikTok and streaming.Mon 3 Mar - The Fortitude Music Hall (Brisbane)
Babymetal
Electrifying purveyors of kawaii metal, Babymetal will bring their kaleidoscopic infusion of J-pop-meets-heavy-metal wizardry. The band have taken the heavy world by storm since first forming in 2010.Between their exclusive global fanbase, ongoing chart success, including the rare feat as becoming the first Asian act to storm to the top of the Billboard Rock Albums chart, avant-garde creative aesthetics and direction, and a legion of celebrity fans, including Corey Taylor, Rob Zombie, Metallica, Deftones and Limp Bizkit, Babymetal unleashed their fourth studio album 'The Other One' in 2023 and sold out their first Australian headline tour in 2023.
Tue 4 Mar - The Fortitude Music Hall (Brisbane)
Thu 6 Mar - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)
Slaughter To Prevail
After obliterating Aussie crowds with their debut Australian performance as part of Good Things Festival in 2023, Russian-hailing deathcore behemoths Slaughter To Prevail, led by the formidable frontman Alex Terrible, bring a ferocious amalgamation of deathcore and blackened metal sonic onslaught that leaves no survivors.The band's relentless pursuit of metal domination has led them to conquer stages across the globe, most recently supporting Five Finger Death Punch on an extensive North American run in 2024 along with performances at Resurrection Fest, Hellfest, Copenhell and Graspop.
Thu 27 Feb - Northcote Theatre (Melbourne)
Within Temptation
Pioneers of dark and anthemic music, Dutch collective Within Temptation has captivated audiences for over 20 years, with 2025 marking the first time that the powerhouse modern rockers will perform down under.With a career that spans eight studio albums, over four million records sold and dominating the Billboard Mainstream Rock Charts, Within Temptation have consistently evolved their sound, exploring within and beyond the symphonic rock genre alongside metal, atmospheric and melodic elements.
Mon 3 Mar - The Princess Theatre (Brisbane)
Thu 6 Mar - Max Watts (Melbourne)
Enter Shikari
Formed in 2003, British rockers Enter Shikari exploded onto the scene via their 2007 debut album 'Take To The Skies', generating significant chart success and certified gold status. A band who wield an exhilarating amalgamation of alt rock, and electronica along with drum and bass, dubstep and beyond, Enter Shikari also delve into societal and personal themes, seen most recently on 2023's 'A Kiss For The Whole World', which debuted #1 on the UK album charts.With seven studio albums, multiple award wins and nominations, and a dedicated fanbase worldwide, Enter Shikari have also extensively toured the globe as headliners, as well as with the likes of You Me At Six, WARGASM and a staggering who's who of the heavy world at high profile festivals for decades.
Mon 3 Mar - Solbar (Sunshine Coast)
Wed 5 Mar - Sooki Lounge (Melbourne)
Thu 6 Mar - King St Bandroom (Newcastle)
Hatebreed
Celebrating three decades as a band in 2024, American heavy metal hardcore icons Hatebreed are set to detonate their monstrous live show celebrating their seminal sophomore album 'Perseverance' for Australian fans in 2025.From garnering a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance in 2005 for their track 'Live For This', through to releasing eight full-length albums, Hatebreed's unwavering devotion to their craft and respect from their fans and critics alike continues to elevate their dedicated exploration of every gamut of the heavy music realms, armed with a stage presence that dazzles in ferocity, empowerment and, ultimately, unity.
Tue 4 Mar - The Triffid (Brisbane)
Wed 5 Mar - 170 Russell (Melbourne)
Fri 7 Mar - Metro Theatre (Sydney)
Miss May I
All the way from Ohio, Miss May I will lend their trademark sonic fury to the Knotfest experience, following the recent unveiling of their entirely re-recorded 15th anniversary version of their beloved 2009 debut album 'Apologies Are For The Weak'.An undisputed fixture of the modern heavy music community, Miss May I merge passion with savagery and proficiency, constantly defying expectations while also enamouring in a live setting. With 'Apologies Are For The Weak' catapulting Miss May I into an instant success story, the band went on to perform with Pierce The Veil, We Came As Romans and Parkway Drive.
Tue 4 Mar - Stay Gold (Melbourne)
Wed 5 Mar - Crowbar Sydney
Vended
Hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, Vended has been pushing the limits of combustible energy and raw aggression since their 2018 inception. Their bold, honest, passionate take on heavy music raises the flag for a new generation, with Revolver heralding them as one of 10 bands leading the new wave of nü-metal.Releasing their debut self-titled studio album in 2024, Vended firmly stamped out their reputation for raw, urgent and engaging craftsmanship, with a defiant yet empowering amalgamation of introspection and reflection of the world at large. With tours in their wake alongside Jinjer, P.O.D. and While She Sleeps, Vended's ultimate goal is nothing less than world domination. No compromises.
Wed 5 Mar - The Brightside (Brisbane)
Thu 6 Mar - Stay Gold (Melbourne)
Sunami
Originally intended as a short-lived joke band, San Fran bay area hardcore group Sunami formed in 2019 and swiftly gained notoriety for their violent debut live performance. The band rapidly continued past their planned timeframe with the release of three EPs and, ultimately, their self-titled debut album in 2023.With down-tuned riffs, riot-ready breakdowns and furious lyrics that packs a mean yet tasty punch, Sunami have become leaders in their genre; and their frenzied live shows have become the stuff of legend.
Tue 4 Mar - Prince Bandroom (Melbourne)
Wed 5 Mar - Manning Bar (Sydney)
Luke Severeid
Luke Severeid is a hill-hiking, metal music-loving, chrome-dome-having stand-up comedian from Seattle. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest with the plaids and IPA-fuelled husk to prove it, he has spent the last decade yelling jokes all over North America (and soon: THE WORLD).Luke's comedic style has been described as insightfully idiotic, aggressively absurd, and most accurately, unmedicated ADHD in action. Besides looking identical to your favourite bouncer and or bass player, Luke was also recently in the Big Sky Comedy Festival, a semifinalist in both the Seattle and San Francisco International Comedy Competition, and a winner of Best Comedy Film at HUMP! Film Festival.
Sat 1 Mar - Sitdown Comedy Club (Brisbane)
Wed 5 Mar - Stay Gold (Melbourne)
Fri 7 Mar - Factory Floor (Sydney)
