The Chicago Open Air festival will be taking a break from the circuit in 2018 but plans to make a triumphant return in 2019. Organizers say they are taking this year off due to their inability to “bring you the caliber of event you deserve.”

The festival which takes place in Bridgeview, Illinois at Toyota Park, located about 25 minutes south of Chicago, has been rocking heavy and hard rock fans’ socks off since 2016. It features the best of heavy metal, hard rock, punk, hardcore, industrial and metal core; along with the best craft beers and gournet man-food fans can get their hands on.

The 2016 festival received notoriety by booking German industrial band Rammstein’s only performance in the US during that year. Additinally Korn debuted their single “Rotting in Vain” at the 2016 party. Along with Rammstein and Korn, Open Air 2016 saw other acts such as Slipknot, Disturbed, Chevelle, Marilyn Manson, Helmet and Ministry. While the second stages saw heavy-hitters such as Bullet for my Valentine, In this Moment, All that Remains, Beartooth,  Killswitch Engage, Meshuggah and Hatebreed among many others.

The 2017 lineup did not fail to disappoint as the list of bands included legendary artists such as Kiss, Ozzy Osbourne, Slayer, Megadeath and Anthrax; along with Rob Zombie, Korn, Stonesour, Steel Panther, Godsmack, Behemoth, Hell or Highwater, Body Count, Hellyeah, Kyng, DevilDriver, Whitechapel and Suicide Silence among many others.

The festival simply stated on their Facebook page that they are taking a hiatus and would be back in 2019 and no projected lineup for 2018 was listed on the page. Fans are hopeful that the lineup can come back bigger, badder and manlier than ever in 2019.