Knotfest Japan has announced the first phase of its 2020 lineup featuring legendary thrash metal band Anthrax along with nu metal band Korn, who will join the festival’s hosts Slipknot. This eevnt will take place on two nights from March 20 to March 21, 2020 at the Makuhari Messe near Tokyo, Japan.
The japan edition of these festivals occurred in 2014, and again in 2016, with next year’s fest making its return in 2020. Knotfest has expanded into a global brand, hosting fests in Colombia and France, where it teamed up with Hellfest Open Air.
“Knotfest started out of necessity and opportunity, chiefly a need in North America,” Slipknot’s manager Cory Brennan stated in an interview. “There was Rock On The Range, but there weren’t any other heavy music destinations out there. They were all being hipster. There was nothing for rock bands in many parts of the U.S. We went into areas where there was no competition, where no one was thinking about the fans there, and we did it. The first one was in Omaha, Nebraska, the second one was in Wisconsin — they were back to back and it was amazing.”
Although the brand has been successful, it has faced issues with some promoters such as Synergy Global Entertainment, the promoters for Ozzfest Meets Knotfest, who filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. The band has also faced issues, with its former percussionist leaving and suing the band earlier this year.
Korn released their most recent album The Nothing earlier this month. Anthrax released special 30th Anniversary edition of their album State of Euphoria late last year.
Photo Credit: Mauricio Alvarado
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