Festivals are typically annual affairs, but sometimes they go so well, there’s no need to stick to that schedule. Such is the case for Planet Desert Rock Weekend, which debuted last November and returns May 16-19.
“We’re very proud of this lineup and put a ton of work into this,” says promoter John Gist of Vegas Rock Revolution. “We have folks coming in from all over the world, including Australia!”
The riff-rific fun kicks off Thursday night with a bluesy four-band bill at Count’s: Iowa’s Radio Moscow, Portland’s Ape Machine, North Californians Shotgun Sawyer and Las Vegans Jason Walker & The Majestic 12. One night later at the Bunkhouse, former Kyuss frontman John Garcia makes his second Planet Desert Rock appearance with his Band of Gold, headlining a stacked stoner-rock show that will also feature LA outfits Sasquatch and Nebula, Bay Area band The Watchers, Coachella Valley group Death in Pretty Wrapping and European travelers Saturna (Spain) and Mr. Bison (Italy).
Saturday’s Bunkhouse showcase will bring Portland metal favorite Red Fang—which played last year’s Psycho Las Vegas festival—back to town, along with LA’s Kyng, New York City’s Black Water Rising, Wisconsin’s Droids Attack, Detroit’s Red Stone Souls, Boston’s Sundrifter and South Dakota’s Rifflord. And on Sunday afternoon back at Count’s, six acts from Europe will wrap up the fest: 1968 (England), Green Desert Water (Spain), Omega Sun (Slovenia), Captain Caravan (Norway) and Finnish bands Kaiser and Monsternaut.
Earplugs are highly recommended.
PLANET DESERT ROCK WEEKEND V2 May 16-19, $15-$43 per show, $89-$115 weekend pass. Bunkhouse Saloon & Count’s Vamp’d, bit.ly/2VVpHa9.
