Two dozen metal and hardcore bands from across the Southeast are converging on Tampa's Ybor Heights neighborhood this weekend for Rott Fest, a two-day festival kicking off Friday afternoon at Deviant Libation. Tickets start at $15 and remain available for both days of the event, which runs Friday through Saturday, Oct. 23-24.
The festival brings together a wide swath of heavy subgenres under one roof, according to Creative Loafing Tampa, which reports the massive lineup spans roughly two dozen bands. Among the acts on the bill are Gurm, playing what the outlet describes as slamgaze; Ghost Tape, bringing groove metal; and Trailer, billed as nu-metal-dad-rock. The stylistic range underscores just how far the Southeastern metal and hardcore scene has branched out in recent years.
Headliners Travel From Alabama and Tampa's Own Backyard
Topping the bill is Alabama's Slugbleed, described as a trailer park slam band, sharing headliner status with homegrown heavy hitter ZeroFL. The same report notes ZeroFL is set to play the indoor stage on day two of the festival, giving local fans a hometown act to close things out.
Event listings on Deviant Libation's own site confirm the two-night format, with separate entries for “SOILED SWAMP PRESENTS: ROTT FEST DAY ONE” and “SOILED SWAMP PRESENTS: ROTT FEST DAY TWO.” Both nights are set for the venue at 3800 N Nebraska Ave in Tampa, according to Deviant Libation.
A Weekend Built for Heavy Music Fans
With roughly two dozen acts spread across two days and genres ranging from slamgaze to groove metal to trailer park slam, Rott Fest is shaping up as a dense showcase of what's happening in Southeastern heavy music right now. Tickets starting at $15 keep the entry point low for fans looking to catch multiple sets without breaking the bank.
