With the Knotfest Roadshow cancelled for 2020, Slipknot is finding new ways to reach their audience and the wider metal community in general. In a post made to the event’s Twitter account Wednesday (27), Slipknot and Knotfest announced a streaming event set to take place this weekend, as well as a complete revamp of the event’s website.
Celebrating what would have been the launch weekend for the US leg of this year’s Knotfest Roadshow, a live stream event is scheduled for Friday, May 29. Starting at 6PM Eastern, the event will feature previously recorded live sets from this year’s Knotfest artists. Slipknot will air their 2019 Graspop Metal Meeting headlining set that took place just before the release of their latest album, We Are Not Your Kind. Underoath will show their 2016 Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas set where they performed They’re Only Chasing Safety in its entirety, as well as a portion of frontman Spencer Chamberlin’s Deep Dive interview with writer/host Ryan J. Downey. Finally, Code Orange will re-air their Last Ones Left: In Fear Of The End set, which was recorded in an empty theater and live streamed on Twitch this past March, as well as share a portion of frontman Jami Morgan’s conversation with Slipknot’s Clown on the inaugural episode of the percussionist’s Electric Theater series. The stream will be hosted by rock journalist Terry “Beez” Bezer.
New, limited edition tour merch will also only be available this weekend. From Friday through Sunday (31), items that were initially supposed to be sold during the Knotfest Roadshow will be available for purchase in the event’s store. Items available include t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, a beanie and a face mask.
The live stream also helps launch the new and improved knotfest.com. Once only a tour website with dates and ticket information, the site, according to the Twitter post, has been turned into a “fan-centric platform, created by artists for their fans, dedicated to expanding the rock and metal genres and providing a one-stop destination showcasing the very best the culture has to offer.”
“Knotfest.com has been relaunched and re-imagined, creating a global meeting place under the banner of heavy culture,” reads a banner at the top of the website. “In addition to news about Knotfest, fans can now find exclusive performances, videos, artist chats, interviews, merchandise and more from the best artists around the world.”
Alongside news, interviews and music videos, the new website will host shows, including the aforementioned Deep Dive with Ryan J. Downey, Electirc Theater with Slipknot’s Clown, Mosh Talks with Beez and The Downbeat with Craig Reynolds (Stray From The Path).
“With plenty more exciting additions still to be unveiled,” concludes the Twitter post, “knotfest.com looks forward to awakening your senses through this amazing culture we’ve all built together.”
All Knotfest tour dates in the US and UK have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Knotfest Japan has been postponed until January 10 & 11, 2021. Knotfest At Sea has been postponed until August 2021, though an official date has not been announced yet.
