Vendors Abound at 14th Annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival

debbie@mazurpr.com (Debbie Sellnow) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:14:13 GMT

With a lineup of more than 75 bands over the course of three days, fans at the 14th Annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival will never be at a loss for musical entertainment. But they will also want to plan their schedules carefully to allot time to peruse the booths of the festival’s numerous vendors.

This year’s festival will boast a variety of vendors offering everything from CDs, clothing, guitar gear, body jewelry and more!

"The vendors this year are incredible,” said fest vendor queen Leah Urbano. “Make sure you bring extra cash because there will definitely be things you are going to want!"

The main vendor area is located in the balcony in the second stage area.

This year’s vendors include: Arrest Records (www.arrestrecordsnh.com), Godlyke Distributing (www.godlyke.com), Delusive Clothing (www.delusiveclothing.com), Get Punched Apparel (www.Getpunchedstore.com), Metal Machine Entertainment (www.metalmachine.net), Deathwish (www.deathwishinc.com), All In Merch (www.allinmerch.com), FDR, Sinister Girls (http://thesinistergirls.com/), Victory Records (www.victoryrecords.com), Hurt Reynolds Clothing (www.hurtreynoldsclothing.com), Naragansett, Plug Your Holes (http://www.plugyourholes.com/), Hails and Horns (www.hailsandhorns.com), Shook Clothing (www.shookclothing.com), Hatewear (www.hatewearinc.com), Iron Fist (www.shop.ironfistclothing.com), and Shirts For A Cure (www.shirtsforacure.org).

“The only way the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival could get better is if Jean Claude Van Dam showed up!” said Sam Dean from Plug Your Holes. “We can't wait. We love the fest and it’s all ways a good time.”

All In Merchanchise Returns For 5th Year As New England Metal and Hardcore Festival Sponsor

debbie@mazurpr.com (Debbie Sellnow) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:09:57 GMT

All In Merchandise has returned for its fifth year as sponsor of the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival.

Established in 2005, All In Merchandise opened with just six stores and operated from the basements and living rooms of its founding partners. Today the company is a top merchandiser for some of the hottest bands in the metal and hardcore scenes. All In Merch prioritizes up-close involvement with the scene, making the company a perfect fit for a partnership with the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival.

“The fest has grown into one of the most well-rounded events in metal and hardcore,” said All In founder/partner Jesse Brust. “This year is going to be the best year yet, and we are proud to support and have our name attached to the New England Metal and Hardcore Fest.”

The New England Metal and Hardcore Festival’s free mobile app, full of all the latest news on the fest, has been updated and is available at the iTunes store.

New England Metal and Hardcore Festival Announces Second Installment of the Mission Quest to ...

debbie@mazurpr.com (Debbie Sellnow) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:07:32 GMT

The New England Metal and Hardcore Festival is proud to announce the second installment of their branded tour, "Mission Quest to Metal Fest." The tour features The Mongoloids, Expire, and Wrong Answer. The tour was created to give bands the opportunity to tour to and make an appearance at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival. Check out the bands at one of the dates listed below.

The New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, the largest and most successful metal festival in the United States, has presented some of the biggest and up-and-coming artists in the metal and hardcore music genres over the past 13 years. This year’s lineup includes Killswitch Engage, The Black Dahlia Murder, All That Remains, Dragonforce, Every Time I Die, Oceano, Overkill, and many more. The fest takes place from April 20-22. Tickets are available through www.massconcerts.com and special VIP packages are available through www.soundrink.com.

Calprog Promoter Jim Harrel Talks About Spock’s Beard Show that Yielded ‘The X Tour Live’

debbie@mazurpr.com (Debbie Sellnow) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:03:40 GMT

For CalProg concert promoter Jim “PapaJ” Harrel, arranging the Spock’s Beard show that would yield “The X Tour Live” CD and DVD, available now via Music Theories Recordings, was a special experience that brought his whole organization full-circle.

Harrel came on board with Spock’s Beard nearly a decade ago while the band was recording “Snow,” its final release with co-founder Neal Morse, recording all the video for the “Making of Snow” DVD. Through the years he maintained a close relationship with the band. So, after Morse had branched out onto his own and was looking to play a show in area, he called upon Harrel for help.

“I was able to find a venue, a sound company, and put out a ‘call for crew’ through internet channels and people I had met while working on some post-production acoustic shows following ‘Snow’’s release,” Harrel said. “A crew of about 15 people came together to do that show and we all had a blast. A few weeks after the show the core of the crew got together for a dinner/de-brief and we all agreed that it was a lot of fun, and that we’d like to do more shows. And CalProg was born. Today, nearly 10 years later, we are essentially the exact same team doing all CalProg productions. Having the Beard back for this significant tour was like a homecoming of sorts for us.”

Concert Promoter Scott Lee 'Lives the Dream' with Music Business Empire

debbie@mazurpr.com (Debbie Sellnow) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:56:01 GMT

At 40 years old, Scott Lee is clearly not satisfied to settle into everyday hum-drum life. Instead, the Massachusetts native is building an empire of music-business upstarts that includes everything from launching bands’ careers to creating exciting opportunities for fans to meet those bands.

After more than two decades in the music business, Lee, co-founder of the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, is keeping his entrepreneurial spirit alive with the launch of Sound Rink, a company dedicated to connecting fans with the bands they love.

Sound Rink was created by Lee with partners Jason Mageau and Cody Delong as a means for fans to go beyond the music and get up-close and personal with the artists they love by offering special packages that offer meet & greets, photo opportunities, autograph signing, and question & answer sessions. Packages are sold directly through Sound Rink’s website at www.soundrink.com.

“Over the years, I have seen how much it means to fans to be able to meet their favorite bands,” Lee said. “Rather than making fans stand outside of a backstage door for hours hoping for a chance meeting, we decided to come up with a way for fans to not only meet them, but to actually have time to chat and take pictures.”

MI Annex Presents New England Metal and Hardcore Festival Does Austin Free SXSW Day Party 2012

debbie@mazurpr.com (MassConcerts) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:54:35 GMT

New England Metal And Hardcore festival is stoked to announce that we are teaming up with MI Annex and headed back to Austin, TX. For a third straight year we are bringing some amazing metal and hardcore bands to MI Annex on Friday March 16. Last year this event was packed to capacity with lines of people outside still trying to get in. This year it's bigger and better with the All In Merch Stage. Once again this event is open to the public - no wristband or badge needed, it's ALL AGES and more importantly FREE. The insanity starts at Noon. Make sure you follow us on our social media sites (listed below) as we will be posting exclusive updates all through our Boston to Austin trip.

"We are livin the dream in Austin! It's all about Music, BBQ and having a good time," says festival co-founder Scott Lee. "The SXSW Day Party lineup we put together has to be a true representation of what the festival is all about and I think we've done it again this year with bands like iwrestledabearonce, Holy Grail, Lionheart, Cancer Bats, Volumes, Molotov Solution, Gideon, Betrayal, To Each His Own, To Speak Of Wolves and Surrounded By Monsters."

Obey The Brave Makes American Debut at 14th Annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival

debbie@mazurpr.com (Debbie Sellnow) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:39:08 GMT

Canadian metal/hardcore band Obey The Brave will make its US debut at the 14th Annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival on Friday, April 20.

The new band features former members of Century Media recording artists Despised Icon and Mediaskare’s Blind Witness.

"Some of my favorite touring memories took place at the Palladium,” said vocalist Alex Erian. “So stoked to be back and can't wait to play Obey The Braves' first US show ever at the NEMHF. Shit's about to get real, fellas.”

Unearth Joins 14th Annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival All-Star Lineup

debbie@mazurpr.com (Debbie Sellnow) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:43:02 GMT

Massachusetts’ own Unearth will join the all-star lineup already announced for the 14th Annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival on Saturday, April 21.

Unearth is one of the many bands that got their start at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, later becoming one of the top bands in metalcore.

“It's been five years since we've taken the stage at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival and we couldn't be happier to make our return this April 21,” said singer Trevor Phipps. “This fest gave us a shot as an up and coming band over a decade ago and was one of the springboards for our career in heavy music. This year’s lineup looks to be an amazing one and we are looking forward to hitting that stage.”

The 14th Annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival will take place Friday, April 20 through Sunday, April 22 at the Palladium in Worcester, Mass.

Spock’s Beard Brings Fans ‘The X Tour Live’ on New Multi-Disc Set

debbie@mazurpr.com (Debbie Sellnow) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:34:23 GMT

“The X Tour Live,” the new release from progressive rockers Spock’s Beard, out February 14 on Music Theories Recordings, documents the one and only American show from the acclaimed band’s tour in support of their last studio album, “X.”

Being spread out geographically makes live shows a rarity, but Spock’s Beard was afforded the opportunity to do a one-off with CalProg promoter Jim Harrel at the Downey Civic Theater in Downey, Calif., during Los Angeles-area rehearsals for an upcoming European tour.

“Jim Harrel puts on a helluva good production, so we really didn't have to stress out about technical details,” said bassist Dave Meros. “He brought in a great sound system, lights, the venue was deluxe, and he treated us right.”

At the time, there was no intention of recording a live album. “It was just a chance to play in the USA for a change, which we don't do nearly enough of,” Meros said. “But the venue was already set up for 42-track digital recording and some friends of ours wanted to take a run at recording video as well, so it just kind of fell into our lap.”

DragonForce to Kick Off North American Tour at 14th Annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival

debbie@mazurpr.com (Debbie Sellnow) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:17:44 GMT

Metal phenoms DragonForce will kick off their North American tour at the 14th Annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival on Saturday, April 21.

The London-based group will release their fifth studio album “The Power Within” - band's first release with new singer Marc Hudson – on April 17, just days before the show.

"We are really excited to be playing the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival again, especially as it’s the North American launch show for the new album,” said guitarist Sam Totman. “Anyone who hasn't had a chance to see new singer Marc Hudson in action will witness what a great singer he is! It’s been a long time since we last played the festival and are looking forward to seeing old friends again and giving everyone a great show.”

DragonForce has gained a cult-like status in the metal community, growing from relative unknowns in the United States to an impossible-to-ignore.

The 14th Annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival will take place Friday, April 20 through Sunday, April 22 at the Palladium in Worcester, Mass.