Anyone heard if Chicago Powerfest will continue since the Pearl Room closed? New venue? Possible bands?
Chicago Powerfest?
- Thread starter Metal66
- Start date
eppst1
Member
nomisofsiman
Member
I don't know, but to be honest I could care less. The lineup is usually awful. Usually the headliners are decent but that's it. Maybe one other decent band for the two days.
eppst1
Member
The last one was bad (I'll agree there), the one before was decent (I thought a couple bands weren't so great), and the ones before that were really good - I thought anyway.
Jasonic
Doom On!
I will tell you one thing....
You certainly won't be able to get an update from Diabolik, OrbWeaver, nor myself!!!!
You certainly won't be able to get an update from Diabolik, OrbWeaver, nor myself!!!!
booB
Señor Member
Savage Pumpkin
AKA Mr. Future World
They dont have much time as if memory serves me correctly CPF usually happens late April/ Early May. People have to make travel plans and days off too. Hmmmmm
Diabolik
Member
While the line ups for Powerfest have always been on the not so good side...but they did get some great bands every once in a while. It was always a fun time to hang out and see people from the forums.
My personal opinion....I think they thought that people would like anything they booked. They found out the hard way the last year when they took it to a more mainstream metal style of fest. With so many big tours this spring from the Voivod / Kreator to the Finntroll / Moonsorrow and all the other smaller tours hitting.....Powerfest would be over shadowed. While ProgPower remains strong because it doesnt concentrate on just the 2 headliners ( like Powerfest seemed to do ). To about 90% of that festival....it was just another show. If they are seriously considering doing another one....I really wish they would tak a few steps back and start small again and rebuild correctly.
My personal opinion....I think they thought that people would like anything they booked. They found out the hard way the last year when they took it to a more mainstream metal style of fest. With so many big tours this spring from the Voivod / Kreator to the Finntroll / Moonsorrow and all the other smaller tours hitting.....Powerfest would be over shadowed. While ProgPower remains strong because it doesnt concentrate on just the 2 headliners ( like Powerfest seemed to do ). To about 90% of that festival....it was just another show. If they are seriously considering doing another one....I really wish they would tak a few steps back and start small again and rebuild correctly.
The Invisible Guest
Member
Last years lineup was not to my liking at all ... I skipped out on the Friday and Saturday portion, and attended just the paganfest portion. I basically elected to travel the four or five hours to St Louis on Friday to catch Volbeat open for Nightwish.
This year I wasn't holding my breath on CPF ... It was going to need to be a killer lineup for me to go anyway. I've pretty much ruled it out ... Gonna fly out to Arizona to catch a couple spring training games and two warrel Dane show in early march, and then head up to Minny in early April to catch overkill one night, and then fair to midland/karnivool the next night.
This year I wasn't holding my breath on CPF ... It was going to need to be a killer lineup for me to go anyway. I've pretty much ruled it out ... Gonna fly out to Arizona to catch a couple spring training games and two warrel Dane show in early march, and then head up to Minny in early April to catch overkill one night, and then fair to midland/karnivool the next night.
OrbWeaver
BECAUSE FALCONER
Bryan316
METAL... nuff said!
When I saw Nocturnal Rites and Biomechanical at the Chicago Powerfest, I wondered if they could ever pull together as kickass a lineup as that weekend. So far, they haven't, but I'm waiting patiently for the announcement, one year, where we'll plan another visit and see more kickassery there.
So Chris, Rob, John, don't give up, don't let us down.
So Chris, Rob, John, don't give up, don't let us down.
Diabolik
Member
Savage Pumpkin
AKA Mr. Future World
Thats pretty sad actually. So in other words the fans are going to suffer because of the promoters preference? No consideration of attracting a draw? Hmmmm. good decsion.
Dolamite S. Biffle
Biffliest Person Ever
They did have Kiuas play last year, who have power metal in their sound most definitely. and it still kills me I couldnt make it to see their performance since Rob booked them on my recommendation
Jasonic
Doom On!
The main issue with Powerfest is they never had focus.
They had a good start with getting bands like Noc Rites, Lefay, Tad Morose, etc.
Then they didn't like the fact people referred to it as a "power metal" festival.
Well............you book those bands as the headliners and have "Power" in the name...
That's what people will think.
Then they tried the death and doom thing, which I liked personally, but they lost a LOT of previous customers.
The following year they scored Iced Earth and Testament, and had a TON of new attendees to the fest.
We all know what the lineup was like the following year.
No repeat customers.
They had some followers who did go most years. I have been to 4 of them myself.
I think the lack of focus is what never earned them a loyal following.
As far as Chicago fests go, my eye is always on ALEHORN as that is the one which caters to true trad and doom metal the most.
They had a good start with getting bands like Noc Rites, Lefay, Tad Morose, etc.
Then they didn't like the fact people referred to it as a "power metal" festival.
Well............you book those bands as the headliners and have "Power" in the name...
That's what people will think.
Then they tried the death and doom thing, which I liked personally, but they lost a LOT of previous customers.
The following year they scored Iced Earth and Testament, and had a TON of new attendees to the fest.
We all know what the lineup was like the following year.
No repeat customers.
They had some followers who did go most years. I have been to 4 of them myself.
I think the lack of focus is what never earned them a loyal following.
As far as Chicago fests go, my eye is always on ALEHORN as that is the one which caters to true trad and doom metal the most.
Metalmilitia2000
UM's Resident Asshole
I completely agree with this. I only went to one of them, the one where Iced Earth and Testament played, and I actually went as a sponsor. They take so much of what is said negatively about the fest personally, and it sucks. Honestly, I haven't got a negative thing to say about any of them, personally, especially Lotesto, who treated me like I was one of the family, even though I was a low end sponsor. They are all generally nice guys, but they refuse to dig themselves into a niche, which is exactly what you need to do in this business to survive, until you have established a loyal enough following to ensure that you are going to do well. THEN you start to bring in the oddball bands, but continue to stay true to what you are known for with your previous lineups. Almost every festival in the US that is metal related can be summed up by the name as to what genres play there. Progpower, Maryland Deathfest, I could go on and on, but I think my point is apparent. Their hearts are in the right place, and I hate to see them keep losing money, but they have to change what they are doing or they aren't going to be able to do it anymore, from a financial standpoint.
OrbWeaver
BECAUSE FALCONER
I don't think anyone has anything bad to say about Lotesto. He's a good guy. I've never met or interacted with John, so I don't know. And as far as Rob goes...I'll just stick to the "if you can't say anything nice..." mantra.
I was under the impression the fest was actually doing fairly well, though. I remember being there when Lethal and Benedictum played, and hardly anyone was there, but the next year when I went (just to see Iced Earth. I could have cared less about the other bands) the place was positively packed. Since they started going in the direction of booking headliners that are a guarantee draw, and other acts that have more appeal to the Ozzfest crowd, I thought they were doing fairly well.
Diabolik
Member
Alehorn is where it is at....sure they have super low turnouts but the line ups are always good. I have never had a bad time at the 3 I went too.
I think the biggest drawback with Powerfest is that there were lots of bad decisions made. Everytime someone gave a suggestion or questioned anything it was attacked with anger. It was the perfect example of what Glenn does right...he listens to his supporters and gives them what they want. Another bad choice was bringing bands over from Europe that had zero fanbase in the states (Sheephead, Perzonal War, Assainlant). That money could have been used to bring over a more notable band that would help attendence. Oh well. I think many lessons were learned. I always had a great time there buying stuff and talking to everyone. Hopefully they rebuild and go in the right direction.
I think the biggest drawback with Powerfest is that there were lots of bad decisions made. Everytime someone gave a suggestion or questioned anything it was attacked with anger. It was the perfect example of what Glenn does right...he listens to his supporters and gives them what they want. Another bad choice was bringing bands over from Europe that had zero fanbase in the states (Sheephead, Perzonal War, Assainlant). That money could have been used to bring over a more notable band that would help attendence. Oh well. I think many lessons were learned. I always had a great time there buying stuff and talking to everyone. Hopefully they rebuild and go in the right direction.
nomisofsiman
Member
Yep. I think what Glenn has done is the best route. It's a niche fest but little by little bands that don't fit that exact thing are introduced, i.e. Freak Kitchen, DSO, Mustasch and this coming year, Oceans of Sadness and Paradox. This fest really should listen more to the fans and not take everything to heart. As far as the power metal thing, correct me if I'm wrong but Iced Earth has a pretty solid power metal base and they got the fans there? My issue the time I went is they pretty much had good headliners and no one good on the bill besides that. Most of them were metalcore bands from what I remember and that doesn't work with the headliners they had. Not to mention I think people in general are tiring of that genre. Bottom line: they either need to make it a niche and slightly alter it year by year or just have a variety of bands.
edgeofthorns
24 Hours Ago...
I'd like to check out the Alehorn fest sometime myself. I wish there was a festival closer to me that catered to this type of music.
~Brian~
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