Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats + Beastwars To Headline Obey The Riff 2020

Obey The Riff is returning to Upper Hutt's Panhead Brewery this coming March, following this year's ear-bleeding inaugural festival event with an even more ambitious lineup of local and international heavy hitters. 2020's bill is spearheaded by UK psychedelic blues-doom superstars Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats (also playing this March in Auckland) and returning Pōneke metal heroes Beastwars, whose monumental latest album IV rocketed to the top of the NZ Music Charts when it dropped in late June. They'll be joined by Canberra doom-rockers Witchskull and Sydney psych-metal crew Potion for a Saturday celebration of goats-throwing, skull-pummelling, guitar-fuelled insanity, with even more artists to be revealed soon. Make your pilgrimage to Obey The Riff in early March 2020...

Panhead Custom Ales presents
Obey The Riff 2020

Featuring... Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats (UK), Beastwars, Witchskull (Aus), Potion (Aus) + more acts to be revealed on 9th December
Saturday 7th March 2020 - Panhead Brewery, Upper Hutt

Tickets available HERE via UTR (ticket + return bus fare options available)

Buzz out to the video for Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats' 'Shockwave City' from 2018's Wasteland...

Experience a taste of Beastwars' epic onslaught with 'Raise The Sword' from IV...

Check out a live clip of Potion busting out the title track to 2018's Women Of The Wand EP...

Press release:

After the sell out success of this year's inaugural Obey the Riff Festival, 2020 will see the day/night event return bigger and better to Panhead Brewery in Upper Hutt.

Doubling the number of bands from last year, including 3 internationals, the day promises to be the premier heavy riff festival in New Zealand.

This year's headliners are UK cult heroes Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats who return to New Zealand for the first time since 2014. Off the back of 5 critically acclaimed albums including last year's brilliant Wasteland, the band have played every major rock festival worldwide and supported Black Sabbath throughout Europe in 2013. With their blend of proto-metal and turbo blues, come witness what Decibel Magazine calls "a groovy, evil delight".

Back again are Wellington sludge titans Beastwars. After a 2 year hiatus the group returned with their fourth album, IV which debuted at number 1 on the Top 40 album charts and was followed up by a sold out tour of New Zealand and Australia and nominations for Best Group and Best Rock Album at the New Zealand Music Awards. The band who invented the mantra "Obey the Riff" will be playing the sunset slot as the night goes dark and the witches come out.

Canberra's Witchskull were last seen in New Zealand in June supporting Beastwars and giving them a good run for their money. Label mates with Uncle Acid on Rise Above Records Witchskull have been described as Ozzy Osbourne singing for Motorhead and we think that's about right! With riffs for days, ripping guitar solos and the hairiest, most pounding rhythm section you're ever likely to see - we are stoked to welcome these Aussie brothers back to New Zealand.

On their first ever visit to New Zealand, Sydney 3 piece Potion promise to deliver a set of crushing fuzz-drenched psychedelic doom. With 2 EPs and impressive support slots to their name they are fast becoming one of the most in demand heavy bands in Australia. Their unique combination of early Sabbath riffage with the brutality of the modern hardcore will ensure them as a highlight of the festival for many.