Best Metal and Rock Music Festivals in the USA

Are you looking for the largest and most prestigious Rock and Metal Festivals? Any devoted metalhead from the US is aware that the scene of metal music festivals hasn’t been the variety of music it was in the past. They have recently shut many of the major artists and musicians of the scene down. But now they are coming back. Pandemics also affect every aspect of our lives. That’s why people wanted to chill out right now. Best way to do that is by going to music festivals.

Today, we listed the best metal festivals in the USA below. You can also check our previous Metal and Rock Music Festivals 2022 here.

Which is the best music festival in the USA?

No matter if you’re into metal or indie rock, R&B or EDM take a look at the USA festivals guide for music to locate the one that is most suitable for your taste in music. Check out the other shortlist below.

• SXSW
• Ultra Miami
• Coachella
• New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
• Bonnaroo
• Governors Ball
• Lollapalooza
• Afropunk
• Burning Man
• Essence

Which is the biggest best metal and rock music festival in the USA?

Summerfest is the biggest music festival in the USA. Its in Milwaukee (Wisconsin), attracts approximately 800,000 people each year and is the largest music festival in the USA.

1 – AFTERSHOCK Festival

Aftershock Festival start date: October 6-9, 2022

Where Aftershock Festival will be: Discovery Park, Sacramento, California

“The West Coast’s largest rock and metal festival just got bigger with FOUR days of rock featuring two nights of Metallica with two unique sets, Limp Bizkit, the reunion of Mudvayne, Rancid, The Offspring, Social Distortion, Rise Against, Volbeat, Machine Gun Kelly, Mastodon, Gojira, Seether, Parkway Drive, and SO many more.”

2 – Welcome To Rockville 2022

This year 45 metal bands will meet with their fans at the Welcome To Rockville 2022 festival. The number of the bands might surprise you. However, this situation is always the same. Welcome To Rockville Tour is regarded as The East Coast’s Biggest rock festival. The festival will start on May 19th and will end on May 22th, 2022.

“Welcome to Rockville roars into Daytona Beach, Florida, every spring with a powerful rock and metal lineup. Part of the World’s Loudest Month, over 50,000 fans show up for a monster weekend of nonstop rock with 45 bands on 4 stages.”

3 – Full Terror Assault Metal Festival

This festival was unique. Metal fans will listen to their favorite musicians in the open air. The festival will start on September 7 and will finish on September 10.

“Last year Full Terror Assault made waves by becoming the first TRUE open air metal festival in the U.S. — multiple days, multiple stages, camping and partying, all in an isolated pocket of wilderness in southern Illinois.

Only a short drive from several major metropolitan areas like St. Louis, Nashville, Louisville, Memphis, Cincinnati and Lexington, to name a few – it’s easily accessible to anyone looking for a fun-filled weekend of metal and partying!”

4 – Louder Than Life Festival

Louder Than Life Festival will start on September 22, 2022, in Louisville, Kentucky. At the festival, we will see popular metal bands like Judas Priest. It will be awesome. The show will finish on September 25, 2022.

“Celebrate the return of live music for FOUR nights at America’s largest rock festival with two nights of Metallica ft. two unique sets, Nine Inch Nails, Korn, Judas Priest, Snoop Dogg, Jane’s Addiction, Staind, Rise Against, Mudvayne, Cypress Hill, Machine Gun Kelly, Gojira and so many more.”

5 – Rocklahoma Festival

America’s biggest labor day music festival, Rocklahoma, will start on September 2. The festival’s lineup will include; Rob Zombie, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, Chevelle, and many more. If you want to attend the festival, you can check out the full lineup and buy tickets with this link.

6 – Maryland Deathfest

Maryland Deathfest will be America’s biggest party of the year. If you want to be part of it, you need to be quick to buy your tickets. Everyone is waiting for the festival tickets. The festival will be held between May 26 and 29, 2022.

“America’s biggest annual metal party. Maryland Deathfest is a multi-day event held in Baltimore with dozens of bands from around the world. It is the biggest of its kind in North America. MDF was the idea of two extreme metal fans named Ryan and Evan. During the 16 years of festival history, MDF has featured over 500 bands from over 30 countries, many of which have made their US debut at the festival.

7 – Rock Fest

When Rock Fest Start: July 15-17, 2022

Where Rock Fest will it be: Cadott, Wisconsin.

“A city literally built on Rock n’ Roll in Cadott WI, Rock Fest is the true Rock experience you can’t miss. In its 26th year, it is THE top venue for people of all ages to come together for one common purpose: to congregate with other rock fans from across the world, in a place where rock music still matters. Featuring the very best of active and classic rock and legendary names in Rock Music, entertainment and experience are first priority. Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, Avenged Sevenfold, Kiss, Motley Crue, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Kid Rock, Shinedown, Five Finger Death Punch, Rob Zombie, Korn & many more rock legends have graced this permanent Main Stage over the course of the last two and a half decades.

Rock Fest is set on 320 acres of picturesque land in Central Wisconsin and is home to nearly 7,000 campsites all within easy walking distance of the concert grounds. With major airports and hotels nearby, as well as daily shuttle service, there is literally something for every rock music fan here. Experience the Amphitheater Venue for yourself, and find out why Rock Fest Fans keep coming back every year to the Largest Rock & Camping Festival in the US.”

8 – Psycho Unlimited

Psycho Unlimited festival will start on August 19, 2022. While you are hanging out in Sin City, you can listen to your favorite metal band’s performances. You can check out their official social media pages to find more information.

9 – Progpower USA

When Progpower USA will start: June 1-4,2022.

Where Progpower USA will it be: Atlanta, Georgia

“ProgPower USA is the premier U.S. festival for progressive and power metal. For 19 years they have been a key part in bringing some of the biggest and best names in the international progressive and power metal scenes to the United States. It takes place every June or September at the Center Stage Theater in Atlanta, Georgia and is known for the quality of acts it brings, the continued high production standard, and the familial atmosphere of the event.

Every year during the festival, on days 1 and 3, the ProgPower USA attendees gather in the theater before the headlining band takes the stage for what has become an event all its own. Right in the middle of the action, the next year’s line-up gets announced.”

10 – 7000 Tons of Metal Cruise Festival

Do you want to listen to your favorite bands on the cruise ship? If your answer is yes, take the ticket with this link. 7000 Tons of Metal Cruise Festival will start on June 1 and will end on June 4, 2022.

“60 Bands, 4 Days, 1 Cruise Ship, and only 3000 Tickets. This is 70000 TONS OF METAL, The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise!

On 70000TONS OF METAL you get unrestricted festival access to all 120 live shows onboard, 70000TONS OF KARAOKE until sunrise, Jamming In International Waters – the Official 70000TONS OF METAL All Star Jam which writes Heavy Metal History every year, Clinics and Work-Shops with the musicians, our infamous Belly Flop Contest, Shore Excursions with your favorite artists, and much more!

Everyone on board is a VIP, we don’t have assigned seating (this is a Heavy Metal Cruise after all), and most importantly the bars on our ship never close – you heard us, bars that never close!”

11 – Rock USA

If you like camping, and a fan of metal bands, you must buy tickets for this festival. Because while you are camping, you can listen to your favorite bands. This festival will start in June 2022. However, we did not exact the date of the festival.

“Rock USA is one of the largest rock music and camping festivals in the nation. Rock USA delivers three days of non-stop rock, a unique food & beverage experience, & unforgettable camping all located on the beautiful Ford Festival Park.

Rock USA will be even bigger & better than ever with 60 acres of concert grounds located on a huge 300-acre festival park. Rock USA is Solid Rock… No Limits, with an incredible 2.2 million dollar talent budget featuring a HUGE rock line-up! Rock USA has featured such artists as : Van Halen, Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold, Kiss, Journey, Def Leppard, Disturbed, Ozzy Osbourne, & more!”

12 – Sonic Temple

When Sonic Temple will start: May 2022

Where Sonic Temple will it be: Columbus, Ohio

“The inaugural Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival replaces the long-standing Rock On The Range, America’s largest and most acclaimed rock festival, which routinely sold out over its 12-year span.”

13 – Knotfest Roadshow

Slipknot returns to the stages with their Knotfest Roadshow festival. Slipknot fans had waited for a long time this festival. That’s why you have to be fast to get the tickets. We do not have exact information about the dates. However, it will start between July and September.

“SLIPKNOT have announced their live return, unveiling details of their massive Knotfest Roadshow headline tour set to traverse across North America this summer. The 29-city Knotfest Roadshow will start July 26th at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California and wrap September 8th at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion at the Woodlands, Texas. Slipknot will be joined by special guests Volbeat, Gojira and Behemoth throughout the trek.”

14 – Migration Fest

When Migration Fest will start: October 2022

Where Migration will it be: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

“Migration Fest will feature nearly 30 bands over the course of 3 days. With almost the entire lineup curated from the 20 Buck Spin and Gilead Media label rosters, with a small number of hand-picked special guests.”

15 – Furnace Fest

When Furnace Fest will start: September 23-25 2022

Where Furnace Fest will it be: Birmingham, Alabama

Furnace Fest will start in Birmingham on September 23. Many famous metal musicians will attend the festival like Killswitch Engage.