CYNIC, EARTH CRISIS, BONGRIPPER & More Booked For Heavy Chicago 2024

Heavy Chicago will return between November 1 and 3 at the Avondale Music Hall in Chicago, IL. The shows will feature Cynic, Earth Crisis, and Bongripper as headliners alongside a handful of great openers. Tickets are available here. The full lineup thus far is:

November 1

• Bongripper
• TBA
• Wraith
• Avernus
• Motherless

November 3

• Earth Crisis
• Jasta
• Legions Of Doom
• EarthBurner
• The Crosses (Die Kreuzen set)
• Usurper
• Masonic Wave

November 3

• Cynic
• Toxic Holocaust
• Profanatica
• TBA
• The Skull
• Lurid

“Our inaugural edition last year was a great success!” wrote Sean Duffy, owner of Last Rites Promotions and Management. “Once again we are in the hip hood of Avondale, which Time Out says is one of the buzziest neighborhoods in the world. We are over the moon to welcome our headliners this year: Friday night is Chicago doom band Bongripper with a co-headline by a local band that will be unveiled on September 8^th! Support comes from Wraith (record in the Billboard top 200), Avernus (first show in nine years and a new record) and Motherless (Atlas Moth).

“Saturday’s headline rips with the almighty Earth Crisis with special guests Jasta & Legions Of Doom, Grindcore supergroup, EarthBurner, plus The Crosses will be doing a special all ‘Die Kreuzen‘ set with the incredible Dan Kubinski on vocals (the only act we brought back from last year), a must see! Usurper are playing their first show in five years!

“Sunday finishes strong with Cynic making their long awaited return for Chicago with special guests Toxic Holocaust! I promoted Cynic‘s first several Chicago show’s back in the 90’s. It has come full circle for us. Black metal masters, Profanatica, play a rare set in the city. In October we will unveil a special guest that is buzzing right now and becoming local heroes! The Skull also return with a rare appearance and a special set for Trouble fans!

“Dave Hornyak and I are the poster guys for ‘indie’ people in the industry. ..the antithesis of Live Nation/AEG/JAM…two indie guys doing it for the passion and fun and to support the metal community. I started 40 years ago doing shows under Last Rites. This is the beginning of my 40th year.

“Over 4,700 shows booked and promoted here! Indie guy the whole time!! First Nirvana show, first six White Zombie shows, first five Pantera shows, first two Stone Temple Pilot shows, first three Type O Negative shows, Ministry, Machine Head, Helmet, Fear Factory, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Candlemass, plus shows with Anthrax, Misfits, Testament, Exodus, Dark Angel and many, many more.

“Dave Hornyak, creator of Live Wire Lounge, has been involved in the metal scene for 30+ years as both a drummer in numerous metal bands as well as hosting countless local and national acts at Live Wire since 2011. Over 70 years combined for the two of us!”