The Southern Invasion Tour 2016, and the first of it’s name, has hit our radars today with coordinated announcements coming from multiple bands. This may be the largest simultaneous mobilization of ‘core’ styled metal bands we’ve seen in years and bodes well for the broader genres of Metalcore, Hardcore, Post-Metal and their fan bases. The tour combines Atlantic South and With Dawn from Cape Town with Hope Is For Heroes and All Will Fall from Bloemfontein, culminating at a monster show with Gauteng’s State Society, Man As Machine and Skarlit… We tracked down the chief instigator and member of Cape Town metalcore band Atlantic South for a bit of a scoop.
“Through the Nautical Nonsense Tour in November 2014 and our Fracture Fest trip to Bloemfontein in May 2015, we became close with the guys in All Will Fall and Hope Is For Heroes, both from Bloemfontein. At the Fracture Fest show, we also met the likes of Facing the Gallows and State Society in which my very good friend and old band mate Mike Pocock is playing bass. I have been chatting with Mike for ages regarding putting this tour together.” ~ Gareth Howard (guitar, Atlantic South)
Gareth also tells us how Atlantic South and With Dawn over the past couple of years have become very good friends. Both bands have recorded at 7 String Studios and rubbed shoulders on stage on numerous occasions.
“I approached the With Dawn boys to see if they would be interested in touring up north with us and they were no doubt amped to do so. We are going old-school and have hired a bus and trailer, and we’ll be doing the hard mileage to make what is going to be a fantastic trip.” ~ Gareth Howard
The fellows at Build Your Scene will also be involved as a partner and conducting interviews with bands and other role-players whilst on the road. There are also plans to film large parts of the tour so as to create a documentary-style film.
Tour dates
With Atlantic South, All Will Fall, With Dawn and Hope Is For Heroes:
30 March – Mystic Boer in Bloemfontein
31 March – Arcade Empire in Pretoria
01 April – Sundowners in Alberton
Including additional bands State Society, Man As Machine and Skarlit:
02 April – Rumours Lounge in Roodepoort
For additional information, follow the bands as per the links below.
Connect with the band Atlantic South on facebook
Connect with the band All Will Fall on facebook
Connect with the band Hope Is For Heroes on facebook
Connect with the band Man As Machine on facebook
Connect with the band Skarlit on facebook
Connect with the band State Society on facebook
Connect with the band With Dawn on facebook
Connect with the author Patrick Davidson on Google+
Connect with this website’s True Believer funding initiative on facebook
