Blacken Open Air shares 2021 line-up

UPDATE 20/07/2021: Organisers have announced that Blacken Open Air 2021 will no longer be taking place at the previously confirmed dates. The following statement was posted to social media informing ticket holds of the rescheduled dates:

We are absolutely gutted to have to announce that Blacken 2021 is being postponed. It is impossible to proceed as planned with all the current border closures. This hurts on multiple levels. We will be back with new dates to announce as soon as possible. All tickets will be transferred over to the new dates. Please be patient as our small team deal with inquiries. Thank you so much to all the crew, artists, media, volunteers and you the fans for believing in what we do. Blacken will return!

ORIGINAL: Organisers behind Australia’s Blacken Open Air Festival have delivered the goods this week, sharing the official line-up for the event’s speculated 2021 return. Long story short, yes, the festival will be going ahead and yes, once again in the breathtakingly stunning locale of Arrernte country, right at the centre of Australia.

In pole position in the line-up announcement are none other than titans of the Australian heavy scene, Thy Art Is Murder, who’ll be fresh coming off their performance at the upcoming Full Tilt festival. Mainstays Psycroptic are also confirmed, as well as ARIA award winners and troublemakers Amyl And The Sniffers. The list doesn’t lose its pull-power the further down you peruse it either, with Polynesian lords Shepherds Reign and the famed world’s most isolated metal band, Southeast Desert Metal both performing, joined additionally by punks Lo! and Clowns. Cop the full spread below.

Soon-to-be ticket holders are being told to brace for further line-up additions, with even more acts to be added to the line up in the coming weeks.

Taking place over the Northern Territory’s Picnic Day long weekend, Blacken Open Air sees out July and welcomes August set to the backdrop of the endlessly starry sky above the ancient N’Dhala Gorge, allowing ticket holders to gaze upon the surrounded red cliff escarpments and prehistoric river beds. The logistics alone must be staggering, however the masterminds behind the destination festival, Alice Springs’ home of heavy The Black Wreath, have been bringing back Blacken Open Air Festival since 2013.

The announcement coincides with government subsidised half-price flights to the Northern Territory from capital cities, so, really, it would be silly not to go. Other than the music, Blacken Open Air offers a variety of attractions including art installations, sideshows, food, camping options and an Arrernte cultural performance.

Blacken Open Air 2021 Line-up

Thy Art Is Murder
Psycroptic
Amyl and The Sniffers
Shepherds Reign
Southeast Desert Metal
Clowns
Lo!
Claim The Throne
Witchskull
Ruins
SNAKES
Black Rheno
POTION
Mountain Wizard Death Cult
DEAD
Descend To Acheron
The Furor
Astrodeath
DAWN
NGLAH
Writhing
The Neptune Power Federation
FUXACHE
DisKust
Diploid
The Holy Dimes