The seventh edition of FOREVER DEAF FEST will descend upon Chicago on April 10th and 11th, 2026!
What began as a showcase for local talent back in 2018 has become one of the premier festivals on Chicago’s annual metal calendar. Forever Deaf Productions aims to bring the heaviest riffs to venues across the city and hosts FOREVER DEAF FEST each Spring. Sponsored by Still Austin, Five Star HVAC, Kuma’s Corner, and Emperor Cabinets, this year’s festivities will take place at Sleeping Village and Avondale Music Hall with a special after show party at Live Wire Lounge.
The monumental weekend will include sets by Atomic Rule (featuring members of Every Time I Die, Dry Kill Logic, Acacia Strain, and Eternal Sleep), See You Next Tuesday, Motherless (featuring members of The Atlas Moth and Without Waves), Weekend Nachos performing their only Chicago area show of 2026, Scalp, Year Of The Knife, Plague Bringer (their first show in a decade), Hewhocorrupts, Mellow Harsher, Saturday headliners Pig Destroyer blazing through their monumental Prowler In The Yard full-length in its ravaging entirety (a 25-year album anniversary celebration and their only Midwest show), and a very special Friday headliner, still to be announced!
To commemorate the event, renowned heavy metal themed burger restaurant Kuma’s Corner will bring back the FOREVER DEAF FEST Burger as well as DJ sets/preview events a week prior to the fest’s kick off.
Additionally, Forever Deaf Productions will donate $1 per ticket towards Head Bang For Science, an annual scholarship award program for high school seniors, undergrads, and grad students who are pursuing a career in healthcare and/or the physical sciences. It’s the first scholarship foundation to directly provide financial aid to metalheads, and was founded by SiriusXM curator/host and former pharmacy grad student Jose “Metal Ambassador” Mangin in 2021.
The FOREVER DEAF FEST lineup and ticketing info is available below. Secure your tickets now! This will sell out!
Friday, April 10th, 2026: Sleeping Village – 21+ ($24 + fees)
Headliner TBD
Atomic Rule
See You Next Tuesday
Motherless
Find ticketing info HERE.
Saturday, April 11th, 2026: Avondale Music Hall – 17+ ($49 + fees)
Pig Destroyer
Weekend Nachos
Scalp
Year Of The Knife
Plague Bringer
Hewhocorrupts
Mellow Harsher
Find ticketing info HERE.
Saturday, April 11th, 2026: Live Wire Lounge – 21+ ($10)
Speedfreak
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