Fortress Festival announces next wave of bands for 2027
Fortress Festival have announced a new wave of bands for 2027!
The UK’s premier black metal festival has unveiled ten new additions for its 2027 edition, set to take place at Scarborough Spa in North Yorkshire from May 28th-30th. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the festival has also expanded to three days with the introduction of Fortress: First Light, a special Friday evening pre-show event at the Grand Hall.
Headlining the inaugural Fortress: First Light will be Swedish black metal icons WATAIN, who will perform a UK exclusive set. Joining them will be Polish black metal act TERRESTRIAL HOSPICE, who will make their UK debut and exclusive appearance.
Speaking about the performance, WATAIN vocalist Erik Danielsson says, “we look forward to setting out on a last round of shows before the end, and to remind people of the powers this music can actually possess when it’s not held back by the laws and sentiments of the modern world. WATAIN is a remnant of a dark past that now exists only as myth and memory, too primal and perhaps too real for this day and age. But for one last time we will let the ancient fires of real Black Metal and spiritual liberation light up the night. We invite you all to come and bask in their glory, and to celebrate the end with us as we return WATAIN to its sacred origins beyond the realms of Death.”
The main weekend line-up also expands with Colorado melodic black metal outfit STORMKEEP, Norway’s MARE, Germany’s SULPHUR AEON, British black metal force NINKHARSAG, Belgian atmospheric black metal projects SILVER KNIFE and OERHEKS, atmospheric black metal act BLOODBARK, and Swedish dungeon synth artist ÖRNATORPET.
Commenting on their UK exclusive appearance, STORMKEEP says, “STORMKEEP returns to the shores of Europa for the first time in four years, bringing heralds of Othertime and Iswylm. Marking this bacchanal of black symphonies, STORMKEEP has pulled from the old scrolls and the new to bring a performance from all parts of Elda’s history. In an exclusive appearance and a set of material never performed in the UK before, STORMKEEP will take all who are in attendance on an epic journey through the history of the Dragon Kings. We are honoured to bring this special set to Fortress Festival, the perfect venue for us to present these nocturnes.”
The announcement also features a number of highly anticipated debuts. SILVER KNIFE and OERHEKS will both make their UK debuts at the festival, while BLOODBARK will perform its first-ever UK show. Discussing their long-awaited appearance, SILVER KNIFE says, “ever since our inception, we knew SILVER KNIFE would never be the band to perform very often. So far, we’ve been extremely selective of the gigs we play. When we received the chance to play Fortress Fest, we knew this was the perfect opportunity for our UK debut. We look forward to having our aggressive melancholy break upon Scarborough’s shores, carrying with it some brand-new material.”
Meanwhile, OERHEKS adds, “after only a handful of live performances in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany; I am extremely proud to have OERHEKS featured on this year’s Fortress Fest bill. With a live line-up of ascetics, we will bring the ancient force and wisdom of the fields and forests of Cagghenvinna to UK shores for the first time ever.”
Following two years of silence, NINKHARSAG will also return for an exclusive set. The band comments, “hail! For two long years we have remained silent – slumbering beneath the ash like an old blood-starved beast. But every hibernation must end, and ours is over. We return with venom in our veins – colder, darker and more relentless than before. The fires have been rekindled, and once again we march to carve our mark upon the black metal abyss. Our return begins with a handful of exclusive live rituals and beyond that, the shadows whisper of a new full-length invocation already taking form. Stand ready!”
Elsewhere, ÖRNATORPET joins the festival’s dungeon synth programme in the theatre room. The musician says, “live appearances are few and far between, so I try to make them count, and Fortress feels like exactly the kind of place where this music belongs. There is something quite extraordinary about being given the opportunity to bring your own musical world into a place like this. I’m looking forward to sharing those worlds with like-minded people, and to standing among so many musicians whose work has inspired and fascinated me.”
Fortress Festival takes place at Scarborough Spa, Scarborough from May 29th – May 30th 2027. Tickets are available now and can be purchased here.
For more information on the festival like their official page on Facebook.
