Desertfest London has released Day Tickets for its 2026 edition as well as revealing day splits and stage splits for their annual gathering of the finest in stoner rock and underground heavy music.
Completing its diverse line up, this latest announcement confirms Desertfest 2026 as one for the ages. Friday night sees a classic evening of stoner heaviness culminating in Electric Ballroom headliners Hermano (helmed by desert rock legend, John Garcia), while Saturday champions local heroes as Green Lung headline the Roundhouse. The festival closes out with a second stint at the Roundhouse on Sunday with none other than Clutch, a band who has been on the wish lists of Desertfest attendees since its inception.
New additions include prog-psych sensations Church of the Cosmic Skull, Lancastrian rock apostles Wytch Hazel, and London crossover kings Inhuman Nature, who join Pigs Pigs PigsPigs Pigs Pigs Pigs & Green Lung for a celebration of the Best of British-shining the spotlight on homegrown talent that we feel really deserve time on the big stage.
This final announcement sees the reunion of Florida sludge pioneers Cavity, who will headline Friday’s Black Heart stage. As a defining presence in underground heavy music, Desertfest is honoured to host these unsung heroes of raw power. They join a number of historic reunion staking place over the weekend, including stoner legends The Sword, and underground doom icons Capricorns - all taking place deep in the scene that worships them. Not to mention note worthy Desertfest debuts from the likes of -16- and Solace and first trips to UK soil for many bands, including Causa Sui, Komodor, Moundrag, and Midhaven.
And with that Desertfest 2026 completes an astounding line up for its fourteenth year of pure rock fury, compelled as ever by the power of the riff.
New additions to Desertfest 2026:
CHURCH OF THE COSMIC SKULL WYTCH HAZEL INHUMAN NATURE CAVITY MOLOCH DAUFODT KUSHTHULU IRON SLUG TROLL MOTHER
GREEN LUNG TO HEADLINE DESERTFEST LONDON 2026 AT THE ICONIC ROUNDHOUSE PLUS,THE SWORD AND CAPRICORNS TO PERFORM EXCLUSIVE REUNION SHOWS, ALONGSIDE EARTHLESS & TRUCKFIGHTERS
Desertfest London is extremely proud to announce that Green Lung will headline the 2026 edition of the festival. A band whose story is almost inseparable from our own, Green Lung formed amidst the electric atmosphere of Desertfest 2016 and their journey has nigh on mirrored the spirit of the festival - rooted in the underground, nurtured in Camden’s sweat-drenched venues and propelled into the wider world on the strength of unfathomable riffs.
What began as a cult phenomenon has since flourished into one of the UK’s most celebrated heavy bands and now, a decade later, their ascension reaches a fitting peak as Green Lung return to Desertfest London to take their rightful place at the top of the bill.
Vocalist Tom Templar shares the following; “Back at Desertfest 2016, our guitarist Scott, drummer Matt and ex-bassist Andrew met in the hallowed confines of the Black Heart, and over a few ales decided to form the band that would go on to become Green Lung. Ten years later, we couldn't be more honoured to be headlining the festival. This will undoubtedly be the biggest moment of our career to date and an opportunity to take our stage show to heights we've always dreamed of. It's also a testament to the power of the incredible London heavy rock scene that launched us, and we can't wait to bring together friends and fans old and new to celebrate a decade of the Lung at the Roundhouse! Bring on the May...”
Desertfest & Green Lung have a gargantuan amount of news to reveal for this very special performance, so prepare yourselves for a colossal celebration of our culture and community with our favourite folklore fiends.
An undeniable influence on re-shaping modern stoner metal, 2026 sees the return of heavy legends The Sword for an exclusive UK performance at Desertfest London.
Blending doom-laden riffs, mystical lyricism and a primal groove that speaks directly to the stoner/doom/psych scenes - fans can expect a career-spanning set for The Sword’s first UK show in eleven years. It’s going to be heavy, loud and utterly unmissable.
San Diego’s seminal psychedelic power trio Earthless will make their return to the Desertfest London stage for a one-off exclusive UK show. Acid-drenched riffs and transcendent improvisations are at the hypnotic centrepiece of these instrumental icons.
Continuing the theme of Desertfest London lore, we welcome back stoner rock veterans Truckfighters to the 2026 edition. Having played the inaugural edition back in 2012 and returning over the years to deliver a dose of Swedish fuzz, Truckfighters are Desertfest family.
Historical reunions continue as instrumental doom legends Capricorns will make a seismic return to the stage for a very special show at Desertfest London 2026. Marking their first live performance in eighteen years and reuniting for the first time since disbanding in 2008, this is a truly rare opportunity to witness a band that helped define the progressive doom underground of the 2000s. If you know, you know.
With much more still to announce, Desertfest London 2026 is already shaping up to be a historic edition, it’s a pilgrimage no disciple of the riff can afford to miss.
Release Date: June 13th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl
You Can Come Out Now - Tracklisting
1.House of Doom 06:13
2.Bloodsport 05:07
3.Pirate Mode 03:00
4.The Glass Between Us 04:46
5.Show Me Your Teeth 04:02
6.T-Rex Masseuse 04:10
7.Beautiful Music, Awful Person 03:55
8.Imaginary Enemies 04:00
9.Stay Normal 04:30
10.Mood Setter 07:25
11.Over and Over (bonus track) 03:48
Members
Massiel Pinzón
Juan Carlos García de Paredes
Review
AlphaWhores have quickly returned to action with their stunning new album You Can Come Out Now which follows their 2024 debut album. This record is a more deeply engaging record with a highly personal quality which touches upon real human struggles such as mental health, loss, betrayal and rage. The music itself is a mixture of Doom, Sludge, Stoner, Post-Rock, Grunge, Shoegaze, Fuzz, Alt Rock and Psychedelic surroundings with the haunting Doom-Pop vocals of both Massiel Pinzón and Juan Carlos García de Paredes leading the way.
The record has a more nuanced approach compared to their debut album with AlphaWhores blending nightmarish glitchy sounds within a subtle Drone and Electronic feel that is superbly realized within the epic opening track House Of Doom. The stop/start methodology of glitchy themes and progressive grooves feels like the band are channelling darker aspects of their creative psyche.
Second track Bloodsport taps into the classic DOOM-POP sound of FLOOR and TORCHE with a Post-Punk and Grunge aesthetic allowing AlphaWhores to offer one of the most highly original tracks on the album which shows why the band have been receiving major praise throughout the scene. This song is quite commercial rock at times but never forgoes it’s underground roots with a subtle dose of Sludge, Fuzz and Stoner Rock passages keeping everything grounded. The vocals once again are superb with the music having a JACKHAMMER effect especially within the heavier moments.
Third song Pirate Mode is a riffier, louder and aggressive affair with AlphaWhores moving to a Garage Rock / Punk Rock style of delivery which embraces an 1980’s Classic Pop sound but with that Alt Rock and Sludge Rock swagger keeping the mood vibrant and thoroughly modern. The lyrics are quite cutting at times with some darkly pitched humorous moments that does lighten the mood despite the bleak Post-Doom sounds being played.
AlphaWhores crank up the FUZZ ROCK appetite from this moment on with the whole tone changing constantly for the better with focus on melody being another strong factor for the band to try out new things compared to their debut album. You Can Come Out Now is never afraid to delve into other areas of Rock and Metal whilst injecting a bleak Pop / Commercial Rock sensibility into the mix on outstanding tracks such as The Glass Between Us, Show Me Your Teeth and Beautiful Music, Awful Person.
There are echoes of bands such as KYLESA, MELVINS and SPOTLIGHTS on the later parts of the record but AlphaWhores stand on their own creative ground with emotionally charged lyrics matching the catchy and aggressive Sludge Rock/Metal landscapes which retains a sense of urgency especially on the gloriously epic track Mood Setter.
AlphaWhores continue to excel blending sonic rhythms, mind-expanding harmonies and cosmic inducing PSYCHEDELICS which allows You Can Come Out Now as a thrilling, exciting and truly original record that’s deeply uplifting before everything is said and done.
Check this great album when you can as ALPHAWHORES have the potential to become your new favourite band right now.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Gardenia Publicity for all of the details.
You Can Come Out Now album sleeve. Photo credit - Tito Herrera
Panama based heavy alt-rock duo AlphaWhores have released their new single, Bloodsport, which is the third and final single previewing the forthcoming album You Can Come Out Now, which is out on June 13th, 2025.
You Can Come Out Now contains ten new songs including the recent singles ‘Pirate Mode’ in February and ‘Beautiful Music, Awful Person’ in April. The album is available to pre-order on limited edition swamp green vinyl as well as to pre-save on all digital formats. The digital version also contains the bonus track, ‘Over and Over’, which was released in January ahead of the band’s first European tour.
LISTEN TO ‘BLOODSPORT’ HERE / PRE-ORDER ‘YOU CAN COME OUT NOW’ ALBUM HERE
AlphaWhores explain:
’Bloodsport’ is a visceral exploration of the emotional battleground that unfolds when a rupture occurs between people who were once close. It captures the raw tension between guilt and righteousness—the duality of feeling remorse while also standing firm in your truth. The lyrics move through self-awareness, confrontation, and ultimately a plea: to be seen, to be understood, to be loved in full.
Musically, Bloodsport marks one of our most ambitious compositions to date. The song builds with unrelenting intensity toward a cathartic climax—an eruption that symbolises both release and victory. It’s not just a fight—it’s a transformation.
“This song came from a place of deep inner conflict,” says Massiel, the band’s vocalist and drummer. “I wanted to explore what happens when you know you’ve made mistakes, but still feel like your truth deserves to be heard. It’s messy, it’s human—and writing it felt like winning a battle within ourselves.”
The new album You Can Come Out Now was produced by London, UK based double-Grammy Award winner Adrian Bushby (Foo Fighters, Muse) who travelled to the band’s home country, Panama, to record it. It was mixed by the band’s long-standing collaborator, US based Evan Rodaniche. Evan also mixed their debut album I (‘one’) and recent single ‘Over and Over’, which is a cover of the Hot Chip classic re-created in AlphaWhores’ brooding signature style.
Hailing from Panama, AlphaWhores are Massiel Pinzón and Juan Carlos García de Paredes and have been working together for over 20 years when they were both members of the Panama based alternative rock band Mabí.
In 2021, following the end of longstanding personal relationships for them both, Massiel and Juan Carlos found themselves in the studio together jamming and making new music, as a way to help them process the changes happening in their lives. The studio sessions were so successful that they decided to make it into a new music project and AlphaWhores was born.
You Can Come Out Now sees the band further develop their eclectic mix of heavy styles infused with their distinct harmonies and searing palette of filthy riffs. It follows the release their debut album I (listen here), in January 2024, which features the singles ‘Raw Nerve’ and ‘Same Team’.
AlphaWhores recently completed their debut headline European Tour, with 17 shows in Germany, Austria, Denmark and the UK. AlphaWhores will play an album launch show in Panama City next on June 21st. More dates are being booked now.
About AlphaWhores
Massiel Pinzón (‘she’) and Juan Carlos García de Paredes (‘he’) are AlphaWhores. It is a supergroup of sorts, with both Massiel and Juan Carlos having had long and successful careers in music before they came together as AlphaWhores.
Massiel has been playing rock & roll for more than half of her life. She was born and lives in The Republic of Panama, a country in Latin America at the southern end of Central America, bordering Costa Rica, Colombia, the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Massiel studied music production, songwriting and performance in England and is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and singer. She has been involved in several successful rock and alternative bands either playing drums or guitar as well as singing, including the first all-female rock band from Panama, Lolas. Massiel has also been a rock journalist for the main Panamanian newspaper La Prensa and was president of Fundación Rockistmo, a non-profit organization created to promote rock culture in Panama.
Juan Carlos is also a multi-instrumentalist and a music producer with a soft spot for heavy music. Also born and based in The Republic of Panama, he came out of the 2000’s punk and indie scene with Lemmiwinks, an offbeat / punk band mixing prog rock with a fun-loving attitude whose three-album output and live shows make audience’s circle pit and laugh out loud at the same time. He owns the Grammy winning studio and indie record label Editoris and a grassroots music venue in Panama City. Juan Carlos is also an actor, film director and creative director of various comedy sketch projects.
Massiel and Juan Carlos started working together over twenty years ago when they were both members of the Panama based alternative rock band Mabí and they’ve collaborated on various musical projects since then.
In 2021, following the end of longstanding personal relationships for them both, Massiel and Juan Carlos found themselves in the studio together jamming and making new music, as a way to help them process the changes happening in their lives. The studio sessions were so successful that they decided to make it into a new music project and AlphaWhores was born.
On the band’s name, Massiel and Juan Carlos say:
“Our name is a play on words from the Spanish word alfajores, which are pastries very common in South America. It's just a joke for whoever gets it, and some people have lol. Not trying to be edgy or off-putting, rather just silly.
Alfajores are a traditional South American dessert made up of two cookies with a sweet filling in between. The cookies are usually soft and shortbread, and the filling is often dulce de leche, also known as manjar. Alfajores can be eaten as a snack or dessert, and are often enjoyed with family and friends.”
AlphaWhores released their debut about, I (‘one’), in January 2024 on Juan Carlos’s Editoris label, preceded by the singles ‘Same Team’, ‘Raw Nerve’, and ‘GTO.’ The album was produced and mixed by Evan Rodaniche. With limited promotion the album has spread organically via word of mouth in the metal community worldwide. Their second album, You Can Come Out Now, will be released on 13th June 2025.
Desertfest London have released stage splits and announced a final round of artists, completing its diverse line up for the festival's 2025 edition.
(Artwork by Branca Studio)
As Desertfest continues to celebrate all killer no filler independent heavy music, the festival has completed its 2025 line up with some formidable final additions that honour the current landscape of this subterranean scene.
Melbourne, Aus based distortion artist Divide & Dissolve will bring their ceiling-shaking soundscapes to Sunday’s Electric Ballroom, while Danish deathdoom quintet Konvent will open up affairs at Saturday’s Roundhouse.
Friday at The Underworld will see genre expansive Italian duo OvO bring their sinister sounds to London, before blackened sludge heroes Hexis celebrate their 15th anniversary alongside co-headliners, Norwegian noise-rock outlanders Årabrot.
Brighton doom beasts Sea Bastard make their long-overdue return to the Desertfest stage after 10 years. Elsewhere, The Black Heart will be buzzing with punk rock rebellion courtesy of Brazilian duo Yur Mum, while Canterbury doom devotees Famyne will close it out with their crushing riffs.
Desertfest London welcomes:
↠ DIVIDE AND DISSOLVE ↠ KONVENT ↠ HEXIS ↠ ARABROT ↠ FAMYNE ↠ CALLIGRAM ↠ OvO ↠ SEA BASTARD ↠ WALLOWING ↠ YUR MUM ↠ BILE CASTER ↠ OUTBACK ↠ OLD BLOOD ↠ INDICA BLUES
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