Soundwave 2015 Lineup: The Final Countdown

UPDATE 20/08/14: The Soundwave Festival 2015 lineup has arrived! Full details here.

After months of speculating and playing endless guessing games, the first official announcement for the Soundwave 2015 lineup is now less than 24 hours away. The last few weeks in particular have provided a good idea of what we can expect from Australia’s favourite hard rock festival in 2015.

With that in mind, Music Feeds have compiled everything we know about Soundwave 2015 and put it all in one spot for your convenience. With 2015 marking the launch of Soundwave’s new two-day format, there’s been more excitement surrounding the event than ever before, so let’s get into it.

THE LINEUP

Please note: Nothing on this page is confirmed until officially announced by Soundwave organisers.

After a massive 2013 and a larger-than-expected 2014, Maddah has told fans, “If 2013 was a 10 and 2014 was a five this would be a seven or eight.” That estimation bodes well for fans, especially considering Maddah now has two days of glorious hard rock, heavy metal, and punk rock to fill.

We already know that we’ll be seeing Melbourne favourites Ne Obliviscaris and Confession on the bill, and the Soundwave 2015 First Wave introduced us to some quality up-and-coming talent, including Coldrain and Butcher Babies, who’ll be making their Aussie debut on Soundwave stages.

If you haven’t noticed, we’ve been diligently keeping track of all the lineup rumours surrounding Soundwave 2015 over at our Lineup Rumours and Info page. Though it’s gone through countless changes in recent months, there’s a few bands that are looking pretty good for a SW15 slot.

WHO’S ON THE SECOND SOUNDWAVE 2015 LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT?

Rise Against became favourites after frontman Tim McIlrath revealed that the punk rockers have penciled in February and March 2015 for their Australian return. Meanwhile, a promising convo between Maddah and Dino Cazares bodes well for fans of LA industrial metallers Fear Factory.

Maddah later told the Full Metal Lockdown podcast that Fear Factory are as keen to play as he is to have them. In the same interview, Maddah also revealed that the lineup would feature four headliners, so fans can expect plenty of big names making their way Down Under next February.

Maddah has previously stated that there’s a “very good chance” of seeing Lacuna Coil make the cut, expressing similar sentiments for Cleveland group Chimaira. The promoter also stated that this time around he would be going after Godflesh and oft-requested Manowar with a vengeance.

Personally, we have a good feeling that the recently reactivated Faith No More could just end up taking one of those four headlining slots. Meanwhile, Massachusetts hard rock giants Godsmack look poised for an Australian return, having recently unveiled their sixth studio album, 1000hp.

As for the band it seems everyone wants to see at Soundwave 2015, Maddah has stated that he won’t book Slipknot until they release a new album. As luck would have it, frontman Corey Taylor recently revealed that the band are hoping to have their fifth studio album out by October. Maddah was also rather cryptic when asked point blank about the rumours surrounding the band.

Helping Slipknot’s case even further is Taylor’s insistence that the heavy metal giants will “definitely” be touring Australia in 2015. Speaking to BBC Radio 1 earlier this month, the frontman said, “We’re gonna start slowly moving out to the rest of the world… we’re definitely looking at Australia.”

Another band with some headliner potential is ’80s heavy metal legends Motley Crue. Bassist Nikki Sixx said last year that the Crue would be wrapping up their farewell tour in Australia and their recently announced Japan dates conclude the weekend before Soundwave 2015 kicks off.

Head over to our Soundwave 2015 Lineup Rumours And Info page for all the latest lineup updates!

DATES & VENUES

We mentioned that it will be Soundwave’s first year as a two-day event, sharing the same weekend in Adelaide and Melbourne, then the next weekend in Brisbane and Sydney. This allows streamlined staging wherein the lineup’s “80 to 90” bands playing across seven stages instead of 12.

The venues will be the same as last year’s though, of course, we’ll be losing Perth this year. Maddah is apparently working on an “airline deal” for fans based in Western Australia. And as in previous years, punters can expect their festival days to kick off at 11am and run till 10pm.

Saturday, 21st February & Sunday, 22nd February 2015

Bonython Park, Adelaide, South Australia

Saturday, 21st February & Sunday, 22nd February 2015

Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria

Saturday, 28th February & Sunday, 1st March 2015

Olympic Park, Sydney, New South Wales

Saturday, 28th February & Sunday, 1st March 2015

RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane, Queensland

SIDEWAVES

Maddah has indicated that 2015’s Sidewaves will most likely fall between the two weekends of the festival, though “one or two” may be scheduled for before the tour commences or after it concludes. There will also be more room for Sidewaves as there are now five days between weekends instead of four, however the promoter says there will now be “less Sidewaves per city.”

Asked about the possibility of Perth receiving Sidewaves in lieu of a proper leg of the 2015 tour, Maddah gave a definitive “no.” Regarding the possibility of rural shows this time around, he said, “Most bands love Aus and would play Wagga if given the chance. Generally not feasible though.”

The closure of famed Melbourne venue The Palace is double bad news for Melbourne fans. In addition to sending shockwaves throughout the city’s live music scene, Maddah has confirmed its closure will affect Sidewaves in the Aussie live music hub “big time,” as well as headline tours.

However, things are looking good for Adelaide on the Sidewaves front. Though the city often missed out in lieu of the East Coast, Maddah has stated that though it “depends on how well the festival sells in Adelaide,” it is now “logistically possible” to bring Sidewaves to the city.

THE TICKETS

Maddah has stated that, as with previous years, tickets will hit sale shortly after the lineup is announced. “Our members will have access a couple of days [after the announcement]. General public a week or so after that,” he said. To become a member, head to the Soundwave website.

According to the promoter, prices for a two-day weekend pass will run you $185 + booking fees, which is the same price as Soundwave 2014’s one-day ticket. Tickets usually go on sale shortly after the lineup and Maddah has stated that there will be a limited number of weekend tickets.

Single day tickets, meanwhile, will run you $120 + booking fees, and will go on sale “a few weeks” after the weekend tickets hit sale. After a fan suggested via Twitter that the lineup announcement be split so that fans can see which bands are playing on what day, Maddah agreed to do so.

Oh, and when he says weekend tickets will be limited, he means “limited!” The promoter has also said that the Soundwave member pre-sale will be particularly important this year, as he expects two-day tickets to sell out fast.

At the time of announcing the new ticketing format, Maddah said, “I am hoping that offering day tickets will make [the] festival experience available to those who may not be able to afford weekend tickets.”

THE REST

If you haven’t been following, the Soundwave 2015 lineup will arrive Wednesday, 20th August (that’s, uh, tomorrow), with organisers recently confirming that it will be announced some time after 8am AEST.

Music Feeds will have the lineup for you right here on Wednesday morning, so make sure you stay tuned. For more info and the latest news, make sure you check out our Soundwave 2015 Feed.

Soundwave Festival 2015

Day One

Adelaide – Saturday, 21st February, 2015

Melbourne – Sunday, 22nd February, 2015

Sydney – Saturday, 28th February, 2015

Brisbane – Sunday, 1st March, 2015

Faith No More

Soundgarden

Incubus

Lamb Of God

Ministry

Antemasque

Gerard Way

Mayhem

New Found Glory

Fear Factory

Hollywood Undead

Atreyu

The Aquabats

Area 7

Godflesh

Crown The Empire

The Interrupters

Icon For Hire

Emily’s Army

Patent Pending

Fireworks

The Bennies

The Color Morale

Monuments

Nothing More

Deathstars

Ne Obliviscaris

The Treatment

Day Two

Melbourne – Saturday, 21st February, 2015

Adelaide – Sunday, 22nd February, 2015

Brisbane – Saturday, 28th February, 2015

Sydney – Sunday, 1st March, 2015

Slipknot

Slash

Marilyn Manson

Fall Out Boy

Judas Priest

Godsmack

All Time Low

Papa Roach

Of Mice & Men

Escape The Fate

Apocalyptica

Lagwagon

Tonight Alive

Crossfaith

Butcher Babies

Confession

The Swellers

Conditions

Coldrain

King 810

Dayshell

This Wild Life