Refused Announced For Soundwave 2016

September 4, 2015

UPDATE 17/12/15 5.50pm: Soundwave 2016 has been officially cancelled.

The Soundwave 2016 drip feed continues, with Refused becoming the fourth act to be officially locked in for next year’s heavy music spectacular.

The Swedish hardcore heroes last toured Australia in 2012, and their triumphant return will see them backed by their latest album (and first in 17 years), Freedom, which was released in June.

In that same month, Refused announced they were planning to tour Australia in early 2016, putting themselves straight into the running for the next Soundwave festival. Luckily for fans, the group’s plan is now a reality.

Refused join LA alt rockers Failure, Brisbane progsters Dead Letter Circus and Welsh metalheads Bullet For My Valentine on the 2016 bill, which is shaping up to be a real doozy.

Festival boss AJ Maddah previously teased that next year’s lineup would be heavier than usual and — much like feeding a drunk person with the munchies one popcorn kernel at a time — will arrive slowly, nourishing us bit-by-bit, over the course of this month.

Maddah has also flagged a few other changes for SW16, including the demise of short, 30-minute set times, with next year’s event to be “all about better bands and longer sets”.

Soundwave 2016 will also return to the standard single-day format after last year’s two-day experiment didn’t quite catch on. Adelaide has been amputated from the touring itinerary, with the now East Coast-only festival to visit Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in January (although there is currently a petition circulating to bring it back to Perth).

Check out Soundwave 2016’s festival dates below, and stay up to date with all the latest Soundwave 2016 goss over at the Music Feeds Soundwave 2016 Lineup Rumours And Info page.

Listen: Refused – Françafrique