Death metal fans, be on alert: Maryland Deathfest returns Memorial Day weekend. The multi-day festival of hardcore music takes place in Baltimore from Thursday, May 23 through Sunday, May 26. There’s a lot to hear and see during this four-day festival, which is now in its 17th year.
What Is Deathfest?
Deathfests are an international network of festivals featuring extreme bands – those in the death metal, grindcore, doom, thrash, hardcore, black metal, and experimental genres. The first Deathfest was here in Maryland in 2003; in the years since then, festivals have been added to the lineup. They’ve taken place in California, the Netherlands, Quebec, and Sweden.
What to Expect
Maryland Deathfest is an all-ages event that takes place over the course of four days (with a pre-fest party scheduled at Ottobar the night before the festivities start). Shows take place at two venues, both located in downtown Baltimore in or near Power Plant Live!: Rams Head Live and Baltimore Soundstage.
Over the course of the four-day festival, close to 75 acts will perform between the two venues. Doors at both open at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 23 (shows starting at 5 or 5:30 p.m.) and at 1 or 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (shows starting between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.). Sets last for 35 minutes each with 20-minute breaks in between.
Saturday night shows include Revenge, Borknagar, and Deicide at Rams Head Live and Squash Bowels, Devourment and Mortician at Soundstage (among many others).
What to Do
Deathfest tickets are available via Eventbrite. They range from $33 or $54 (+$3 fee) for single-day passes to a specific venue to $93 or $157 (+$3 fee) for three-day passes. Passes for Soundstage and Rams Head Live are sold separately.
The good news is that tickets can be transferred to another person if you can’t use them and re-entry is permitted at all venues, so if you need to take a break between bands – possibly to go grab a drink or something to eat at a nearby bar or restaurant – you can hop back in without a problem.
Plus, cameras are permitted at the venues so you can photograph the shows.
Where to Park
Anytime you head to a concert, figuring out where to park is a key part of making sure the experience is a good time. When going to Rams Head Live or Baltimore Soundstage, Harbor Park Garage is your best bet for parking.
Located at 55 Market Place, Harbor Park is just steps away from both venues. The garage is both convenient to spots downtown (including bars and restaurants) and easily accessible from I-83 and other major routes in and out of the city.
The garage is safe and well-lit and the staff, available 24/7, is friendly and approachable – ready to point you in the right direction and answer any questions you might have.
