Summer of Loud Tour Brings Metalcore Mayhem to Denver at The Junkyard

Photos Katie Bosco / Words Katie Bosco and Jo Anna Jackson
3 days ago
5 min read

Updated: 1 hour ago

I Prevail Headline the Denver Summer Of Loud Concert in July

The SUMMER OF LOUD TOUR presented by Sound Talent Group and LiveNation brought the best of metalcore and more to fans with a solid lineup, with headliners I Prevail, Beartooth, Killswitch Engage, and Parkway Drive dedicating hour long sets, along with The Amity Affliction, Alpha Wolf, The Devil Wears Prada and Kingdom of Giants supporting, bringing a full day of mayhem, record heat, and metal noise to fans.

Headbangers and metalheads from all corners swarmed into the Junkyard in Denver, a venue as wild and gritty as its name - ready for a day of metal where the only thing more intense than the 100+ heat was the music. Regardless of the temperature, fans were not phased, and celebrated the long day by surfing the crowd and and parting from the early sets into the night.

The Summer of Loud tour is dedicated to Dave Shapiro, Kendall Fortner, and Emma Huke, who were instrumental in bringing the festival to life. Dave Shapiro, who co-founded Sound Talent Group, the company behind the festival, was the visionary behind the Summer of Loud Festival tour, conceived as a way to celebrate and honor the music he loved. Thousands of fans and a remarkable group of bands will come together each date to remember Shapiro, and to honor the impact he made in their lives and in music.

The tour lineup changes for each date, with headliners rotating so every show is a bit different order, and a few support changes as the tour progresses.

The Denver show started off with a bang (and a lot of sweat in the heat) with KINGDOM OF GIANTS and vocalist Dana Willax blasting into the set and getting the pits going despite the infernal heat. ALPHA WOLF kept the fire going, with Lochie Keogh stalking the stage and reigning over the wall of bodies, before THE AMITY AFFLICTION just decimated the crowd, Joel Birch (even in a cast after breaking his foot in an earlier date) and newcomer Jonny Reeves just killing the vocals through their set, finishing to a roar with a fitting "It's Hell Down Here" and "Soak Me in Bleach".

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA came out strong with "Watchtower", pounding the crowd and the bodies were really flying. The set was intense and emotional, the fans and TDWP remembering former drummer Dave Shapiro and what he meant to this band and the genre. It was a real power packed set that really brought the meaning of the event home.

PARKWAY DRIVE hitting the stage was a turning point into the real heavy hitters with the start of the longer sets, and the band brought even MORE heat. Smoke and flames filled the air as the Winston McCall led the band through a power packed set, literally setting the stage on fire. From the spinning drum set (also on fire) to the pyro, to the finale "Crushed", the Aussies lived up to the hype and set the night ablaze.

After a bit to get rehydrated, the crowd was ready for KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, and Jesse Leach came out swinging with "Rose Of Sharyn". The heat was still unrelenting, but the fans didn't slow down, and Leach came down into the crowd to whip up the frenzy, singing and fist bumping his way along the barricade. Leach spoke about how his band was a generation before some on the bill, but how newer and older fans can all rock out on this tour and get to see such a great mix of bands.

BEARTOOTH brought a renewed energy to the crowd, with Caleb Shomo (coming out in a TDWP IS ETERNAL Tshirt!), bringing crushing vocals and soaring melodies with "The LInes", and opening up the biggest circle pits of the day, double pits going as the band pummeled fans with "Disease". A spectacular set the left fans exhausted and in awe, but it ain't over yet.

I PREVAIL ignited the crowd for one last surge of energy after the loooong heated day, just outright setting what was left of the night on fire and in flames, with more pyro, more heat and a ferocious climax to the show. The vocals between Eric Vanlerberghe Living Dylan Bowman (now taking over the melodic backup after Brian Burkheiser's departure) were solid and they came out hard with "Bow Down", really giving the crowd a third wind and getting the finale circle pits a resurrection. They also showed off their newest banger “Violent Nature”, and fans were loving it, their evolving sound taking on a more metalcore vibe and sounding better than ever. I Prevail came to a crashing and appropriate finale for the night with "Gasoline", amid flames and cheers.

Overall, countless crowd surfers, mosh-pits, and metal music made this memorial festival one to remember. The tour has a bit more to go, and will continue across the US throughout July, you can find out more on tickets and tour dates HERE and more on Sound Talent Group bands HERE.

For every Summer of Loud ticket sold, $1 will be donated to the Living the Dream Foundation, who partners children or young adults who have a life-threatening illness with meet n’ greets with their heroes, VIP access to concerts and special events, hospital visits, and other events to promote the powerful message of 'Living The Dream' each day, regardless of their affliction.

Summer of Loud Tour

6/21 — West Palm Beach, Fla. @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

6/22 — Tampa, Fla. @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

6/24 — Atlanta, Ga. @ Lakewood Amphitheatre

6/26 — Dallas, Texas @ Dos Equis Pavillion

6/27 — Austin, Texas @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater

6/28 — Houston, Texas @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

7/01 — Phoenix, Ariz. @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

7/02 — San Diego, Calif. @ Gallagher Square at Petco Park

7/05 — Irvine, Calif. @ Great Park Live

7/06 — Concord, Calif. @ Toyota Pavilion at Concord

7/08 — Salt Lake City, Utah @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre