Announced: Frozen in Time Festival brings new wave traditional heavy metal to Fresno

Plus, an RBD reunion at Save Mart Center, Pantera in Sacramento and Jane's Addition in Bakersfield.

It’s that time of year, when playing musicians of all scopes set dates for spring, summer and fall and ask us all start checking calendars and saving dates.

Already, we’ve gotten word on the Bottle Napa Valley lineup, and closer to home, the FresYes Fest (set for March 25, lineup to come). There’s also a date for this year’s Tower Porch Fest (April 29) with Ben’s Smokin BBQ already teasing a lineup for the new restaurant on Palm Ave).

Here are some other announcements worth note:

Already this year, Trevor Church teased a reunion for his horror-film-inspired metal band Beastmaker. He failed to mention at the time a new single from his other band Haunt (out next month) or that he is putting together a massive, two-day festival of traditional heavy metal bands called Frozen in Time.

The festival is happening June 16-17 at Strummer’s and promises to be “skull-crushing” or “face-melting” or very likely both.

“For just $60, you’ll be rockin’ out to hometown heroes Haunt, Canadian metal masters Traveler, Vancouver’s hypnotic Spell, the mystic Savage Master, dark metal’s Icarus Witch, the blackened metal of Nite, Knight and Gallow, Saber, Intranced, Crossed Hearts, Leathürbitch, and more to be announced.”

The lineup is reflective of the community of bands that Church has found himself in during Haunt’s time out on the road. These are all bands he’s worked with before and knows personally.

As music festivals go it’s niche, but that’s also totally the point.

“California doesn’t have a festival representing what a lot of us are doing,” Church says.

“So, I took it upon myself.”

Expect to see a contingent of denim-and-leather wearing out-of-towners coming in over the two days.

RBD Soy Rebelde

The Save Mart Center announced last week it would be a stop on the Mexican pop group RBD’s massive reunion tour.

The band, which grew out of telenovela “Rebelde” in the mid 2000s, started teasing the reunion last year, but just announced it would be hitting 26 cities, including Fresno on Oct. 15.

Pre-sale tickets are happening now with general on-sales happening noon Friday.

Save Mart Center has become a go-to stop for massively popular Mexican and other Spanish speaking artists (see: Karol G, Band MS, Christian Nodal).

Not happening in Fresno, but still worth note here:

As expected would happen eventually, Pantera announced a full set of American dates for the reunion/tribute it put together with Philip Anselmo and Rex Brown, plus Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante.

The dates include a headline tour (with openers Lamb of God) and some festival dates, which includes a headlining spot at this year’s Aftershock Festival (Oct. 5-8 in Sacramento. Full lineup to come).

It’s one of three California dates for the band.

The band also plays Aug. 25 on Metallica’s M72 World tour. The following night it will headline its own show in Chula Vista.

A reunited Jane’s Addiction announced a short run of shows in March as tune up for before the heading to South American for a few Lollapalooza festivals.

It kicks off with a Sunday-night show March 4 at Mechanics Bank Theater in Bakersfield (tickets on sale now).

This feels similar to what Nine in Nails did back in 2017.

Understanding that Bakersfield is closer several hours closer to Los Angeles, and may have some logistical advantages over Fresno, it’s a shame that we aren’t in a position to pull more of these kind shows.

That’s it for this week. Remember you can now hear me on the Homegrown Show Sundays at 8 p.m. on New Rock 104.1 FM. If you have anything you think I need to be looking at or listening to, feel free to let me know: jtehee@gmail.com