After some dramatic lineup turbulence, this year’s ‘Shell Shock II‘ festival has found its new headliner in Slipknot tribute band SiC Tx. That outfit describe themselves as “The fastest growing Slipknot tribute in America.” The cover band will be taking over the closing slot previously held by Evergreen Terrace at the fest, which will take place October 19th at the Level 13 Event Center in Orlando, FL.
This past Sunday saw Evergreen Terrace drop off the bill, citing their concerns with the involvement of Kyle Rittenhouse. Rittenhouse rose to fame within right-wing circles after shooting three men — two of them fatally — during altercations that occurred amid the August 2020 riots in Kenosha, WI. He was later acquitted of several charges of homicide and more in relation to the incident.
The ‘Shell Shock II” festival, which aims to double as a fundraiser and awareness event for PTSD among first responders and veterans, booked Rittenhouse as a VIP guest for the event.
That did not sit well with Evergreen Terrace, who also cited “other associated entities” involved with the festival in announcing their departure from the bill. Since then, three other bands booked for the bill, Southpaw, Let Me Bleed & American Hollow, have also dropped off the fest, seeking to distance themselves from either Rittenhouse or political associations in general.
The Antihero Podcast, who have been promoting the event, responded online yesterday, October 01st, stating:
“We have been silent. But we are prepping. The liberal mob attempted to destroy Shell Shock But we will not allow it. This is now about more than a concert. This is a war of ideology.”
In a post shared to social media earlier today (October 02nd), the festival announced their aforementioned new headliner via the below post. As a stinger at the end of the video, the text of ‘Cancelled?’ is flashed, followed by animated laughter.
That same post also outlined the mission statement of sorts for the festival, offering:
“We believe in a united front among our brothers and sisters who continue to fight the battles even after having served their country. This includes not only our veterans but also the first responders who stand alongside them, confronting the challenges and struggles that persist long after their service. Together, we form a strong and resilient community, dedicated to supporting each other through every battle.
Each year, numerous, major music festivals take place, but few prioritize mental health, and even fewer (if any) specifically address PTSD. We understand the brevity of its mental toll and trauma. In addition to this initiative, all our jointly owned companies share a unified mission with our sponsors to support military personnel and Veterans, law enforcement, first responders, expressing gratitude for their sacrifice to our country.”
