The 2024 ‘Furnace Fest‘ was billed as ‘The End Of An Era’, but it seems that perceived end was not as definitive as planned. A highlight in the hardcore and metalcore scenes in the early 2000s, the festival would take a lengthy break before returning in 2019 (albeit being delayed to 2021 in light of COVID-19.) Since then the annual celebration has been held at the Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, AL.
However, September of 2023 saw the organizers of the fest reveal the uncertain future of the fest, issuing the below statement at the time:
“Furnace Fest Family: the end of an era is upon us.
In 2019, four unlikely friends set out to replicate the original Furnace Fest as a one-time resurrection. After postponing twice, FF2021 drew us together when we needed each other and live music most. From the heights of that glorious weekend, we began dreaming about a full four-year replica of the originals. We can’t believe we’re saying it, but next year, 2024, is the end of an era – completing our vision for Furnace Fest as we’ve come to know it.
What does this mean beyond next year? Will the festival end? Morph into something new, something different? These are the questions we are asking ourselves. What do we know? Furnace Fest transcends extended weekends in Alabama because we are a community, friends, and family defined not by differences but by similarities of history and passion.
Regardless of what happens beyond 2024, thank you for journeying with us. You’ve brought so much brightness into this season, helping us recover from a global pandemic and far more. Apart from your generous commitment to a dream, none of this would have happened. You found a way to make ten minutes last forever…
We love and value you with all the fondness in the world.”
With that ‘final’ edition having taken place this past October, it would seem that a new era of the fest may soon be upon us. Whether this means, a new venue, new organizers, or a simple return to business as usual remains to be seen. Whatever the case, the festival’s organizers put up a tease today, November 21st. In it, they encourage fans of the fest to save the dates of October 03rd-05th, 2025.
The post reads as follows:
“Furnace Fest family: we’re not crying; you’re crying! We love you forever, and all four million fifteen thousand seven hundred and fifty-two seconds since October 6th have been pure misery!
For those of you who got married, engaged, flew around the world (het spijt me, mijn Nederlandse gozers!), spent too much magic credit card money, and everyone else thinking you’d never see Sloss Furnaces together again, we apologize in advance for finding a way to reunite—for the sake of the children!
Artist and agent friends, we can hardly believe we’re saying this. Is anyone doing anything around October 3rd – 5th, 2025???
[email protected]”
Further hashtags included on that very post include some suggestive hints at what’s in store:
‘#noendofanera #turnsoutAaronGillespiewasright #cancelfurnacefestnowfortoyingwithmyEMOtions
#allswellthatendswell?
#goodmorningmyladyandaforeverhello
#adventofamiracle
#canwenowbringbackfurniesandslossages?
#goodthingitsThursdaybcwishlishtWednesdaywouldgetpummeled’
