The full lineup announcement for the Vans Warped Tour, returning to Australia this year for the first time in more than a decade, drops tonight on Triple J’s Short.Fast.Loud program, but even with the official list of bands just hours away, yet more acts have let slip of their involvement in the touring punk and hardcore festival.
Two bands have already revealed themselves as very, very likely contenders for Warped this November and December, in a bill put together courtesy of Soundwave/Harvest promoter AJ Maddah in collaboration with Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, now another couple of loose lipped bands have given very positive signals that they’ll be on the 2013 lineup as well.
Cardiff rockers Kids In Glass Houses took to their social media to tell fans they have “exciting” tour news scheduled to drop today.
We have some very exciting touring news that we will be announcing on Wednesday.
— Kids In Glass Houses (@kighofficial) July 8, 2013
While the Wednesday announcement isn’t directed at Australian fans per se, given the band’s history with AJ Maddah’s Soundwave Touring, including paying a visit as part of Soundwave 2012 and a 2010 tour with You Me At Six and The Audition, it may not be a surprise if the Welsh five-piece are among the list of names read out on air tonight.
While Kids In Glass Houses’ Warped confirmation is tentative, pop punk loving French-Canadians Simple Plan were far more direct. With a tweet telling their fans to be sure to be listening to Triple J’s Short.Fast.Loud program this evening for some “exciting news”:
Hey Australia, be sure to tune into @TripleJ from 10:15pm tomorrow. SP's got some exciting news they'll be sharing with you!
— Simple Plan (@simpleplan) July 9, 2013
It all but confirms Simple Plan’s place on the Warped Tour AU lineup and marks a return to Australia following their 2012 tour in support of their fourth and latest album Get Your Heart On!.
Both of Simple Plan’s and Kids In Glass Houses’ notices to keep an eye and ear out today for tour news follows on from last week’s potential Warped leaks. Californian group The Dangerous Summer told Aussie fans to expect some “news on July 10th”, with melodic moshers For All Those Sleeping similarly alerted fans to a “big announcement this coming Wednesday!”
Aside from the international acts who have been letting slip early, Maddah has noted that the final Warped bill “will have lots of locals.” The serial tweeting promoter has also remarked on the distinctions between the two events before; “Warped is about mayhem & DIY punk rock spirit. [Soundwave] is about delivering a slick & orchestrated day of performances.”
As for who else to expect on the Warped Tour lineup announcement, the lineup for South America’s Vans Warped Festival for 2013 could give fans a hint of who to expect of Warped’s Aussie return. With The Used, Memphis May Fire, Reel Big Fish, and Black Veil Brides gracing the South American lineup in July/August this year.
Whatever the final bill, Maddah has confirmed that a $99 ticket to the Vans Warped Tour will be the only chance to catch any of the lineup as there won’t be any sideshows for the festival, noting in a tweet to a fan query about possible sideshows: “not this year. I’d like to wait til we have re-established the festival in Aus 1st.”
The outspoken promoter also explained the reasons behind the Warped Tour snubbing Western Australia, blaming the State Government and financial logistics for the lack of a Perth leg. “To be quite frank, the past few years, Perth hasn’t been particularly kind to punk bands or to punk events,” said Maddah. “Perth is great for P!nk and what have you, but it’s not so good for punk rock.”
An Australian leg for the Vans Warped Tour marks its first appearance Down Under in more than a decade. After first launching in 1995, Warped eventually made its way to Australia in January 1998 with a lineup that featured Pennywise, Frenzal Rhomb, Blink 182, The Living End, Bodyjar and more, but the punk festival has been absent from Australian shores since its last visit in 2002.
Vans Warped Tour 2013 Dates
Brisbane: Friday 29th November
Coffs Harbour: Saturday 30th November
Sydney: Sunday 1st December
Canberra: Friday 6th December
Melbourne: Saturday 7th December
Adelaide: Sunday 8th December
Lineup and ticket info to be announced Wednesday 10th July
