As fans continue to crave in-person experiences and event schedules fill up, some events and tours are struggling to remain financially viable amid increased costs and labor shortages, while others are roaring back despite the current circumstances.
One such event was Danny Wimmer Presents’ (DPW) metal and rock festival Aftershock, which took place in Sacramento at the beginning of the month. This year’s event was the largest in the festival’s 10-year history, attracting over 160,000 fans and breaking last year’s attendance record — confirming yet again that fans are eager to get back to enjoying live music together.
The festival featured over 90 bands, including headliners Slipknot, KISS, My Chemical Romance, and Muse, as well as ample brand activations and experiences from sponsors. Many performers were international, traveling from countries such as Japan, India, and Australia, in what is another sign that the entertainment industry is getting back on its feet following years of strict travel restrictions.
Danny Wimmer Presents has also continued to leverage its Twitch channel, which it launched last year, to engage fans virtually and provide exclusive content to those who may not have been able to attend — and for those who attended live to catch up on later.
During Aftershock, metal band Lamb Of Gods live streamed their full set on Twitch in celebration of their new album, which was released the same day. In addition, DPW’s signature Twitch show, “That Space Zebra Show,” was back for the festival and provided fans tuning in at home with an immersive backstage experience throughout the four-day festival. The show featured interviews with artists, exclusive BTS action, and live streams of the performances on the DWPresents Stage.
Major festivals, including Coachella and Electric Daisy Carnival, are increasingly looking to digital platforms to stream performances and engage their wider fan communities. DPW has been a prime example of how this can be achieved as it consistently hosts content on Twitch throughout the year, both during its festivals and at other times, which is a trend we can expect to grow even further as the industry navigates the post-pandemic environment.