Heart of Winter Fest II: DIY metal in RVA

Bastard Sapling, Woe, Hot Graves, Benighted in Sodom, Shadow of the Destroyer. If this event is as awesome as those band names, your minds will be blown.

January 28, 2010; 12:00 PM • by Marge Weimer

The second annual Heart of Winter Fest is set to bring two days of DIY metal to the RVA music scene.

Armed with metal bands from all over the East Coast, the fest line-up reflects both the regional and local metal scenes.

Event creators, Greg ‘Elway’ Ernst and Drew Goldi said this year’s fest will be held at Alley Katz and separated into two big shows (January 29 and 30). Last year, Heart of Winter Fest consisted of three shows held at three different venues; Nara Sushi, Alley Katz, and Rocks.

“We like Alley Katz – it’s a good spot with regards to size and sound,” Ernst stated in an email. “Chris G. and the people there were very cool to us last year, so we knew we’d be back.”

Ernst and Goldi have built strong ties in the metal scene over their years playing music. They are founders of Richmond black metal band Bastard Sapling, which is booked for the fest as well.

Many of those connections are the lifeline Ernst said continues to keep the Richmond music scene thriving and consequently has played an integral part of the festivals creation.

“What I love about Richmond is the people who are in bands go to see and support other bands,”Ernst said. “I think everybody is one within that community.”

450 people turned-out for the inaugural Heart of Winter Fest and Ernst said he hopes this year will be no different.

“Of course, I want it to be packed and successful – I think it should be,” Ernst stated. “I know that Drew and I with help of others like Mike Paparo (Inter Arma and Bastard Sapling) have worked hard putting this together.”

Here is the band line-up, listed first to last, for Friday and Saturday:

Friday, January 29, 2010

• Throne Of Carrion (Richmond, VA)
• Windhand (Richmond, VA)
• Hot Graves (Gainesville, FL)
• Castevet (New York, NY)
• Battlemaster (Richmond, VA)
• Shadow Of The Destroyer (Asheville, NC)
• Woe (Philadelphia, PA)

Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7pm
Tickets are $12

Saturday, January 30, 2010

• Earthling (Harrisonburg, VA)
• Mutilation Rites (New York, NY)
• Neckbrace (Richmond, VA)
• Benighted In Sodom (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
• Infernal Stronghold (Philadelphia, PA)
• Morne (Boston, MA)
• Bastard Sapling (Richmond, VA)
• Evoken (Lyndhurst, NJ)

Doors open at 4:30pm, show starts at 5pm
Tickets are $13

January 28, 2010 12:00 PM 0