American metal band Slipknot have had to cancel their summer tour for 2020, making them the latest in a long line of bands to call off shows due to the coronavirus pandemic. The group had performances planned all across Europe, taking their festival Knotfest to various venues including The National Bowl in England.
Slipknot posted on their online platforms to inform fans on Wednesday 13th May, with a statement reading “Unfortunately Slipknot’s summer 2020 touring, including the North American Knotfest Roadshow, Knotfest UK and Knotfest at Sea, will not be happening.” The announcement was expected by ticket-holders given the current circumstances regarding Covid-19.
The post continues, “The band looks forward to performing for its fans again, and will do so when everyone’s safety can be assured.” It finished with information about ticket refunds, for which fans will receive an email from their point of purchase soon.
— Slipknot (@slipknot) May 13, 2020
Knotfest was created by Slipknot in 2012 and has been held in numerous countries including the United States, Japan, and Mexico. 2020 was to be the festival’s first year in the UK, held at The National Bowl in Milton Keynes on 22nd August. Although the full lineup had not yet been announced, previous years have seen the likes of Deftones, Lamb of God, and Machine Head take to the stage.
#KnotfestUK is coming to The National Bowl in Milton Keynes for the first time ever on 22 August featuring @Slipknot and more to be announced. Tickets are on-sale NOW: https://t.co/URIo5RXrct pic.twitter.com/XgLTzSYxjY
— Knotfest UK (@knotfestuk) January 16, 2020
‘We Are Not Your Kind’ is the band’s sixth studio album, released in 2019, and was the reason behind this year’s tour. There was even a 20-minute short film made in promotion of both the album and tour, directed by percussionist and backing vocalist Shawn Crahan, stage name CLOWN. The album went number 1 in the UK as well as the US, Australia, and more.
Fortunately, both Knotfest Japan and Knotfest At Sea have been rescheduled for later dates – Japan’s shows will now take place in January 2021, while the latter is yet to be announced. Frontman Corey Taylor discussed the current situation of live music with NME, saying that future shows will likely be in smaller venues as there may be “a sense of paranoia for a while” around attending large gatherings or events.
