Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway
In less than two weeks, the inaugural launch of the MONOLITH ON THE MESA Music & Art Festival will occur in Taos, New Mexico, from May 16th – 18th, 2019.
From the pre-festival party with bands like Red Mesa, The Horned God, and Black Magic Flower Power (formerly Black Pussy), to the two-day main event headlined by Om, Wino (acoustic set), The Well, and The Obsessed, the emphasis is on heavy music. A stunning roster of bands that represent multiple sub-genres of rock and metal including stoner rock, heavy psych, doom, sludge, drone, and retro rock, will be accompanied by interactive art presentations.
Set to take place May 17th – 18th at Taos Mesa Brewing‘s The Mothership and Taos Tap Room (pre-festival party and concert takes place in the same location on May 16th), MONOLITH ON THE MESA promises to be an experience like no other. Bands like Dead Meadow, Wovenhand, Lord Buffalo, Green Druid, Supergiant, Pinkish Black, EYE, The Heavy Eyes, Castle, Palehorse, Crypt Trip, Yatra, The Munsens, and more, will set the mood for the event billed as “a truly singular and mystical experience…. a weekend of live music heaviness blasting onto the high desert mesa in full view of the Sangre de Christo mountains.”
The venue opens daily at 11:00 A.M. and JP Rodman, an innovator in the motorcycle building world, will be exhibiting custom bike builds. Once the sun sets each day, the Mad Alchemist Liquid Light Show will illuminate the open-air amphitheater with an astounding futuristic light show.
The festival features an indoor stage (400 people capacity) and an outdoor “Earthship” amphitheater which holds 1,500 people. This allows an intimate experience for guests and performers. Music will begin daily at 11:30 A.M. and will alternate between the indoor and outdoor stages as detailed in the schedule below. Throughout the festival grounds, interactive art installations provided by Christian Ristrow and Christina Sporrong of Robochrist Industries, along with visual projections, will complement the live music performances in real-time as they take place.
Hotel Luna Mystica is located adjacent to the venue and offers guests camping and the exclusive “Monolith Experience” in the form of a custom, vintage trailer park. Vendors can be found on both properties and will include artisans, record labels, food trucks and more.
Scott “WINO” Weinrich, will perform both nights – solo acoustic on Friday, with The Obsessed on Saturday – and commented the following about the upcoming event:
“Music is the universal language and as emotion’s companion, invokes thought, feeling, and awareness. And Rock! The Obsessed is excited and honored to be invited to perform at this gathering, and we hope to see a lot of friends, fans, and family out in the gorgeous environs of Taos, New Mexico. Thanks to all who believe.“
MONOLITH ON THE MESA Music & Art Festival is set to take place between May 16th – 18th (including pre-fest party) and has just announced the addition of an After-Party, featuring Lord Dying and Year Of The Cobra, which will take place on the night of May 18th from 11:30 P.M. to 1:00 AM.
There is plenty of time still available to make plans to attend the MONOLITH ON THE MESA Music & Art Festival. You will find daily schedules and set times, ticket and pass purchase information, sponsor credits, and more for this rain or shine happening.
DATES AND TIMES:
Box office opens at 9:00 A.M. Friday and Saturday
Venue doors open to the public at 11:00 A.M. Friday and Saturday
THURSDAY MAY 16th: Pre-Festival Party (doors at 6:00 p.m.)
PREY FOR KALI – 6:15-6:45
THE HORNED GOD – 7:00-7:30
TEETH – 7:45-8:15
ARTICLE 15 – 8:30-9:00
BEARD – 9:15-9:45
RED MESA -10:00-10:30
BLACK MARIA – 10:45-11:15
BLACK MAGIC FLOWER POWER – 11:30-12:15
FRIDAY MAY 17TH:
OUTSIDE: OM – 10:30-12:00
INSIDE: WINO (Acoustic) – 9:45-10:30
OUTSIDE: DEAD MEADOW – 8:45-9:45
INSIDE: TIA CARRERA – 8:00-8:45
OUTSIDE: WOVENHAND – 7:15-8:00
INSIDE: STONE-DEAF – 6:30-7:15
OUTSIDE: TRUE WIDOW – 5:45-6:30
INSIDE: LORD BUFFALO – 5:00-5:45
OUTSIDE: GREEN DRUID – 4:15-5:00
INSIDE: ORYX – 3:45-4:15
OUTSIDE: WEEED – 3:00-3:45
INSIDE: SUPERGIANT – 2:30-300
OUTSIDE: SPIRIT MOTHER – 1:45-2:30
INSIDE: YOU – 1:15-1:45
INSIDE: VIA VENGEANCE – 12:30-1:00
INSIDE: DEEP CROSS – 11:45-12:15
SATURDAY MAY 18TH:
OUTSIDE: THE OBSESSED – 11:00-12:00
INSIDE: THE WELL – 10:15-11:00
OUTSIDE: THE HEAVY EYES – 9:30-10:15
INSIDE: PINKISH BLACK – 8:45-9:30
OUTSIDE : EYE – 7:45-8:45
INSIDE: ITCOS – 7:00-7:45
OUTSIDE: CASTLE – 6:15-7:00
INSIDE: PALEHORSE – 5:45-6:15
OUTSIDE: CRYPT TRIP – 5:00-5:45
INSIDE: COMMUNION – 4:15-5:00
OUTSIDE: PHARLEE – 3:30-4:20
INSIDE: LOOM – 2:45-3:30
OUTSIDE: YATRA – 2:00-2:45
INSIDE : SORXE – 1:30-2:00
OUTSIDE: THE MUNSENS – 12:45-1:30
INSIDE: DYSPHOTIC – 12:15-12:45
INSIDE: DEVIL’S THRONE -11:30-12:00
SATURDAY MAY 18TH: After Party (Starts at 11:30 P.M.)
INSIDE: LORD DYING (headliner)
INSIDE: YEAR OF THE COBRA
TICKET INFORMATION:
May 16th: Pre-party Show ticket at $25
May 17-18 Two Day Pass at $125
May 17-18 Two Day Pass with camping access at $155
May 17th (Day One) Single Day Pass at $70
May 18th (Day Two) Single Day Pass at $70
FESTIVAL SPONSORS:
Magical Tattoo | Black Arts Toneworks | Worshiper Cabinets | Hotel Luna Mystica | El Monte Sagrado | VANS
