Mayhem Festival
July 1; Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View
Slayer? Anthrax? Motorhead? Did metal fans just die and go to heaven? That this is the coming-out party for the 5-year-old festival is beyond question. Though Mayhem has done a good job in the past representing thrash and the genre’s other subgenres, it’s another thing entirely to have three of the big four at this year’s show. Technically, the headliner is Slipknot, but—c’mon, really? Also performing are High on Fire, the Devil Wears Prada, As I Lay Dying and Whitechapel.
Metro Fountain Bluse Festival
July 14; St. James Park, San Jose
For three decades, the Fountain Blues Festival has been the Bay Area’s little blues festival that could. Growing quickly under the stewardship of Ted Gherke, the festival has had its ups and down. Last year, it found a new home in St. James Park; it’s back this year with a lineup featuring 2010 Blues Female Artist of the Year Ruthie Foster. With the passing of Etta James (who herself played the festival in 2005), the blues needs a strong female spirit to carry on her tradition of soulful passion, and they don’t come any more soulful or passionate than Foster. Also performing are the remaining members of Woodstock legends Canned Heat and a mystery headliner to be announced next month. A “Chicago Blues Shootout” will feature Chicago’s Lurrie Bell and fellow Windy city slinger John Primer, who started his career backing legends like Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon.
