The Sick New World music festival returned for its second year in Las Vegas, NV, promising an unforgettable experience for fans of rock, metal, and alternative music. The event was held at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds and featured a convergence of music legends and new-wave artists spanning genres and generations. With 72 bands performing across five stages, Sick New World provided every attendee with a diverse and enriching experience. The lineup was particularly thrilling for nu-metal fans, with headline acts that included Bring Me the Horizon, Slipknot, System of a Down, and the rapidly rising Sleep Token.

From as early as 6 am, excited fans queued up in anticipation of the festival's doors opening at 11 am. The entry process was quick for most attendees, thanks to efficient security checks prioritizing safety without causing significant delays. The festival organizers made it easy for fans to enter the festival grounds and navigate their way around by providing information early and frequently through emails, social media postings, and their website. Fans could also download the Sick New World app, which provided information on set times for each band, a schedule builder, and festival maps to ensure a successful musical experience. Once inside the festival grounds, fans were greeted with the tantalizing aromas of various food vendors, each offering their own culinary specialties. These included bulgogi rice bowls, carne asada fries and tacos, chicken tenders, pizza from Prince St Pizza, fried PB&J, BBQ, and more.

The festival was a fan's paradise, offering a wide selection of exclusive festival and band merchandise. In addition to food tents, merch booths, and bar installations, various pop-up shops featured multiple brands. Fans could explore different offerings, such as Eargasm for high-quality earplugs, Monster Energy for a recharging beverage, Beatbox Party Bus for music and entertainment, Tattoo Bus for unique tattoo designs, and 22RED for cannabis products. For coffee lovers, there were samplings from Korn Koffee - a specialty blend curated by the members of Korn and made by J. Gursey Coffee - and Kavat Coffee, owned by System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian. Kavat had limited edition "Sunrise" roasts autographed by Tankian that were available for purchase. The nonprofit organization Kulture City, dedicated to inclusivity, provided sensory bags containing headphones, two fidget toys, and ID cards to those who asked for one.

Photos by: Chelsea Christensen

There were a few exciting surprises at the festival on Saturday. Bad Omens brought out singer/songwriter Poppy on stage during their performance of "V.A.N" on the Gold Stage. This song is the first single from Bad Omens' highly anticipated album, Concrete Jungle, which will be released on May 31st, 2024. Later on, Poppy joined Knocked Loose on the Siren Stage for a performance of "Suffocate."

Another notable surprise was when Bring Me the Horizon brought out Babymetal, a Japanese kawaii metal band, for a performance of "Kingslayer." Babymetal had performed on the Red Stage earlier in the day, with all three band members wearing matching holographic outfits and displaying impressive endurance.

Lamb of God rocked the midday crowd at the Gold Stage with an electric set that included hits like "Memento Mori," "Walk with Me in Hell," "Resurrection Man," "Ditch," "Laid to Rest," and "Redneck."

Primus, the American rock band known for its unique sound and the distinctive style of its bassist and lead vocalist Les Claypool, performed on the Red Stage with fellow bandmates guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Tim Alexander. The trio delivered an impeccable performance despite facing a significant setback. The band informed the audience about an unfortunate incident after their performance at Red Rocks in Colorado. Due to a severe snowstorm, their equipment got stuck during transit. However, the band did not let this setback dampen their spirits. They quickly purchased a pair of matching Fenders from a local Guitar Center to ensure their show went as planned. In a generous gesture, the band has now decided to auction off the Fenders they used during the show, with the proceeds going to benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital. This charity is known for providing state-of-the-art medical care and support to children battling life-threatening illnesses.

Throughout the day, Sick New World fans kept the energy high as the legendary rock band A Perfect Circle took to the Red Stage for a 10-song performance. However, they faced the same issue as Primus, as lead singer Maynard James Keenan announced to the crowd from a large platform that their equipment had also been delayed in Colorado. Despite the setback, Keenan expressed gratitude towards their crew and fellow bands of the Sick New World lineup for lending instruments for their performance.

Alice In Chains, a legendary rock band known for their unique sound and style, took the stage at this year's lineup to an enthusiastic crowd. As the clock struck 6:00 pm, William Duvall and Jerry Cantrell began co-leading the vocals while the rest of the band joined to create a powerful and unforgettable performance. The audience couldn't help but sing along to every word of their hit songs, including the timeless classics like “Man in the Box,” “Them Bones,” and “Rooster.”

As the sun began to set, the stage was graced by Danny Elfman, a renowned American composer, singer, and songwriter. Elfman appeared topless, accompanied by a complete orchestra, and confidently proclaimed to the crowd, "This little show makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, but alas, neither do I." Elfman's exceptional scores for films and television are distinctive, and he is widely regarded as one of the most talented composers in the industry. His journey began in the late 70s, leading a new wave band called Oingo Boingo as the lead singer and songwriter. However, he ventured into film scoring when Tim Burton approached him to compose the score for "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" in 1985. The film's success marked the start of a fruitful collaboration between the duo, leading to many more projects together.

Danny Elfman's performance at the weekend's event was a masterclass in musical artistry. Effortlessly transitioning between Oingo Boingo songs to fan-favorite compositions such as “The Simpsons,” “Batman,” “Wednesday Adams,” and “Beetlejuice.” The real highlight of the performance, however, came when Elfman transformed into a pinstriped tuxedo jacket and delivered a reprisal of his character, Jack Skellington. The audience was delighted as he sang "Jack's Lament/This is Halloween" from the cult classic "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Accompanied by a full orchestra, Elfman's unique charm and boundless talent shone through, and it was clear that this was one of the most unforgettable performances of the weekend.

The evening before the Sick New World festival, Slipknot celebrated its 25th anniversary at the renowned 'Pappy and Harriet's' in Joshua Tree, California. The fans lucky enough to attend the concert were left in awe as the band returned to their original stage costumes from the 1990s, which included masks, dreads, and red jumpsuits. The fans were also treated to another surprise as they became the first audience to witness the band's new drummer perform live. This intimate performance in the desert caused quite a stir on the internet as fans speculated about the identity of the new percussionist.

Attendees of Sick New World eagerly anticipated Slipknot's 9:20 pm performance as the masses huddled around the Red Stage to witness the new drummer in action. When the nine band members stepped onto the stage, the Las Vegas crowd erupted at the sight of the band’s unmistakable red jumpsuits. Kicking off their set with "People = Shit", the crowd matched the electrifying energy with circle pits, moshing, and shouting along to the lyrics. Fans were thrilled to hear various songs from several Slipknot albums, including "Eyeless," "Spit it Out," "Surfacing," and "Wait and Bleed" from their self-titled album. The band also performed "Disasterpiece" and "The Heretic Anthem" from the Iowa album, as well as tracks like "Before I Forget" and "Duality" from Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses. They also played "Custer" from Vol. 5: The Gray Chapter, "Psychosocial" from All Hope is Gone, and "Unsainted" from We Are Not Your Kind.

The anticipation was palpable as fans eagerly awaited the arrival of headliners System of a Down to the stage. Despite the late performance time of 10:35 pm, the band's limited number of shows this year kept tired fans sticking around to see what the veteran band had to offer. As the band took the stage, Serj Tankian, the lead vocalist, started the show with "X" from their iconic album, Toxicity. His enthusiastic performance set the tone for the entire night as the band launched into a mega-set list of 27 songs, showcasing their incredible musical talents.

System of a Down also performed several rarely heard songs, including "Bubbles," "CUBErt," and "Kill Rock ‘n Roll," which added a special element to the performance. During the performance, the band took a moment to pay tribute to the late Joey Jordison from Slipknot and dedicated the song "Lonely Day" to his memory. And, of course, the band performed all of their biggest hits, including "Chop Suey!," "Sugar," "BYOB," and "Toxicity." The crowd sang along to every word, creating a fun atmosphere throughout the 95-minute set.

Sleep Token, a band on the rise known for their unique blend of music and mystery, closed out the Spiral Stage with a late 11:30 PM set that included seven songs and added a dramatic finale to the festival.

The 2024 Sick New World music festival was a truly extraordinary achievement that brought together a diverse range of music and culture, surpassing all expectations and setting the bar for upcoming events in the genre. It not only celebrated the rich legacy of rock and metal music but also delivered an unmatched and unforgettable experience for all those who attended, whether to revisit their youth or explore new horizons in music. The festival's unquestionable success is a testament to the organizers' innovative and meticulous planning, leaving no room for doubt that they are true pioneers in the field and inspiring others to create equally remarkable events in the future.