Aftershock 2025, the West Coast’s ultimate rock, punk, and metal destination, reached new heights this year—drawing more than 164,000 fans from all 50 states and over 30 countries to Sacramento’s Discovery Park for four unforgettable days of music, community, and chaos. Produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, the event generated an estimated $35 million in local economic impact and capped off a record-breaking 2025 festival season.

The 2025 Lineup & Highlights

Thursday

Grammy Award Winner and New Orleans legend Jon Cleary is heading to Cambridge for one night of incredible music at Arrow Street Arts, Thursday, October 23, 2025. Cleary will be joined on stage by his all-star band of New Orleans greats, The Absolute Monster Gentlemen. Tickets are on sale now at ArrowStArts.org. 

Late, lauded musician Dan Seals is paired with multi-platinum certified singer/songwriter, Jamey Johnson for a recreated take on the number one, uptempo Seals-penned classic, “Three Time Loser,” releasing October 17. Fans can pre-save the song here.

“Dan Seals is one of the great voices of the ‘80s that sculpted the sound and style of songwriters and artists like me that were raised on that era of country music,” said Jamey Johnson.

A new acoustic performance video for Brandi Carlile’s song, “A War with Time,” is out today. Watch the video, which was filmed on her fishing boat at Whidbey Island, WA, HERE.

The latest song released from Carlile’s highly anticipated new album, Returning To Myself, “A War with Time” was written by Carlile and Aaron Dessner, produced by Carlile, Dessner and Andrew Watt and includes Justin Vernon on background vocals and piano.

This fall, Khruangbin will embark on a run of intimate shows in celebration of the 10th anniversary of their debut album The Universe Smiles Upon You. The Houston-based trio will bring this special tour to the Boulder Theater on Sunday, November 16, 2025.

Maryland-based pianist, vocalist, and bandleader Natalie Brooke will release her fearless new full-length album, Measured in Moments, on October 10. The record cements Brooke’s place among the most compelling new voices in modern jazz-fusion, weaving vulnerability, grit, and explosive energy into a bold, expansive statement.

LISTEN | Natalie Brooke - Measured in Moments 

Six-time Grammy winner, acclaimed producer, and Blue Note Records President Don Was joins his nine-piece soul-jazz collective The Pan-Detroit Ensemble to release their highly anticipated new album, Groove in the Face of Adversity, out now via Mack Avenue Records. Listen to/share the album HERE.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats today unveil the tenth anniversary edition of their beloved, breakout 2015 self-titled debut album, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats—[listen/order/share here]. The special vinyl reissue contains an additional album’s worth of never before heard demo recordings, offering a glimpse at the feverish weeks of inspiration that uncovered a new form of creative expression.

Acclaimed band Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country has joined forces with multi-platinum artist Elle King on a captivating new rendition of his melody-rich song “Another Dimension,” released today. King’s soulful vocals add new colors to the beautiful track, which originally appeared on the group’s new album Horizons (Retrace Music). Listen to “Another Dimension” HERE.

The venerable Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival (HSB) celebrated its 25th anniversary last weekend with three days of free music on six stages in Golden Gate Park. Sunny weather and friendly fans cooperated to manifest merriment worthy of the magnificent musical lineup.