Heavy Montréal (stylized as Heavy MONTRÉAL, formerly known as Heavy MTL) is a two-day, summer heavy metal and hard rock music festival held annually at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It also includes various other events at different venues across the city. The "MTL" in the former name, Heavy MTL, served as both an abbreviation for "Montreal" and "Metal". In 2014, the festival was officially renamed as "Heavy Montréal".Heavy MTL Becomes Heavy Montréal In 2023, the festival revived the "Heavy MTL" moniker once again through its logo.
History Since the festival's first edition in 2008, Heavy Montréal, known until 2014 as "Heavy MTL", has seen some of the world's most successful heavy metal acts, such as Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, Testament, Kiss, Dethklok, Rob Zombie, Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, Slayer, Alice Cooper, Motörhead, Godsmack, In Flames, Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Deftones, System of a Down, Five Finger Death Punch, Children of Bodom and Babymetal.
In 2011, a sister event, Heavy T.O., was created for Downsview Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Both events were held during the same weekends, with most bands playing one day in Montreal and the other in Toronto. Despite the Toronto event's popularity, however, promoters ceased operations there after the festival's 2012 incarnation.
For the 2014 festival, Heavy MTL was officially rebranded as "Heavy Montréal". This was done as an "evolution" of the festival, with efforts made to include a wide array of styles in its programming.
The festival took a one-year hiatus in 2017, citing the renovations taking place that year in Parc Jean-Drapeau and the increase in other cultural events due to Montreal celebrating its . In November 2019, event promotions company Evenko announced that Heavy Montreal would not occur in 2020, in part due to "the number of non-festival metal/rock concerts that will be announced over the next few months", said Evenko chief operating officer Jacques Aubé.
Past editions 2019
The lineup included: + Saturday, 27 July 2019Stage HeavyStage de l'ApocalypseStage de la ForetStage du JardinFever 333 Kataklysm Beartooth Killswitch Engage Godsmack GhostGalactic Empire Anonymus Quiet Riot Hatebreed Steel Panther EvanescenceHarm's Way Devin Townsend All That Remains Cancer Bats Municipal Waste WatainBrand of Sacrifice Lorna Shore Nekrogoblikon Rivers of Nihil The Faceless Carnifex Cattle Decapitation Dying Fetus
+ Sunday, 28 July 2019Stage HeavyStage de l'ApocalypseStage de la ForetStage du JardinKnocked Loose Despised Icon Skillet In This Moment Slash Slayer1Mountain Dust Beast in Black Atreyu Gamma Ray Clutch AnthraxDopethrone Skálmöld Fu Manchu Gloryhammer Terror Counterparts Stick to Your GunsJunkowl Dirty Honey The Great Sabatini Metalachi 3Teeth Demolition Hammer
2018
Heavy Montreal returned in 2018 after a one-year hiatus.
The lineup included: + Saturday, 28 July 2018Stage HeavyStage de l'ApocalypseStage de la ForetStage du JardinPallbearer Sword Tech N9ne I Prevail Marilyn Manson Rob ZombieBorn of Osiris Lee Aaron Baroness Alestorm Underoath EmperorVeil of Maya The Black Dahlia Murder Witchcraft Napalm Death Red Fang Between the Buried and MeJungle Rot Entheos Soreption Allegaeon The Agony Scene Erra Jinjer
+ Sunday, 29 July 2018Stage HeavyStage de l'ApocalypseStage de la ForetStage du JardinHelix Demon Hunter Voivod Asking Alexandria Hollywood Undead Limp Bizkit1Intervals Emmure Ultra Vomit Sleep Trivium GojiraBlind Witness Power Trip Warbringer Gloryhammer Eyehategod PerturbatorNonhuman Era Get the Shot Bad Omens Havok Khemmis Necrotic Mutation
Replaced Avenged Sevenfold
2016 The 2016 edition of Heavy Montréal took place on 6–7 August 2016. For 2016 the festival was held on a new site in Parc Jean-Drapeau, la Plaine des Jeux.
The lineup included: + Saturday, 6 August 2016Molson Canadian stageHeavy stageBlabbermouth.NET stagePop Evil Escape the Fate Fear Factory Trivium Sabaton Mastodon Five Finger Death PunchUSA Out of Vietnam The Dillinger Escape Plan Carcass Sebastian Bach Black Label Society NightwishInquisition Skeletonwitch Repulsion Attila Suicide Silence Cult of Luna
+ Sunday, 7 August 2016Molson Canadian stageHeavy stageBlabbermouth.NET stageI Prevail Despised Icon Saint Asonia Blind Guardian Alter Bridge Breaking Benjamin DisturbedWe Came as Romans Animals as Leaders Kataklysm Zakk Wylde Killswitch Engage VolbeatMantar Beartooth Memphis May Fire B.A.R.F. Suffocation Napalm Death Candlemass
2015
The 2015 edition of Heavy Montréal took place over three days from 7 to 9 August 2015.
The lineup included: + Friday, 7 August 2015Molson Canadian stageHeavy stageApocalypse stageForest stageThe Flatliners Anonymus Extreme Meshuggah KornGorguts Venom Arch Enemy Lagwagon AlexisonfireBrothers of the Sonic Cloth Revocation The Acacia Strain Veil of Maya Lofofora NeurosistoyGuitar Beyond Creation Cattle Decapitation Nothing More .moneen. Augury
+ Saturday, 8 August 2015Molson Canadian stageHeavy stageApocalypse stageForest stageSlaves on Dope Rocket from the Crypt Abbath Testament NOFX Faith No MoreDeafheaven Lita Ford Gojira Billy Talent Iggy PopThe Brains Glassjaw Swingin' Utters B.A.R.F. Devin Townsend Project Dying FetusMass Murder Messiah Ion Dissonance Masked Intruder Dig It Up The Agonist Battlecross
+ Sunday, 9 August 2015Molson Canadian stageHeavy stageApocalypse stageForest stageFozzy Coal Chamber Dokken Asking Alexandria Bullet for My Valentine SlipknotMotionless in White Warrant Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg Within Temptation Lamb of GodOmnium Gatherum Insomnium Jasta Pig Destroyer Sanctuary Ihsahn Nuclear AssaultExes for Eyes Sandveiss Dead Tired Small Brown Bike Upon a Burning Body Wilson
2014
The lineup included:Lineup + Saturday, 9 August 2014Molson Canadian stageHeavy stageApocalypse stageForest stageMonster Truck Overkill Apocalyptica Dropkick Murphys Anthrax MetallicaBabymetal Pennywise Three Days Grace Voivod The OffspringEagle Tears Mass Hysteria Municipal Waste Whitechapel Protest the Hero The Vandals MadballKublai Khan Biblical Unlocking the Truth Whores. Nekrogoblikon Beyond Creation
+ Sunday, 10 August 2014Molson Canadian stageHeavy stageApocalypse stageForest stageGrimSkunk Exodus Symphony X Hatebreed Twisted Sister SlayerBat Sabbath Death Angel1 Epica Body Count Bad Religion Lamb of GodLa Corriveau Nashville Pussy Cynic We Came as Romans Alestorm Unearth Fucked UpBeheading of a King Sworn In Gideon Stick to Your Guns The Motorleague Nepentes Truckfighters
Replaced Dirty Rotten Imbeciles
2013 For the 2013 edition, Heavy MTL also featured a live pro wrestling event showcasing men and women of the Montreal independent wrestling scene. + Saturday, 10 August 2013Molson Canadian stageJägermeister stageGalaxy stageRing Heavy ManiaObey the Brave Hellyeah Gwar Steel Panther At the Gates Danzig with Doyle Avenged SevenfoldDevice Halestorm Sick of It All Black Label Society A Day to Remember MegadethDeath Lullaby Within the Ruins Blackguard Baroness Oceano Newsted All Shall Perish Motionless in White WintersunWall of Death – Battle Royal Buxx vs. Franky 3.0 vs. TDT Green Phantom vs. SeXXXy Eddy
+ Sunday, 11 August 2013Molson Canadian stageJägermeister stageGalaxy stageRing Heavy ManiaHuntress Finntroll Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals Machine Head Mastodon Rob ZombieAugury The Acacia Strain Amon Amarth August Burns Red Children of Bodom GodsmackOf Temples Slaves on Dope Indian Handcrafts Structures Unexpect Pallbearer Havok CryptopsyWall of Death – Battle Royal 6 Way Scramble Kickin n' Stompin+Green Phantom vs. TDT+ Buxx Belmar Player Uno vs. Franky the Mobster
2012 + Saturday, 11 August 2012Heavy MTL stageJägermeister stageApocalypse stageDiemonds Veil of Maya Between the Buried and Me Cannibal Corpse Deftones System of a DownJob for a Cowboy Periphery Kataklysm Killswitch Engage Five Finger Death PunchBookakee Dark Century Rose Funeral Exhumed Fleshgod Apocalypse Goatwhore Origin The Faceless Battlecross
+ Sunday, 12 August 2012 Heavy MTL stage Jägermeister stage Apocalypse stageDance Laury Dance Protest the Hero Gojira The Dillinger Escape Plan1 In Flames2 SlipknotBlind Witness Overkill Trivium Suicidal Tendencies Marilyn MansonHollow The Agonist Iwrestledabearonce B.A.R.F. Emmure Cancer Bats Sword Voivod
Replaced Dethklok Replaced Lamb of God Replaced High on Fire
2011 + Saturday, 23 July 2011Heavy MTL stageJägermeister stageBudweiser stageSlaves on Dope Red Fang Suicide Silence Machine Head In Flames Godsmack DisturbedDead and Divine All Shall Perish Death Angel Unearth Trivium Billy TalentMass Murder Messiah Straight Line Stitch Blackguard Kingdom of Sorrow GrimSkunk Necronomicon Dissension Cryptopsy
+ Sunday, 24 July 2011Heavy MTL stageJägermeister stageBudweiser stageLazarus A.D. Girlschool As I Lay Dying Morbid Angel Opeth KissEndast Times of Grace Annihilator Children of Bodom Anthrax MotörheadLes Guenilles Anonymus Slaves on Dope1 Diamond Head DevilDriver The Catalyst Gorguts
Replaced The Sword
2010 + Saturday, 24 July 2010Heavy MTL stageJägermeister stageSkeletonwitch High on Fire Kataklysm Anvil Rob Halford Slayer Megadeth36 Crazyfists Baptized in Blood Melissa Auf der Maur Fear Factory Testament Mastodon Alice Cooper
+ Sunday, 25 July 2010Rockstar Mayhem Festival stageJägermeister stageSilver Star stageHail the Villain Despised Icon Airbourne Winds of Plague Five Finger Death Punch Lamb of God Rob Zombie KornBeneath the Massacre Shadows Fall Chimaira Hatebreed Alexisonfire Avenged SevenfoldDeadly Apples Les Ékorchés Norma Jean Diamond Head 3 Inches of Blood In This Moment Atreyu
2009 Due to the high number of metal live shows performed in Montreal during the year (Metallica, AC/DC, Kiss, Dream Theater, Marilyn Manson, Motörhead and many more) it was announced that the festival would not take place in 2009 and return in 2010.
2008 + Saturday, 21 June 2008Black stageRed stageLauren Harris 3 Inches of Blood Hatebreed Mastodon Iron MaidenUnexpect Overkill Symphony X HammerFall Type O Negative Mastodon Dethklok
+ Sunday, 22 June 2008Black stageRed stageDeath Boat Priestess Drowning Pool Voivod Three Days Grace Mötley CrüeYour Favorite Enemies Warrant Shadows Fall Anthrax Disturbed
See also Osheaga Festival, music festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau ÎleSoniq Music Festival, music festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau Heavy Montreal, music festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau Piknic Électronik, weekly electronic music festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau during summer
References
External links
Heavy Montréal on Myspace 2012 Heavy MTL Line-up and preview