Gateway to the West Fest's triumphant return last year, which followed a six-year absence, proved once again that St. Louis is still more than capable of hosting its own hardcore punk festival and drawing some big names to boot. This year's lineup doubles down on that promise, bringing to town not just the big but some of the biggest current names in hardcore, from all over the country: Connecticut's Death Threat, Bitter End from Texas, Xibalba from California and New York's Backtrack are just a few of the 30-plus bands on the bill. Road trips to this fest have been planned from destinations all over the Midwest by carloads of hardcore fans; we in St. Louis get to have it in our own back yard. Don't sleep.
Two for One: The cost of admission covers both days of the fest, so don't lose that wristband moshing on the first day.
