DreadMan’s 3rd Annual 814 Dread Fest

Some details will be forthcoming soon about the 3rd Annual Dread Fest @ Centennial Hall Erie that will happen on Friday evening, April 17 and Saturday, April 18, 2026. After this year’s event (and having over 80 bands from everywhere ask to play), I said that if a band played the fest two years in a row that they’d have to sit out the following year. After much thought and reflection on it, I won’t be doing that at all. While I will keep the festival an all genre music festival and always invite an out of town band or two and new local bands, I’ll just book whomever the hell I want to play. I have love for every Erie region band and performer that plays original music. However, the festival is all genre which means a much bigger pool of bands and artists to choose from for slots at the festival. The festival will always be about local Erie, PA region bands, bands I’ve booked in the past through Dread Metal Productions and my personal favorite bands from the area. The festival will be a little different next year. There will be less slots available than there was this year. I hope to get more vendors and a couple of food options and expand that aspect of the festival as well. If you’re interested in being a participant in the festival that way, please direct message only this Facebook business page or I directly, if you know me personally. DO NOT RESPOND to anyone posting comments to contact them about it. They’re all scammers! I have a huge list of bands and performers I’d like to have play the festival next year and in upcoming years. I will try to work some of them into the schedule for next year. If you ask me to play, I’ll consider it, if there are slots left. If not, sorry. If your band or you, as a performer, aren’t booked for next year, don’t take it personally. Maybe I’ll get you in the following year, maybe not. There’s simply too many bands and performers to book everyone. It is what it is…🤷🏿 Thanks again and again to all of you whom truly support local music and what I do within it 🙏🏿🤘🏿.

Also check out other Festivals in Erie, Entertainment events in Erie, Music events in Erie.