Photos and Review: Chris Besaw
Sharkey’s Event Center in Liverpool, NY, hosted the inaugural Endless Fires Fest on August 15–16, 2026, delivering a two-day celebration of hardcore, metal, punk, and hip-hop that felt both ambitious and deeply rooted in local tradition. Organized by longtime scene figure Keith Allen—vocalist of GhostxShip and founder of the original Hellfest—the festival positioned itself as a deliberate revival of the thriving underground music culture that once defined upstate New York.
Allen has described Endless Fires as “both a return and a rebirth,” a multi-day summertime event centered in Syracuse that seeks to rekindle the spirit of the region’s legendary hardcore, metal, and punk gatherings. “Years ago, we had such a fest that was the highlight for a thriving hardcore, metal and punk rock music scene. Often imitated but never recreated, the lore and the legacy of that fest are infamous,” Allen stated in the lead-up to the event. “Here we are, some decades later, rekindling the flame and bringing back that tradition. The fire has never gone out and now it’s going to burn brighter than ever before.” That vision—community-driven, DIY in spirit, and free of corporate gloss—came through clearly over the weekend, with solid attendance both days and a palpable sense of camaraderie among fans, bands, and organizers.
Day 1: August 15 – Theatrical Mayhem and Hardcore Intensity
Saturday’s bill mixed aggressive hardcore with theatrical excess. X-Cops, the long-running Gwar side project, brought their signature brand of satirical thrash and crossover energy. Performing in full police uniforms and embodying exaggerated law-enforcement personas, the band delivered a chaotic, tongue-in-cheek set rooted in themes of authority and absurdity—true to their origins as a Gwar offshoot formed in the mid-1990s. Their appearance added a layer of irreverent spectacle that fit perfectly alongside the festival’s heavier offerings.
Metalcore veterans Deadguy made a welcome return to the Syracuse area, while Comeback Kid and American Nightmare supplied the tight, high-octane hardcore that kept the pit active. One of the day’s most meaningful performances came from GhostxShip. Fronted by festival creator Keith Allen, the Syracuse straight-edge hardcore band delivered a powerful, personal set that underscored the event’s hometown roots. Allen’s dual role as organizer and performer gave the performance added weight, turning it into a genuine centerpiece of the day rather than a mere undercard slot.
The night closed with Gwar headlining in full theatrical force. The Richmond shock-metal institution arrived in their elaborate monster costumes and proceeded to drench the crowd in the fake blood and over-the-top stage violence that have defined them for decades. Their set was pure chaotic theater—loud, grotesque, and relentlessly entertaining—leaving the main stage area a sticky, satisfied mess. Circle Jerks had been scheduled as co-headliners but canceled due to a scheduling conflict, an unfortunate absence that did little to diminish the overall impact of the evening.
Day 2: August 16 – Hardcore Firepower, Rising Talent, and a Hip-Hop Finale
Sunday sustained the momentum with an even broader range of intensity across the stages. Madball opened the day’s heavier proceedings with their trademark New York hardcore aggression, delivering a no-frills set of mosh-ready anthems that immediately energized the main stage crowd. Later, Apocalypse Tribe—featuring Karl Buechner of Earth Crisis on vocals and Corey Koniz of Slapshot on drums—turned in one of the weekend’s most ferocious performances. The combination of Buechner’s commanding presence and the band’s relentless drive created a set that felt both nostalgic and urgently current, drawing one of the strongest responses of the day.
Pure Bliss followed with an incredible, high-voltage performance marked by precision and raw intensity. Their set stood out for its emotional force and tight execution, locking in the audience from the first note and leaving a lasting impression among the afternoon’s strongest showings.
The punk stage proved especially lively. Pool Scum crushed it with the kind of urgent, youthful energy that marked them as one of the festival’s genuine discoveries—an up-and-coming band that more than held their own against established acts. Rotting Youth delivered a strong, no-nonsense set, while Blood Desecration added further weight to the stage with their aggressive approach, helping create a continuous flow of high-energy punk and hardcore throughout the afternoon.
On the Torch stage, Danny Diablo (of Skarhead) and Crown of Thornz brought raw, street-level hardcore intensity. Their performance was a clear highlight for longtime fans, offering a gritty, authentic counterpoint to some of the larger main-stage productions and reinforcing the festival’s commitment to the underground’s foundational sounds.
Boundaries co-headlined the main stage and absolutely killed it. Their set was tight, powerful, and commanding—proof of why the band has emerged as a major force in the modern hardcore scene. They controlled the stage with confidence and left the crowd thoroughly spent.
Closing the Torch stage, Ouija Macc provided the festival’s only juggalo-affiliated performance. His dark, atmospheric hip-hop set offered a striking contrast to the day’s predominantly hardcore and punk offerings, creating a late-evening shift in mood that felt intentional and effective. The main stage headliners, Three 6 Mafia, then closed out the entire festival. Their set brought Southern hip-hop swagger and high energy to the final hours, sending the weekend off on a celebratory, crossover note that aligned with the festival’s genre-spanning vision.
Atmosphere and Outlook
Beyond the music, Endless Fires Fest succeeded in creating a welcoming environment. Food trucks, including Funk N Waffles, kept attendees fueled, while band merchandise and free giveaways reinforced the community-focused atmosphere Allen has championed. For a first-year event, the festival felt remarkably cohesive—well-attended, thoughtfully booked across genres, and driven by a clear sense of purpose.
Endless Fires Fest 2026 marked a successful launch for what many hope will become a recurring fixture in the Syracuse area. By reconnecting with the region’s underground legacy while embracing a broad mix of styles, Keith Allen and his team have laid a strong foundation. If this debut is any indication, the fire they rekindled has plenty of fuel left to burn.
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