Following the massive news of Emperor headlining, the organizers behind Fortress Festival have dropped an incredible first wave of bands for their 2027 edition. Returning to the spectacular Scarborough Spa in North Yorkshire on 29th and 30th May 2027, the black metal weekender is already cementing its reputation for securing unparalleled international exclusives and debuts.
Leading the historic announcement is the elusive Canadian atmospheric black metal project Gris, who will be making their worldwide live debut at the festival. Studio entities for over a decade, the band noted that the dedication and high-quality nature of Fortress provided the perfect context to finally bring their material to life. Joining them in the exclusive tier is Bavarian black metal force Gràb, delivering a 2027 worldwide exclusive performance marking their first-ever concert outside of Germany and Austria.
Special album sets and curated setlists are also at the forefront of the weekend. Yellow Eyes are set to return to English shores for the first time in eight years to perform their acclaimed album Confusion Gate in its entirety as a UK exclusive. Meanwhile, Quebecois pioneers Forteresse are plotting a return to Scarborough with a secretive, specially curated UK exclusive setlist, and fantasy synth artist Dungeontroll will construct a one-of-a-kind worldwide exclusive ritual consisting of material written purely for the night that will never be performed or recorded again.
The billing continues to run thick with heavily anticipated UK debuts and exclusives, featuring the first domestic appearances of Miserere Luminis, Switzerland’s Tardigrada, France’s Mourir, and the mysterious Trha. Rounding out the stellar wave of announcements are UK exclusive shows from Norwegian avant-garde horror outfit Slagmaur, Finnish pagan black metal masters Havukruunu, and Icelandic dissonant force Sinmara. With the festival already over 70% sold out, tickets are expected to disappear rapidly. Grab ’em while you can!
