Photos: 2023 Aftershock Fest Featuring Tool, Limp Bizkit, Korn, More

Raymond Ahner

October 11, 2023 | 12:09pm ET

The 2023 Aftershock Festival took place in Sacramento from Thursday (October 5th) through Sunday (October 8th), and once again proved to be a rock extravaganza. Stretching four days and spread out on four stages, this year’s festival had something for everyone, as promoter Danny Wimmer Presents continues to expand and diversify the lineup. And although the weather was unseasonably warm and in the upper 90s everyday, that didn’t stop the massive crowd from enjoying every minute of the festival.

Day One was headlined by Avenged Sevenfold, who were back at Aftershock for the first time since 2016. The band played a 90-minute, 13-song set, including the intro to “Walk” out of respect for Pantera, who had to bow out of the festival a few weeks ago. Incubus closed out the Shockwave stage right before A7X’s set, playing to a packed crowd. Other highlights from the day included AFI, Stone Temple Pilots, The Cult, and Pennywise.

Tool headlined Day Two, playing a near two-hour set which had the grounds around the Jack Daniels stage jammed packed. Highlights included “Rosetta Stoned,” “The Grudge,” and “Stinkfist,” but it was early tune “Swamp Song” that had the crowd most pumped up. Godsmack closed out the night on the Shockwave stage right before Tool, with plenty of pyro, and had the crowd singing along during their intro to Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” Limp Bizkit brought the nu metal back with a set that featured frontman Fred Durst dressed as a cowboy as the band delivered all the fan favorites. Megadeth, Coheed and Cambria, and Bad Omens were all additional highlights to the day.

Related Video

Day Three was headlined by Korn, who were, as always, one of the most anticipated band of the entire festival. They did not disappoint their fans, some of whom were waiting up against the barricade all day in the sweltering sun. Hardcore heroes Turnstile closed out the second main stage, while other highlights included BABYMETAL, Dethklok, 311, Sleep Token, and Fever 333.

The fourth and final day of Aftershock saw both Queens of the Stone Age and Rancid (who brought out Gary Holt of Exodus to say hello to the crowd) play before big crowds in the sweltering heat, but of course it was Guns N’ Roses who were the main attraction of this year’s festival. The legendary band played a two-and-a-half-hour set, which saw them run through 26 songs, including all the hits that their fans had come to hear. It was the perfect way to wrap up yet another successful installment.

By the time it was all said and done Aftershock once again showed why it has become the West Coast’s biggest hard-rock fest. Every year the organizers seem to pull off something even bigger and better than the previous year, and with the rumors already starting to circulate about next year, it looks like the 2024 edition is not to be missed.

Photo Gallery – 2023 Aftershock Festival (click to expand and scroll through):