It is with a heavy heart that we announce Amplifest will be leaving Hard Club. For the past 15 years, Amplificasom has curated incredible lineups at this venue, hosting 10 unique and unforgettable editions of Amplifest. However, when the new venue owners proposed a 400% price increase (!) for the 2025 edition, we quickly realized that continuing here was no longer feasible.
Rising production costs, the ongoing cost of living crisis, skyrocketing hotel and food prices, Porto’s geographical challenges and the weak Portuguese economy… We were ready to face these obstacles once again, but we cannot accept an unfair and illogical 400% increase from the venue.
We began searching for alternatives immediately after the last edition, exploring different possibilities in Porto, Lisbon, and even smaller cities. Unfortunately, we haven’t had any luck. There are certain requirements we simply cannot compromise on, and we refuse to put on an event that doesn’t uphold the quality and vision that Amplifest is known for. It’s never been easy, especially when you’re an independent, non-funded entity supporting underground Artists. Having said that, thank you for the countless messages, emails, and inquiries over the last few weeks, but now you know that we’ve exhausted all possibilities, which is why we are sharing this difficult news.
While the trajectory of events like ours in this part of Europe may seem inevitable, we remain convinced that Amplifest is both essential and vital for this region. We will continue to fight against being consumed by the city’s gentrification and the cultural homogenization that is stifling independent art. Our commitment remains to support art that exists outside the realms of commercial and institutional production. What we do is only possible through persistence and resilience, so no matter what challenges lie ahead, AMPLIFEST WILL CARVE A NEW PATH, AMPLIFEST WILL FIND A NEW HOME – and we are already planning for the future.
In the coming months, we will announce a few special shows featuring bands that would have definitely performed at this year’s edition.
Finally, here’s a chronological list of festivals we’ll either be attending or highly recommend for their importance and vitality: Roadburn, Inferno, Tremor and SWR in April; dunk!festival, Prepare the Ground, A Colossal Weekend and Desertfest in May; Sonicblast, Extramuralhas and Supersonic in August; Under the Doom in September; Out.Fest, Semibreve, Soulcrusher and Samhain in October; Le Guess Who?, Mucho Flow and Damnation in November…
Few would have imagined we would be here 18 years after the first show. And we’re ready for another 18. As the small but strong community we all are, when the time is right, you will hear from us and we will need you more than ever. We’ll keep you posted.
Onwards,
Amplificasom/Amplifest
AFSKY
CASTLE RAT
LLNN
GUTTURAL DISGORGE
HÅNDGEMENG
OPENHELL
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