Slipknot’s V-Man on What Makes a Great Knotfest

Knotfest isn’t just another metal festival. Each edition is shaped by its location, climate, and crowd energy.

According to Slipknot’s Alessandro ‘V-Man’ Venturella, that’s what makes every Knotfest unique.

“Suns great. Compared to the rest of the world, it’s nice that the sun’s out,” V-Man said in a recent interview with Blunt Magazine at Knotfest. “I don’t know. Whenever we do a Knotfest, they are very specific to wherever the climate is.”

That adaptability is part of the festival’s DNA. Knotfest Germany, for example, is massive—more stages, more bands, a sprawling setup. In other places, it’s smaller and more intense. “Here it’s smaller. More compact and in your face,” he notes.

But for V-Man, what truly makes a Knotfest stand out is the crowd. “The crowds here… I haven’t seen crowds like that in a long time. So that’s a great eye opener.” Slipknot thrives on audience energy, and when fans bring that level of intensity, it pushes the band even harder. “When you get to see the crowds act like that, it gives you that extra bit of wind to do the best you can.”

It’s that connection that makes every Slipknot show an event rather than just another gig. The band doesn’t come around often, and when they do, the experience has to be special. “We don’t come here very often, so when we do it’s special.”

Knotfest has evolved over the years, shifting to fit different regions while keeping its core intact. Whether it’s a massive, multi-stage event or a tighter, in-your-face experience, what matters most is how the crowd responds. That reaction fuels the band, feeding into the controlled chaos that defines a Slipknot show.

From blistering heat to freezing cold, from sprawling festival grounds to packed, sweat-drenched pits, every Knotfest is a reflection of its setting. But one thing remains constant—when Slipknot steps on stage, they truly bring it. That much cannot be disputed.