Heavy AF Festival Returns To Melbourne With Gravemind Headlining

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Published March 10, 2026 by Ned Tepper

Melbourne’s heavy scene is about to get loud again.

Heavy AF – Heavy Music Festival is returning to the Corner Hotel in Richmond on April 11th, bringing together a stacked lineup of local metal, metalcore, progressive rock and heavy rock bands.

Full Heavy AF 2026 Lineup

Gravemind – Headliner
RUN – Main support
Earthbound – Second main support
Internet Romance
Babchia
Matahari
Sleeper Service
Jupiter The Giant
Sun Stone
Serious Crew

Leading the charge is Gravemind, who headline the festival with their signature mix of punishing riffs and cinematic atmosphere, the Melbourne outfit have built a reputation for pushing modern metalcore into darker and more experimental territory, and they’ll close out a night designed to celebrate the city’s heavier side.

Backing them up is RUN, who describe their sound as blackened post-metalcore, delivering a darker edge to the lineup, also near the top of the bill is Earthbound, a band known for blending modern metalcore intensity with storytelling inspired by video games.

The rest of the festival lineup pulls together a diverse cross-section of Melbourne’s underground heavy scene, Internet Romance, Babchia, Matahari, Sleeper Service, Jupiter The Giant, Sun Stone and Serious Crew round out the bill, covering everything from progressive rock to crushing heavy rock.

First time since 2019

The festival was previously staged by Hydra Studios in 2018 and 2019, with both editions selling out before the event was put on hold during the disruptions of 2020. Those earlier events ran from afternoon into late night and built a reputation for mixing different heavy subgenres under one roof. Progressive rock fans ended up in mosh pits, while metalheads found themselves head banging to heavy rock, it was chaotic in the best possible way.

The 2026 edition hopes to recapture that same energy and mark the festival’s long awaited return with doors opening at 3.30pm, the first band hits the stage at 4pm and the lineup running through until midnight.

There’s also an extra incentive for early arrivals, the first 50 punters through the door will score one of 50 $10 drink cards, which is a pretty solid bonus considering the pre sale ticket price.

Ten bands for ten bucks. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday inside one of Melbourne’s most famous rock venues.