Metal and punk the ‘strongest in a decade’ as DWP brings in 1 million to 2026 festivals
The US festival promoter's GM Chamie McCurry outlines how the team is capitalising on the genres' growing draw and thinking globally
News By Ciaran Donnelly | 19 October 2026
Danny Wimmer Presents has hailed the “tremendous” growth that has seen its festivals welcome over one million attendees across the 2026 season, with “demand for punk and metal stronger than it’s been in decades” as the team tests new avenues to capitalise on the genres’ growing draw.
This is according to Chamie McCurry, general manager of the US festival promoter, who tells IQ that Sacramento-based Aftershock Festival has grown approximately 25% over the past five years. It reached its biggest…
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