Catch 50+ bands at this all rock music festival coming to Richland this August
Last year, numerous bands had time carved out for performances at a Tri-Cities festival. When that didn’t work out, local Callie Denning used her connections in the Tri-Cities music scene to create Battle Vest Fest, a separate, unaffiliated event, with the support of several other locals.
Denning said she was ready to throw a backyard festival or convince her neighbors to take part in a block party if it came down to it. She just wasn’t willing to leave the bands without a place to perform.
While originally intended as a one-off event, Battle Vest Fest’s success immediately yielded questions about year two. The resilience and dedication of the Tri-Cities music scene is what brought the festival to life, and that remains evident in its second year.
Battle Vest Fest 2025
Over 30 bands played at Ray’s Golden Lion across three days in early June 2024. According to one of Ray’s owners, Andrew McVay, that Saturday had the highest sales the venue has had since its grand reopening night in fall 2023.
This year, the fest will take place on August 8 and 9, a Friday and Saturday, over two days rather than three, in order to keep all performances accessible.
Friday is at one venue only, beginning at 6 p.m.so most people won’t have to take time off work to attend.
Saturday features music all day across four venues, all conveniently located in the Uptown Shopping Center for easy venue-hopping. Attendees can create their own lineup on Saturday, bouncing between venues to catch all the artists they hope to see.
Throughout both days, over 50 bands will play 25-minute sets.
Battle Vest Fest venues and lineup
Friday’s lineup will take place entirely at Ray’s Golden Lion, beginning at 6 p.m. On Saturday, sets begin at 1 p.m. at Caterpillar Cafe, The Emerald of Siam and Ray’s Golden Lion. At 5 p.m., the Caterpillar Cafe stage will close and the outdoor stage (outside of ThunderHand Tattoo) will open. The outdoor stage is free to attend and will remain open through 9 p.m.
The lineups at The Emerald of Siam and Ray’s Golden Lion will continue through the night, with the last bands taking the stage around 11:40 p.m. Battle Vest Fest is an all-ages event, but The Emerald of Siam has a hard cutoff for anyone under 21 at 11 p.m.
A tentative lineup has been released for each venue. Set times are approximate and subject to change at any time.
All Battle Vest Fest art was done by local Jordan Rambles, who plays bass in OOOOZ.
Notable Battle Vest Fest acts
Nearly half of the bands playing are local, as priority was given to Tri-Cities bands. Slots were first given to new bands in the area, in order to give them a platform to make a splash in the scene. There are 24 Tri-Cities bands on the lineup, 15 of which are new. The rest of the lineup is from the greater region, western Washington and some from Oregon.
The bands encompass numerous genres. The Emerald of Siam is hosting primarily punk bands, and Caterpillar Cafe has mostly folk and acoustic sets. The post punk and more experimental acts are playing the outdoor stage. The Ray’s lineup starts with assorted rock and transitions into a more metal-focused show later in the day.
Denning said bands were chosen with a direct effort to include an equal amount of different genres, so everyone can curate a lineup accustomed to their taste on Saturday.
The headliners at Ray’s both nights are local favorites, alternative metal band EVA and hardcore band DEATHNUT. The headliner at The Emerald of Siam is Vicious Cycle, a punk band from western Washington.
Additionally, Vaulderie will be playing their first ever eastern Washington show at the fest. They’re well-known and loved within Washington’s music scenes, particularly for their appearances at Punx in the Woods.
The winners of the Rolling Columbia Songwriter’s Competition held at The Emerald of Siam this spring, local teen band Sugar Bluff, will also be performing at the fest.
Denning said she is particularly looking forward to Sunshine Lollipop, a grindcore band with exclusively positive lyrics.
More Battle Vest Fest activities
The fest features more than just music. There will be a handful of vendors, but the Uptown Art Walk takes place on Saturday morning before sets begin, so Denning hopes attendees will visit both events.
There will be a contest for the best battle vest at The Emerald of Siam at 2:20 p.m. on Saturday. Winners will be determined by crowd reaction in four different categories: Crustiest Vest, Most Unique, Oldest and Best in Pit. They’ll each receive a prize pack full of band merchandise for their first-place win.
Local band Stooks is conducting a giveaway through the fest. Stop by Ray’s between 5:30 and 6:20 p.m. on Friday, and you could win one of two RAT distortion pedals or a Paiste PST7 18” China cymbal.
Shirts and stickers commemorating Battle Vest Fest (and created right here in Tri-Cities) will be sold during the festival, alongside merch for the individual bands. Plus, an array of locally-designed patches for various bands will be for sale, which you can have added to your festival fit onsite.
The patch sewer from last year’s event is returning, allowing attendees to drop off their battle jackets with any new patches they’ve acquired at the festival. For a small cost, the patch(es) will be added to your jacket. If you have extra patches lying around, bring them for the exchange table to swap out for something new.
There will also be a harm reduction booth at The Emerald of Siam throughout the fest.
Tickets to Richland’s Battle Vest Fest
Tickets are available online in advance. A two-day pass is $60, a Friday-only ticket is $15 and Saturday only is $45.
Two-day passes will not be available at the door. A limited number is available, so Denning recommends ordering these passes as soon as possible.
At the door, tickets for Friday are $20 and tickets for Saturday are $50.
Special wristbands will be used for two-day ticketholders. Wristbands will also reflect whether an attendee is over 21.
This story was originally published July 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM.