MEXICO — The Mexico Metalfest will return Aug. 8 at the Mexico Recreation Park, festival organizer Nick Graham of Mexico said.

Graham said he started the festival in 2003 to “build a community” and to get “bands together, play some music and hang out with each other.”

However, after several years of performing, the Metalfest went on a hiatus in 2009 and returned in 2014 when Graham and his band, Hatred Alive, decided to bring it back to the River Valley.

“Given what it was, and the amount of time we had to promote it, last year’s Metalfest went pretty well,” he said. “We were dealing with some power issues, and the festival was happening around the same time that the Snack Shack burned down. However, we had a fair amount of people come to the festival. This year, we’re already in a better place, in terms of promotion and getting fliers made.”

The entrance fee is $3 at the gate, Graham said, and all ages are allowed.

“One thing that happens when metal musicians get older is that we have kids and families,” Graham said. “How often does someone in a metal band get to play in a place where there family is? The festival is a good place to come, eat some food and barbecue, meet some new people and enjoy some music.

“I make sure to talk to all of the bands playing before they go on stage and let them know that there are kids running around,” he said. “I tell them to keep any cursing or inappropriate stage banter to a dull roar.”

Among the bands slated to perform are Hatred Alive, Ruin, Chaos Machine, In the Key of Suffering, Street Trash, Among Shadows and IronBorn.

It will be the third music festival in the River Valley this summer, and Graham said he’s glad to see a variety of music making a return.

“We have a strong community here dedicated to pushing for the arts,” he said. “I know that the Teaberry Arts Council has been opening up a lot of opportunities of artists of all kinds. It’s all positive. I’d like to think that we’re helping out with that by holding the Metalfest.”

For more information, visit the Mexico Metalfest 2015 Facebook page.

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