2023 Major Malfunktion Halloween Party Preview
2023 Major Malfunktion Halloween Party Preview
by Jason Jones
Get your tickets now to the season's first Halloween party, located at The Mountain Valley Artisan Barn in Axton, Virginia, featuring the region's grittiest fall festival lineup! The party starts Friday, October 6 and continues through Sunday, October 9. This year's headlining artists include soulful, mindmoving jammers The Kind Thieves, from Beckley, West Virginia, and Sexbruise?, the satirical desktoptronica players from Charleston, South Carolina. Both headliners have earned a dedicated local following after playing many jampacked shows in Roanoke, Blacksburg, Floyd, and in nearby North Carolina. This year's festivities include themed nights: Friday is 80s night and Saturday's theme is A Nightmare Before Christmas.
Dr. Bacon, from Asheville, North Carolina, is a sure bet for coming in hot with their offkilter onpoint funky music, as seen locally in Salem and Roanoke. Veteran rockers Kentucky Ruckus (formerly C2 & The Brothers Reed) return to the area with what promises to be a heavy hitting set of dynamic rock.
Another Charleston, South Carolina based band, Runaway Gin: A Phish Tribute, will bring an action packed set of shock and persuasion to the weekend; while another beach band, Wilmington, North Carolina's Dock Street Pocket, a rookie outfit that formed just this January, will make their Major Malfunktion debut.
Other Virginia acts on the bill include The Sweet Life, a duo from Winchester, who consistently deliver scorching sets of music; Floyd based folk artists Jake Retting & G; Rocky Mount's Amber Collier; and Liv Sloan & The Diehards, a sultry, raucous band from nearby Martinsville.
A pair of Roanoke's favorite bands, War Chile and Charissa Joy & The High Frequency plan to storm the barn this weekend. War Chile is playing in support of their recently released self-titled album, while powerhouse vocalist Charissa Joy will pilot her band through a high flying set of electric soul.
Rounding out this year's lineup is Dr. Psilicon, the veteran ensemble that includes two DJs and a VDJ working in tandem to mix a potent cocktail of drums n' bass and dubstep, paired with headsplitting visuals. Last but not least, The Matt Red Moore Band, who is currently touring nationally with Dusty Bo & The Contraband, will make a stop at the Malfunktion to treat fans to a tearjerking, heavyrocking set of magic.
This year's Major Malfunktion promises to be the wildest yet, with 3 days of music, 17 bands, DJs, food trucks, libations, vendors, and camping. Make your weekend plans now and get your tickets! <>
Photo credit: John Woodrum