S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival kicks off this summer in North America

Following the announcement of his highly anticipated sixth solo album Orgy of the Damned, due out May 17th on Gibson Records, the iconic, Grammy-winning guitarist and songwriter Slash, has confirmed a North American tour in celebration of the Blues this summer. Slash’s newly announced S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival, an anagram that stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N’ Tolerance will kick off on July 5th in Bonner, Montana, and travel to Los Angeles, Denver, Cincinnati, Toronto, New York City, Boston, Atlanta, and many more cities. SLASH has curated an all-star Blues lineup to join him on the inaugural S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival this summer, including Warren Haynes Band, Keb’ ‘Mo, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Robert Randolph, Samantha Fish, Eric Gales, ZZ Ward, Jackie Venson, and Larkin Poe. On all dates, Slash will perform alongside his Blues band featuring bassist Johnny Griparic, keyboardist Teddy ‘ZigZag’ Andreadis, drummer Michael Jerome, and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.

Slash formed the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival which stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N’ Tolerance to bring fans together to celebrate the spirit of the blues and to perform with other blues artists he admires who share his love of the genre. Slash also has a strong desire to give back to charities that he has supported over the years, and to help lift marginalized communities that share his restorative focus of elevating lives for the benefit of all. A portion of the proceeds from each VIP package and S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival ticket sold will directly benefit the following charities that Slash has selected The Equal Justice Initiative, Know Your Rights Camp, The Greenlining Institute, and War Child. S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival has partnered with plus1.org to support these charitable endeavors.

“The S.E.R.P.E.N.T. tour is a celebration of blues and rock ‘n’ roll music, and a celebration of unity and togetherness in these uncertain and divisive times,” says Slash. “S.E.R.P.E.N.T is a vehicle to help support and uplift people and communities suffering from the injustices of racism and equal rights violations, as well as to support children adversely affected by war and poverty across the world. So, we are contributing a portion of every ticket and VIP package sold from the tour to those ends. S.E.R.P.E.N.T. will also provide an environment where folks can get together for a day of great music and hang out and have a good time.”

The general on sale for tickets begins Friday, March 15th at 10 am local time. A limited number of S.E.R.P.E.N.T. festival VIP packages are available now which include access to watch Slash’s soundcheck before the show, hand-signed vinyl of Orgy of the Damned, and more.

Slash’s star-studded debut blues album, Orgy of the Damned, is a collection of 12 dynamic songs that shakes up and revitalizes blues classics with a stripped-down, instinctive approach, creating a singular expression that pays homage to the blues.

Celebrating both well-known and largely undiscovered songs, Slash offers a nostalgic nod to the past while reinvigorating the songs with his inimitable guitar playing and the spirit of collaboration. For the project, the acclaimed guitarist reteamed with storied producer Mike Clink, who produced Guns N Roses’ Appetite for Destruction, and enlisted the album’s diverse guest vocalists, which include Gary Clark Jr, Billy F. Gibbons, Chris Stapleton, Dorothy, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato, Brian Johnson, Tash Neal, Chris Robinson, and Beth Hart, in a similar way to his 2010 self-titled solo LP Slash. Rounding out his band in the studio and on the road, Slash reunited with two of his bandmates from his Blues Ball outfit in the 90s, bassist Johnny Griparic and keyboardist Teddy ‘ZigZag’ Andreadis, and brought on drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.

The first single “Killing Floor,” which features Brian Johnson of AC/DC on vocals and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith on harmonica, is an electrifying, raucous and gleefully unbridled take on Howlin’ Wolf’s 1964 Chicago blues standard.

Orgy of the Damned encompasses a broad range of styles within the blues genre, veering from an upbeat, rowdy take on Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads” to a plaintive, twanging rendition of T. Bone Walker’s “Stormy Monday.” Some of the songs, like Steppenwolf’s “The Pusher,” Charlie Segar’s “Key to the Highway,” and Albert King’s “Born Under a Bad Sign,” had been performed by Slash’s Blues Ball, while others, like Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City,” were long-time favorites for SLASH. “Hoochie Coochie Man,” written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Muddy Waters in 1954, showcases the in-the-moment nature and unrestrained energy of Orgy of the Damned, with Z.Z. Top’s Billy F. Gibbons stepping in on guitar and vocals. The group went into a rehearsal room in North Hollywood and began hashing out soulful, rollicking takes on the classic songs. Everything was played live in the room, with an emphasis on improvisation which resulted in a collection of dynamic, energized songs that are immediate, raw, and distinctly familiar.

A vibrant homage to the Blues, Orgy of the Damned is a landmark moment in Slash’s career and a rare opportunity to bring to the forefront a rollicking musical journey through his Blues inspirations that have long been in the background of his illustrious career.

Slash 2024 North American S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival Tour Dates:

July 5 – Bonner, MT @ KettleHouse Amphitheater
July 6 – Airway Heights, WA @ Northern Quest Amphitheater
July 8 – Remond, WA @ Marymoor Park
July 10 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater
July 12 – Lincoln, CA @ Thunder Valley Casino
July 13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
July 14 – Tucson, AZ @ Anselmo Valencia Ampthitheatre
July 17 – Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom
July 19 – La Vista, NE @ The Astro Amphitheater
July 21 – Terre Haute, IN @ The Mill
July 22 – Cincinnati, OH @ PNC Pavilion at Riverbend
July 24 – Interlochen, MI @ Interlochen Center for the Arts
July 25 – Huber Heights, OH @ Rose Music Center
July 27 – Windsor, ON @ The Colosseum at Caesars
July 28 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
July 30 – Lewiston, NY @ Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater
Aug 1 – Boston, MA @ Leader Bank Pavilion
Aug 4 – New York City @ Pier 17
Aug 5 – Bethlehem, PA @ Musikfest
Aug 7 – Cary, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Aug 8 – Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Ampthitheatre-Chastain Park
Aug 10 – Clearwater, FL @ The Sound-Coachman Park
Aug 11 – Saint Augustine, FL @ Saint Augustine Amphitheatre
Aug 13 – Huntsville, AL @ The Orion Amphitheatre
Aug 14 – Franklin, TN @ FirstBank Amphitheatre
Aug 16 – Bentonville, AR @ The Momentary
Aug 17 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Texas Trust CU Theatre