New Metal Festival: As Everything Unfolds headlining Novacaine 2026 in Sheffield

As perenials supporters of new British metal, we’re always on the lookout for exciting gigs and festivals – even if recent work commitments have basically prevented me from personally attending live gigs. However, when one popped up in Sheffield, where I moved in March, with a stellar lineup, I wanted to get involved.

Novacaine, which bills itself as the UK’s new music discovery festival, caught my attention when the festival announced a GigRadar favourite As Everything Unfolds as headliners. The festival, which launched last year and is held at Corporation in Sheffield on 28 November, has rapidly established itself as a vital platform for emerging alternative talent. Subsequent announcements have seen two more of our New Bands of the Week, The Mechanist and Foxhaunt, featuring on an increasingly exciting lineup that also includes TheCityIsOurs and Tropic Gold.

The latest announcement, at the end of last month, sees the lineup for the festival, which is part of Corporation Sheffield’s 25th Anniversary, completed by djent/nu-metal pioneers Hacktivist, alternative rock band Glass Bridges, punk rock outfit The Heir Apparition and WNSDY AT 7, who’ll kick the festival off with a bit of pop-punk goodness.

The latest additions complete the vast majority of the lineup for the event, which takes place on 28 November, with just one more act to be announced. And the day-long celebration of new music aims to span crushing heaviness, atmospheric alternative rock, and infectious pop-punk, while staying true to the festival’s mission of championing the next generation of alternative artists.

Festival promoter Scott O’Shea said: “I’m incredibly excited to be working with some of the most talented and inspiring artists on the scene right now. Novacaine 2026 is shaping up to be something truly special, and we can’t wait for fans to experience everything we’ve got planned.”

Novacaine Festival 2026 takes place on Saturday 28th November 2026 at Corporation Sheffield. Tickets are available now via Novacaine Festival tickets. You can also pre-order festival tshirts here.