SLASH to bring S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival to MUSIKFEST in Bethlehem

Scott Kucharski
Mar 12, 2024
3 min read

Guns n Roses guitarist to be joined by ZZ Ward, Robert Randolph, and others to be announced.

From a MUSIKFEST.com press release:

Slash is bringing his brand-new SLASH - S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival to cities across the U.S. throughout 2024. S.E.R.P.E.N.T. stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N’ Tolerance. The festival is a celebration of the blues, featuring an all-star line-up that will vary.

Slash, the GRAMMY-winning, world-renowned rock guitarist who has played in Guns N’Roses and Velvet Revolver, as well as his own groups Slash’s Snakepit and Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators, has released five solo albums overall, and now six with Orgy of the Damned. After landing on the top of the charts with his first solo album Slash (2010), which featured Ozzy Osbourne, Chris Cornell, Fergie, Myles Kennedy, Iggy Pop, Beth Hart and more on vocals, he formed the solo band Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators who have been touring worldwide and making music together non-stop for over a decade. Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators have released four albums, including 2022s 4, which arrived via Gibson Records and debuted as the #1-selling hard rock album of the week of release. Over the years, Slash has amassed album sales of over 100 million copies, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Guns N’ Roses in 2012 and was named #2 on TIME’s “The 10 Greatest Electric Guitar players” after Jimi Hendrix. He rejoined Guns N’ Roses in 2016 for a historic and ongoing world tour and is in the midst of a global tour with his group Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators.

A great cover takes something old and makes it new again. This is the philosophy behind Slash’s new album, Orgy of the Damned, a collection of 12 dynamic songs that shakes up and revitalized blues classics with a stripped down, instinctive approach. Working in a similar way to his 2010 self-titled solo LP Slash, which featured multiple guest vocalists, the acclaimed guitarist teamed up with numerous musicians and singers to create a singular expression that pays homage to the blues. By 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.

"Orgy of the Damned" available on May 17th represents a significant milestone as Slash's inaugural blues album, boasting an impressive lineup of guest vocalists. Alongside Brian Johnson, the album features a diverse array of talent including Chris Stapleton, Beth Hart, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Gary Clark Jr., Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top, Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, Demi Lovato, Dorothy, and Tash Neal. This collaboration of artists from various genres infuses the album with a rich tapestry of sound, each contributing their distinct style to reimagine the blues in unprecedented ways.

In both studio recordings and live performances, Slash has assembled a formidable band, reuniting with former Blues Ball bandmates bassist Johnny Griparic and keyboardist Teddy Andreadis from the 90s. Additionally, drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal have been enlisted to complete the ensemble.

The SLASH S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival tour will donate a portion of the proceeds of each ticket sold to The Equal Justice Initiative, Know Your Rights Camp, The Greening Institute and War Child Charities.

Ticket info:

Monday, August 5 · view days & times

Price: $30-$100 | Steel Terrace: $225

Venue: Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza

Ticket Pre-sale: