6 Reasons to Be at VANS WARPED TOUR’s Mutant Stages!

This year’s stacked Vans Warped Tour line up brings a plethora of solid sets to choose from. The tour’s metal, rock, punk, and hardcore acts are storming the Mutant Red Dawn and Mutant White Lightning stages – which we spent the majority of our day running back and forth between. With this being the last full cross-country tour, you’re going to make sure that you don’t lose any time. (But also don’t forget to visit your favorite bands’ merch tents and give yourself time to eat and stay hydrated!) That said, to help with your planning, here are six bands rocking the hell out of the Mutant stages that we guarantee you won’t want to miss!

01. Senses Fail (New Jersey)
Playing: 6/21-7/17, 7/20-8/5
Links: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

– It’s highly likely that the mic spends more time airborne than in Buddy Nielsen’s (vocals) hand during a Senses Fail set. Whether headlining a tour or playing a shortened set on Warped Tour, their tremendous energy draws a massive crowd and they always bring something unexpected to the stage. This summer, you may even catch some fun covers during their set. But I’m not going to spoil it, you’ll have to go witness them yourself to find out. In other news: are you still trying to figure out what to wear to beat the heat at your Warped Tour date? Follow Buddy’s suit – rompers are in.

Peep our full gallery of all six groups hammering audiences from the Mutant stage on June 24th.

02. Kublai Khan (Sherman, Texas)
Playing: 6/21-8/5
Links: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

– This was my first time catching Kublai Khan and boy am I bummed it took me so long to do so. Bringing out one of the rowdiest pits of the day, there were a couple times that I was worried if the barrier was going to be strong enough to contain the crowd’s energy and excitement. I’ve had “Antpile” stuck in my head for about a week now and am highly anticipating the next time Kublai Khan comes to California.

03. Every Time I Die (Buffalo, New York)
Playing: 6/21-8/5
Links: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

– There are two things that you can be sure of when going to an Every Time I Die show – that the crowd is going to be large and the set is going to be absolutely wild. I have never witnessed a bad show from these guys. Even in the sweltering California heat, they were on top of their game as always. Words don’t do their hectic set justice, so take my word for it and go experience this seasoned Warped Tour band yourself.

04. Sharptooth (Maryland)
Playing: 6/21-8/5
Links: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

– After a long afternoon in the sun, Sharptooth’s set was effectively my late afternoon dose of caffeine. They got me fired up to make it through working the rest of the day. Throughout the gritty, explosive set, there were few moments they stood still. On and off the stage Sharptooth is loud and clear about where they stand on a lot of the issues going on in the US. They are doing fantastic things within the hardcore community right now and I’m stoked to continue to watch them grow.

05. Wage War (Ocala, Florida)
Playing: 6/21-8/5
Links: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

– Straight and simple: Wage War is always a safe bet that you’ll get to see a fantastic set and be surrounded by an energetic crowd. Cycling between soft and brutal sounds, they bring a little bit to the stage for everyone!

06. Harm’s Way (Chicago, Illinois)
Playing: 6/21-7/23
Links: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

– Harm’s Way delivered a powerful performance. Front row fans sang along to most of the lyrics and this was yet another set I was slightly worried about whether the barrier would hold up or not. If you’re looking for a brutal hardcore set during Warped Tour, this is where you want to be!

We’re already into the July span of the Vans Warped Tour and a number of dates have sold out this summer. If you’ve been on the fence about going, don’t wait to grab a ticket!

Remaining Warped Tour Dates:

07/13 – Camden, NJ
07/14 – Holmdel, NJ
07/15 – Hartford, CT
07/16 – Pittsburgh, PA
07/17 – Toronto, ON
07/18 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH
07/19 – Cincinnati, OH
07/20 – Detroit, MI
07/21 – Chicago, IL
07/22 – Minneapolis, MN
07/23 – Milwaukee, WI
07/24 – Indianapolis, IN
07/25 – Darien Center, NY
07/26 – Scranton, PA
07/27 – Mansfield, MA
07/28 – Wantagh, NY
07/29 – Columbia, MD
07/30 – Charlotte, NC
07/31 – Atlanta, GA
08/02 – Jacksonville, FL
08/03 – Orlando, FL
08/04 – Tampa, FL
08/05 – West Palm Beach, FL