Zakk Wylde launches inaugural ‘Berzerkus’ music festival at Poconos Park in Bushkill on Sept. 14
From a press release:
Today, legendary metal guitarist Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne, and Pantera fame announced his inaugural music festival, Berzerkus, is coming to Poconos Park in Bushkill on Saturday, Sept. 14.
The new event will be co-headlined by Black Label Society and outlaw country singer/songwriter Cody Jinks. Throughout the day, “Berzerkers” will rock out to a heavy festival lineup that includes Clutch, Rival Sons, Black Stone Cherry, Zoso (the ultimate Led Zeppelin experience), The Atomic Punks (a tribute to early Van Halen), and The Iron Maidens (the world’s only all-female tribute to Iron Maiden).
BLS, led by the incomparable guitarist Zakk Wylde, will hit the stage with ferocious energy. Renowned for their electrifying live shows and heavy-hitting tracks, the group promises to bring the house down with their signature blend of hard rock and metal.
“I’m calling all the Berzerkers. Come join me for the Berzerkus, the most insane circus in town!” Wylde said in his announcement video.
Cody Jinks, known for his authentic outlaw country style, has captured the hearts of fans worldwide with his powerful lyrics and soul-stirring performances. As a dynamic performer and a rising star in the country music scene, he is set to deliver a show that will resonate with fans. Jinks’ breakout 2016 album “I’m Not the Devil” reached No. 4 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, while a number of other albums such as “Lifers,” “After the Fire,” and “The Wanting” reached No. 2 on the same chart.
Berzerkus is expected to draw music enthusiasts from across the tri-state area, East Coast, and beyond. Poconos Park (265 Tom Ridge Dr., Bushkill) is a short drive from Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, New York City, Philadelphia, Newark, Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, creating an electric atmosphere in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. Concertgoers can anticipate a full-day event with food, a curated car show, music gear market, strong man competition, arm wrestling competition, craft beer festival and tasting, battle of the bands with prizes, Miss Berzerkus contest, and Ride for Dime, a charity Harley motorcycle ride in memory of Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell. More details will be announced.
“Poconos Park is honored to work with Zakk Wylde to host Berzerkus in the Poconos!” exclaimed Poconos Park/From the Roots CEO John M. Oakes.
“Integrating Zakk’s vision and passions into a fan-focused festival experience is going to be fun for all who attend.”
Early bird pre-sale tickets go on sale this Thursday, Feb. 1 at 8 a.m., exclusively available to those who register through berzerkus.com. Registrants will receive early access to get the best seats or the limited quantity of early bird general admission lawn tickets for $19.99 (plus fees) before the price increases to Tier 2 and Tier 3 pricing. Also available are elevated experience packages such as front row, standing pit, reserved seats, dinner on the lake, private cabanas, hotel options, and camping packages. Those who wish to purchase tickets on Thursday can register for a pre-sale password between now and Wednesday, Jan. 31 at midnight. General on sale for tickets is this Friday, Feb. 2 at 8 a.m.
Zakk Wylde is a celebrated American musician known for being the founder of the Black Label Society and the lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne. He joined Osbourne’s band in 1987 and played a pivotal role in the success of their biggest-selling album, “No More Tears.” Wylde’s heavy riffs and searing solos significantly shaped his musical career.
In 1998, he established the heavy metal band Black Label Society, earning widespread acclaim across 11 studio albums and other releases. For them, everything begins with the riff.
A dedicated disciple of Zeppelin, Sabbath, and Deep Purple, Wylde looks to the massive guitar hooks in classics like “Whole Lotta Love,” “Into the Void,” and “Smoke on the Water” as guiding lights. “The main ingredient in any Black Label soup is the riff,” says the larger-than-life frontman.
BLS builds their music on this simple truth, truth as self-evident on “Back in Black” as on the dozen songs comprising “Doom Crew Inc..” The latest album from these dependable stalwarts is both a tribute to the band’s “first to bleed, last to leave” road crew and a salute to the legion whose support, stretching back over 25 years, rivals that of the KISS Army. The Black Label Society biker-style battle vest “kutte” is as ubiquitous at hard rock and metal shows as a black T-shirt.
A charismatic heavy metal marauder recognized worldwide as a living legend, Wylde rose to prominence when Ozzy Osbourne chose him as his loyal axe-man, based on a cassette he mailed in as a teen. Guitar World put him on their cover more than a dozen times in recognition of his work on multi-platinum albums by the icon he calls “the Boss” and the two decades of music made by BLS.
The beautiful simplicity of Black Label bangers owe everything to the lessons Wylde first heard on “We Sold Our Soul for Rock N’ Roll.”
“Less is more with everything,” the 57-year-old rocker said. “Except the guitar solos.”
In 2022, Wylde became a member of groove metal pioneers Pantera, taking over for his friend Dimebag Darrell on guitar.
Cody Jinks is a trailblazing independent musician and one of music’s most respected current artists. Adding to an already groundbreaking career, he will release his anticipated new album, “Change the Game,” on March 22 via his own label, Late August Records, which he recently launched in an unprecedented partnership with The Orchard. Produced by Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, ZZ Top) and Jinks’ longtime bassist Joshua Thompson, “Change the Game” marks a new chapter for Jinks both personally and professionally, as he is now self-managed with a completely independent team.
A multi-platinum and award-winning artist, the 43-year-old Texas native has sold over two million tickets, released 10 studio albums, sold more than two million equivalent units, and garnered more than 3.5 billion streams across platforms, with over one billion streams on Spotify and 1.7 billion streams on Pandora, earning him a Pandora Radio Billions Award. He was also named Music Row’s 2023 Independent Artist of the Year after receiving the most radio spin for an independent artist last year – his second time receiving the award – and will continue to tour extensively through this summer, including headlining shows at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater, Los Angeles’ Greek Theater, and San Diego’s Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, among many others. Jinks will also join Luke Combs for select dates this year as part of his “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old” stadium tour.
Clutch has been making music with a unique sound that blends hard rock, funk, blues, and punk influences since 1990. The Maryland band is known for their energetic live shows and pure, gutsy rock ‘n’ roll.
Formed in 2009 in Long Beach, California, Rival Sons has released six studio albums and two live albums. Their signature hard rock sound blends classic rock with modern elements and has earned them critical acclaim from both music fans and critics alike. Whether it’s their studio albums or their live performances, Rival Sons have earned a place among the greats of classic rock music.
In the past two decades, Black Stone Cherry has set a new standard for Southern rock, revitalizing the tradition with its burly riffs and stirring rock hooks. Hailing from Kentucky, they have eight albums and two EPs, charting 17 songs on the American mainstream rock charts. They have put forth a vicious new breed of Southern rock, injecting youthful vitality and a myriad of fresh influences into the beloved American rock tradition.
Over the 29 years and over 4,500 shows since Zoso came together as a group in the mid-1990s, the seemingly tireless quartet continues to earn its well-deserved reputation as being, in the words of the Los Angeles Times, “head and shoulders above all other Led Zeppelin tributes.”
Still, while the players’ provenance, and the band’s deep history, speak for themselves, it’s that high-wire musicianship, combined with Zoso’s spot-on recreation of the mythic presence of Led Zeppelin on stage, that keeps their dedicated longtime fans coming back for more year after year. What’s more, new generations of Zoso devotees in their teens and 20s are likewise lining up to experience for themselves the power and majesty – and the alluring combination of danger, spontaneity, skill, and sexuality – that define a world-class Led Zeppelin concert.
The Atomic Punks are the quintessential Van Halen tribute – even David Lee Roth himself thinks so, calling them “the best tribute to Van Halen ever!” Their note-for-note covers leave audiences thinking they’re watching Van Halen themselves. The electrifying energy of their stage shows transport audiences back to the golden era of “Diamond” Dave and the “Mighty” Van Halen. For those who crave the authentic experience of early Van Halen, The Atomic Punks stand as the ultimate tribute, ensuring that the flame of Van Halen’s legacy burns brightly for generations to come.
Since 2001, The Iron Maidens have established themselves as one of Southern California’s most popular tribute acts. The band boasts beauty as well as excellent musicianship, putting on a killer show. They cover Iron Maiden material from all eras of the band’s career, encompassing their biggest hits as well as fan favorites. The stage show includes appearances by Maiden mascot Eddie, the grim reaper, the devil, and more.
Poconos Park, located 18 miles north of Stroudsburg in the Bushkill Falls region near Delaware Water Gap National Park, will operate as a boutique festival site and play host to world-class tours and productions, as well as special events. The complex includes two sizable venues. The Amphitheater at Poconos Park is a 10,000+ capacity, open-air amphitheater with thousands of seats near the stage and a beautiful grass lawn for thousands more to enjoy entertainment in the great outdoors. The amphitheater can also be converted to a 3,000 capacity, fully-enclosed venue for year-round performances. The Lake House at Poconos Park, a 14,000 square-foot banquet hall, is located on a scenic 90-acre lake. The theater can seat up to 400 people for private events such as banquets, corporate retreats, weddings, etc., and serve as a facility for first-class VIP experiences for concerts, festivals and other large events.
Photo by Alex Seeley Photography/NEPA Scene
