August Burns Red end 2023 "at home" in Lancaster, PA for 'Christmas Burns Red'

December 11, 2023

From Lancaster, Pennsylvania to the touring world at large - August Burns Red has come a long way from their local scene roots just outside of "Amish Country" but the metal band has not forgotten their early beginnings as they return home every year for two incredible nights of performances at the Freedom Hall Convention Center with tons of special guests.


This year the band was on the road celebrating the anniversary of 'Rescue & Restore' with a powerful set performance of the iconic album and when this year's annual Christmas Burns Red was announced it was indicated that each night would be different with the first of the two holding true to the rest of the tour with this full album play. As always two night passes for the incredible metal show sold quickly and the hotel that hosts it was quickly booked to capacity as fans travel from far and wide for these hometown shows. The band was joined this year but an incredible supporting cast of bands that included Crystal Lake, Brand of Sacrifice, Spite and another local favorite from nearby Ephrata - Texas In July.


The anticipation for the evening ran high early in the night as fans wrapped around the building hours before August Burns Red was set to take the stage after 9PM. As doors open the crowd burst into the venue and split in two directions are diehard fans ran to secure a barricade spot while others made a mad dash to buy festival merch. Over the years 'Christmas Burns Red' has mirrored the rise of August Burns Red as it has grown from the basement of the former Chameleon Club to the main room now a massive convention center performance sprawled across two nights of two separate performances. In a poetic way it was certainly a special night for the band to be ending their current tour featuring 'Rescue & Restore' in full in such an iconic location and part of the band's literal DNA.


The massive crowd of fans were no strangers to August Burns Red or metal shows as a quick glance across them revealed the vast majority of them wearing shirts from the band's storied history. As the night began it became clear during the support acts that something special was taking place in Lancaster this year for 'Christmas Burns Red.' The production was bigger and better than ever even before the main event and the crowd was ready to party on a Friday night with mosh pits, crowd surfers and chaos being unleashed all night long. By the time August Burns Red was set to hit the stage the crowd had reached a fever peak in the night as they were ready to celebrate the season with their favorite band.


'Christmas Burns Red' night one reached it's apex moment as August Burns Red took the stage to a color wash and the crowd gave them a hometown roar of approval that didn't stop until the final chord of 'Rescue & Restore' when they had a minute to catch their breathe before a rapid fire encore. Sadly, the night came to an end just before 11PM due to Lancaster's strict noise curfew but it was clear that the band and crowd would have went all night if they could. 'Christmas Burns Red' has grown a lot of the years and as the massive venue emptied out after night one you couldn't help but imagine when this incredible hometown labor of love from August Burns Red was going to grow into 3 or even 4 nights. The year may be done for August Burns Red now but the future certainly is bright, especially in Lancaster, PA.

August Burns Red

with Texas In July, Crystal Lake, Brand of Sacrifice, and Spite

"Christmas Burns Red"


Freedom Hall Convention Center - Lancaster, PA

December 8, 2023

Article Written By:

Matt Christine

Trivium and Jinjer bring the 'Ascend Above The Ashes Tour' to Lancaster

By Matt Christine • November 14, 2025
Trivium is back on the road in 2025 — and this time, they’ve brought Jinjer along for a blistering run across the U.S. on the “Ascend Above The Ashes Tour.” Over the last four years, the rock and metal world has seen a wild expansion of dream-team co-headlining and powerful support on tours, the kind fans never thought they’d see outside of wish lists. Rising metal powerhouse Jinjer has been in the international spotlight ever since they were forced to exit Slipknot’s 2022 tour to return home and support Ukraine’s war efforts. In the years since, they’ve become global ambassadors for both their country and the metal community. And even as the supporting act on this tour, the band was greeted by a massive turnout and a stage setup that matched their well-earned status in the scene. Their addition on this tour with Trivium was a match made in heaven (or hell) and a perfect compliment sonically. The band's 9 song setlist got the mosh pit moving and crowd surfers flowing ahead of the main event that evening. It may have been a Wednesday night , but you wouldn’t have known it based on the crowd’s energy leading up to Trivium’s 9:50 p.m. arrival. Pennsylvania showed once again why it has a reputation as one of the weirdest and yet strongest markets in the country for rock and metal. When the band’s massive stage slowly illuminated to reveal a dramatic backdrop, Trivium launched into their set with explosive force as strobes burst to blinding effects all around them. Trivium's 14 song set was a blistering pace of their greatest hits and new material that left little time for the band to chat with the crowd as they moved quickly from song to song. Frontman Matt Heafy nearly blended into the elaborate backdrop thanks to a jacket patterned almost identically, but he was impossible to miss as he tore across the stage from mic to mic, shredding through one technical assault after another. Much like Jinjer’s opening performance, Trivium delivered a razor-sharp, 80-minute set that pulled from across their expansive catalog. From the first crushing riff to the final crack of the snare, they gave Lancaster everything they had — and the packed pit gave it right back. Opening nights can often feel unpredictable, but Lancaster showed up ready, proving once again that this city doesn’t just attend shows — it sets the bar. If the rest of the “Ascend Above Ashes Tour” follows this lead, Trivium and Jinjer are in for one unforgettable run.

Taylor Acorn returns home to Pennsylvania at the Archer Music Hall

By Matt Christine • November 12, 2025
Taylor Acorn’s return to Pennsylvania to the Arrow at the Archer Music Hall in Allentown was a homecoming a long time coming after a massive year of touring and festival appearances. Just a few weeks after performing at the When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas - and fresh off wrapping The Summer School Tour - Taylor Acorn returned to Pennsylvania with clear momentum behind her. Touring in support of her newly released LP, she arrived at The Arrow at the Archer in Allentown with a setlist shaped around this new chapter of her sound. The fresh material wasn’t just sprinkled into the night; it was the thread that held the entire show together. And while Acorn hasn’t forgotten her roots in the pop-punk world, it’s obvious that these newer songs give her a wider lane to move in and let her shine bright onstage. The Arrow itself proved to be an ideal setting. The room was full but comfortable, with that sweet spot where you can feel the crowd’s energy without fighting for space. Warm lighting and a clear sightline from almost anywhere in the venue helped create a sense of connection the moment Acorn stepped out. It didn’t take long for the entire place to settle into a rhythm—heads nodding, hands in the air, and plenty of voices shouting back the lines they knew. Between songs, Acorn kept the energy light and the banter genuine. She shared quick stories, poked fun at herself, and made it clear she appreciated being back in her home state. Nothing dragged, nothing felt overly rehearsed—it all stayed grounded in the good-natured vibe that filled the room. By the end of the night, The Arrow at the Archer felt less like a tour stop and more like a celebration of where Acorn is right now: an artist still rooted in the scene that raised her, but growing fast and sounding sharper than ever. The crowd felt it, the room carried it, and Acorn made sure everyone left buzzing. A strong show, a great space, and the kind of night that makes you want to catch her again before the tour moves on.

Kaleo bring the 'Mixed Emotions Tour' to from Iceland to Allentown

By Matt Christine • September 19, 2025
On September 16, 2025, Icelandic rockers KALEO brought their Mixed Emotions Tour to Allentown’s Archer Music Hall, with Quarters of Change and Júníus Meyvant on the bill.