Gohelle Fest

Gohelle Fest: Metal at the Foot of the Slag Heaps

Gohelle Fest was born in 2013 from a bold idea: to organize a metal festival at the foot of the terrils du 11/19 in Loos-en-Gohelle, an emblematic site of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais mining basin listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Three metal fans founded the Gohellefest association with the wild ambition of bringing the legendary band Mötorhead to this historically rich working-class site.

International Headliners

From its very first edition in 2014, Gohelle Fest made a strong impact by programming internationally renowned bands. The lineup has featured metal legends such as Kreator, Napalm Death, Carcass, Obituary, Eluveitie, Rotting Christ, Tankard, Entombed AD, and Tagada Jones, placing the festival on the map of major metal events in France.

A Demanding Lineup

Gohelle Fest stands out with its demanding and sharp programming, mixing international headliners with emerging bands from the French and European metal scene. Thrash metal, death metal, black metal, folk metal, and punk hardcore share the stage, offering a rich musical palette to extreme music enthusiasts.

A Unique Setting: The UNESCO Mining Basin

The originality of Gohelle Fest lies in its exceptional setting. The terrils du 11/19 in Loos-en-Gohelle, the highest slag heaps in Europe, offer a spectacular and meaningful backdrop for a metal festival. This industrial landscape, a symbol of labor and working-class solidarity, resonates with the raw energy and power of metal, creating a one-of-a-kind atmosphere.

From the Mining Basin to the Metal Stage

Gohelle Fest embodies the cultural redevelopment of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais mining basin. Where generations of miners worked underground, music now makes the surface vibrate. This festival demonstrates that industrial heritage can become a place for artistic creation and gathering, upholding the values of passion and determination that characterize both the mining world and the metal community.

A Festival Driven by Passion

Entirely run by passionate volunteers, Gohelle Fest is a human-sized festival that cultivates authenticity and conviviality. The Gohellefest association organizes each edition with the aim of offering a quality experience to festival-goers, in a community spirit specific to the metal scene.