Bear Stone Festival proudly unveils the first wave of its 2026 lineup, showcasing a bold spectrum of Heavy Music and beyond.
From the occult-tinged Psychedelia of Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats and the Progressive power of Elder, to the meditative soundscapes of My Sleeping Karma, the high-voltage Rock of Planet of Zeus, and the raw underground energy of acts like TRAVO, ŽEN, Otrovna Kristina, Wyatt E., and many more, the bill perfectly reflects Bear Stone Festival’s commitment to musical diversity.
This year’s lineup brings a rich palette of genres such as Doom, Psych, Stoner, Punk, Garage, Experimental Noise, and many more, all set to erupt across the three stages nestled in Bear Stone’s unique natural landscape.
Festival ticket link: https://eventix.shop/4zqx5eg8
UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS (UK) – [Psychedelic Rock/Doom Metal]
The brainchild of Kevin Starrs, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats have been crafting extraordinary music since 2009. Emerging from the British underground, they reshaped Hard Rock and downer Blues with a deeply Psychedelic and idiosyncratic edge. Fusing the playful melodies and harmonies of Psychedelic Pop with the dark thunder of proto-Metal, Starrs conjures a sound that feels both eerily familiar and entirely new.
Resolutely individualist, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats channel the spirit of Heavy Music’s past while remaining one of the most unique and electrifying live acts today.
ELDER (USA) – [Progressive Rock/Space Rock]
Elder are a genre-defying Rock band blending Heavy Psychedelia, Progressive intricacy, and expansive soundscapes into long-form compositions that push the boundaries of modern Rock. Over the course of six albums and numerous EPs, they’ve evolved from the stoner/doom underground into one of the most distinctive voices in Heavy, exploratory music.
In 2024, Elder brought their powerful live show to arenas across the U.S. as the main support for Tool, marking a milestone moment in their journey ahead of their next album in 2025.
MY SLEEPING KARMA (DE) – [Psychedelic Rock/Post-Rock]
My Sleeping Karma are a German instrumental quartet weaving Psychedelic Rock, Stoner grooves, and Post-Rock atmospheres into cinematic sound journeys. After the tragic passing of longtime drummer Steffen Weigand in 2022, the band faced an uncertain future but ultimately found strength in continuing their path.
Their revival has reaffirmed them as one of Europe’s most powerful live acts, guiding audiences through immersive and emotional sonic explorations.
PLANET OF ZEUS (GR) – [Stoner Rock/Stoner Metal]
Planet of Zeus, hailing from Athens, Greece, deliver Heavy Rock thunder that fuses raw riff-driven power with melodic exploration and Bluesy dynamics. Since their formation in 2000, they’ve built a reputation for intense, sincere, and ever-evolving live performances, earning a loyal following at home and abroad.
With their latest album Afterlife (2024), the band continue to push their sound forward while cementing their place as one of Europe’s most vital underground Rock acts.
TRAVO (POR) – [Heavy Psych/Neo-Psych Rock]
TRAVO, from Braga, Portugal, are a four-piece force of Heavy Psych and Garage Rock, delivering a raw, high-octane sound that thrives on intensity and experimentation.
Renowned for volcanic live performances that blur the line between chaos and ecstasy, TRAVO stand as one of the most visceral and authentic voices in today’s Psych Rock scene.
WYATT E. (BE) – [Drone-Ambient/Antique Doom]
Wyatt E. are a boundary-pushing force in the modern Doom scene, blending massive riffs with layered instrumentation and a fearless approach to sonic experimentation. Their music weaves Heavy Psychedelia, Progressive structures, and eclectic influences into immersive compositions that balance crushing weight with cinematic detail.
With acclaimed albums, extensive touring, and a reputation for powerful live performances, they continue to redefine what Doom can sound like on a global scale.
UNGRAVEN (UK) – [Doom Metal/Sludge Metal]
Ungraven is the brainchild of guitarist Jon Davis, now joined by David Perry on synths, organ, and piano, reshaping the project into a force of haunting, Ambient Heaviness. Abandoning the traditional Rock-band setup, the duo crafts bleak and expansive soundscapes where slabs of crushing guitar collide with swirling synths in a sickening sonic duet.
Their music is both pummeling and introspective, channeling influences from Tangerine Dream to Doom Metal, forging a new chapter in their evolving tome of tone.
SAINT KARLOFF (NOR) – [Stoner Rock/Heavy Psych]
Saint Karloff are a Norwegian power trio channeling the spirit of 70’s Heavy Rock through fuzz-soaked riffs, Doom-laden grooves, and Psychedelic fire.
With albums like “All Heed the Black God” (2024) and the monolithic “Interstellar Voodoo” (2019), they’ve carved out a place in the Stoner/Doom underground as one of its most electrifying and uncompromising voices.
ŽEN (CRO) – [Indie-Psych/Shoegaze]
ŽEN are a Croatian trio weaving dreamy Shoegaze, Math-Rock complexity, and Psychedelic textures into an immersive and urgent sound.
Since forming in Zagreb in 2010, they’ve become a vital voice in Europe’s underground, carrying a strong feminist and DIY ethos that fuels both their music and their boundary-pushing live performances.
OTROVNA KRISTINA (CRO) – [Sonic-Psych Rock/Hard Rock]
Otrovna Kristina are a Croatian Hard Rock trio fusing Anglo-Saxon riff traditions with the raw energy of the Balkans, laced with Psychedelic excursions and soaring harmonies.
In their decade-long journey, they positioned themselves as guardians of volume, groove, and wild underground Rock’n’Roll.
DRONE HUNTER (CRO) – [Stoner Rock/Groove Rock]
Drone Hunter are a Croatian instrumental trio delivering high-octane Stoner Rock driven by crushing riffs, Heavy grooves, and relentless energy.
Since forming in 2012, they’ve built a reputation for powerful live performances and a raw, riff-worshipping sound that speaks louder than words.
GODZILLA WAS TOO DRUNK TO DESTROY TOKYO (ITA) – [Acid Rock/Doom Rock]
Godzilla Was Too Drunk to Destroy Tokyo are a chaotic, genre-smashing outfit blending Sludge, Noise, Punk, and Doom into an unpredictable wall of sound.
With unhinged energy and a tongue-in-cheek attitude, they deliver crushing riffs and anarchic live shows that feel as wild as their name suggests.
HRMULJA (CRO) – [Heavy Psych/Stoner Rock]
Hrmülja are a Croatian Heavy Psych/Stoner Rock band weaving fuzzed-out riffs, swirling grooves, and hypnotic atmospheres into their sonic brew.
They channel the spirit of the underground into thunderous and immersive live performances with raw energy and a taste for psychedelic exploration.
SUNTAN CLUB (AT) – [Neo-Psychedelic Surf/Garage Rock]
Suntan Club are a four-piece from Vienna blending neo-Psychedelic Surf and Garage Rock into sun-drenched, fuzz-Heavy soundscapes that radiate warmth and hazy euphoria.
With their latest EP “Too Much Fuzz,” they’ve expanded their sound into something louder, richer, and hypnotic, pairing it with ecstatic and immersive live performances that pull audiences under like a tidal wave.
LINIJA 109 (CRO) – [Post-Rock/Shoegaze]
Linija 109 are a young all-girl band from Zagreb, formed in 2022, crafting original songs rooted in Alt Rock with influences of Post-Rock, Shoegaze, and indie.
Through explosive live shows and an unapologetic youthful rebellion they managed to build a loyal underground following in a very short time.
In case you were wondering how our previous edition felt like, check out our official 2025 aftermovie.