Padded Cell Productions and BMF Productions present Metal in the Mountains 2026. To be held at Beechworth Historic Precinct, 100 Ford Street, Beechworth, Victoria, from November 13 to 15, this dose of alternative, underground culture proudly stands behind the Historic Precinct buildings of Beechworth.
Returning for a massive seventh year in the centre of Beechworth with a full range of heavy bands, ready to pummel the granite foundations into sand, this year’s show will not hold back. The peaceful citizens of the quiet historic township of Beechworth will be shaken from their vintage homes. The earth itself will quake, and the cockatoos will scream from the trees. All within earshot will know that Metalhead Ned is back in town.
The full line up is Segression, Elm Street, PistonFist, Kitchen Witch, Hematemesis, Helluloid, Virulent Invocation and Raise The Fallen. HEAVY has sent out Q&A’s to all of the bands to find out more about them and what to expect, with Segression the focus of todays session.
KITCHEN WITCH
If you like your rock heavy, dirty, and dripping with raw attitude, then South Australia’s Kitchen Witch needs to be blasted through your speakers immediately. These Adelaide riff-wizards don’t just play music; they summon a storm of red-dust desert rock, stoner metal doom, and smoky 70s blues that will rattle your bones and leave you begging for more.
Fronted by the spellbinding Georgie Cosson, whose powerhouse, soul-drenched vocals cut through the mix like a banshee wail, this quartet takes the California desert vibe and injects it with a distinctly gritty Australian edge. Backed by an absolute wall of low-end bass grooves and thunderous drum beats, they deliver a sound that is as hypnotic as it is heavy.
Tracks like Glitch and Rosemary highlight exactly why they’ve shared stages with international heavyweights like Brant Bjork and Earthless. It is fuzzy, psychedelic, and unapologetically massive. They have captured lightning in a bottle, brewing a intoxicating cocktail of retro rock and modern doom. Do yourself a massive favour, head over to the Kitchen Witch Bandcamp page, turn the volume up to eleven, and let the siren’s call take over.
Q & A
HEAVY: METAL IN THE MOUNTAINS returns to Beechworth this November. How excited were you to get the call up?
KITCHEN WITCH: We were so excited to get the call up! I chatted with Lachie last year but you know, it was great to get an official call up, then you know you are in.
HEAVY: What does it mean to your band to be playing MIM?
KITCHEN WITCH: Kitchen Witch are from South Aussie. We have only played Melbs in Victoria so great to be invited to play at Metal in the Mountains in the High Country, so beautiful, its such a cool & unique event! Beechworth is a cool place, a bit spooky and the history of the town in the gold rush is hectic! I visited the Old Jail where Ned Kelly and his Mum was in prison for a bit, aswell as Carl Williams, Jason Moran. Totally brutal.
HEAVY: Have you ever been to MIM as a punter?
KITCHEN WITCH: Yeah, I went to MIM last year and it was sick! All the bands were great and different to each other which I really like. Unfortch, it was inside (but still awesome). Im really looking forward to playing in the old Courthouse in the Historical Precinct of Beechworlh. I loved the Alternative Markets, too. Im a big fan of Goat Shaman, and I got to catch them with King Parrot in Albury again just after. Also, Frankenbok, Saralisse and all the bands! It was such a smorgasboard of different metal genres and curated to a metal tea! There’s something for everyone.
HEAVY: What were your best memories of the day?
KITCHEN WITCH: I got to meet some really great people last year at MIM so I’m hoping to see them and meet new legends. That and some fresh air and bubbly liquid!
HEAVY: Give me your Top 3 Festival survival tips
KITCHEN WITCH: Check out the bands before you go if you can, so you can pace yourself for your favs. Breath in the mountain air. Get some yummy food from the food truck. Redhead and Chef was awesome last year.
HEAVY: Which band – other than yourself – do you think will get up to the most mischief on the day?
KITCHEN WITCH: Weeelllll, Planet of the 8’s are playing the afterparty on Sunday. I’m certain they will engage in some mischief making.
HEAVY: Run us through your typical live show and what punters can expect.
KITCHEN WITCH: Kitchen Witch is not an intense metal band but we are dark , broody, doomy and heavy. We are guitar driven, with heavy riffs and slow ethereal trippy moments. Ummm, I think that metalheads will be moving their black jeaned hips to the dark groove of Kitchen Witch.
HEAVY: If you could get one band on the line-up to cover one of your songs who would it be and what song would they cover?
KITCHEN WITCH: Ooh, I would love for Pistonfist to cover Rosemary single from our soon to be realeased new album.
HEAVY: What’s your latest release?
KITCHEN WITCH: Our new album The Space In Between is released on Halloween, October 31 (Beltane in the southern
hemisphere) 2026. We will have the new vinyl (and new merch) for sale at Metal in the Mountains.
HEAVY: Finally, what plans does your band have for the rest of 2026 into 2027?
KITCHEN WITCH: When we get back to Adelaide, we are having our official album release party for South Aussie (so MIM get a cheeky preview). Next, the world.
Metal In The Mountains 2026 will be held at Beechworth Historic Precinct, 100 Ford Street, Beechworth, Victoria, from November 13 to 15. Tickets HERE
