Aftershock 2022: Why women will rule year’s top hard rock festival

Three of the most popular female-fronted acts in hard rock are set to perform at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento.

We’re talking about Evanescence, the Pretty Reckless and Halestrom — led, respectively, by Amy Lee, Taylor Momsen and Lzzy Hale.

We definitely recommend that you catch all three of those Aftershock acts – especially Halestorm, which might just be the best hard rock band in the world right now.

Still, these three acts only hint at the staggering amount of talented female artists set to perform during the four-day festival set for Oct. 6-9 at Discovery Park.

The acts hail from all corners of the heavy music universe — from emo, alt-rock and industrial to pop-metal and more — but most of the artists aren’t widely known to the public.

That’s we’re we come in. We really don’t like the thought of fans missing, say, Dead Sara or Mothica simply because they haven’t been properly introduced.

So, here’s a roundup of the lesser-known female (or woman led) acts performing at the festival. We didn’t include the three biggies — Halestorm, the Pretty Reckless and Evanescence — but don’t take that as an excuse to miss their sets.

For more information about the 2022 festival — featuring headliners Slipknot, KISS, My Chemical Romance and Muse — visit aftershockfestival.com.

Thursday (Oct. 6)

Against the Current

The pride of Poughkeepsie, New York, this alt-rock troupe initially garnered attention from the cover songs it posted on YouTube not long after forming in 2011. Since then, ATC — which is led by singer-songwriter Chrissy Costanza and features guitarist Dan Gow and drummer Will Ferri – has released two full-length albums on the Fueled by Ramen label. The band rocks, but with more of a mainstream pop edge than most Aftershock acts.

Royal & the Serpent

The title of her latest album — “If I Died Would Anyone Care” — provides more than a hint of what you’re getting into if you dare to dive into the world of Ryan Santiago, aka Royal & the Serpent. The music is part Billie Eilish, part Nine Inch Nails, and wholeheartedly for all those who find Cradle of Filth just too darn cheery. Yet, wow, if it’s not impactful — as the New Jersey native brazenly battles her demons, her situations and, most frequently, herself.

Cherry Bombs

No, we’re not talking about the similarly named country music group of the ‘80s — led by the great Rodney Crowell — although we’d definitely watch that one at Aftershock as well. Instead, we’re talking about the decidedly 21st-century cabaret act that brings, according to its website, “an entire new way to experience rock and roll music — combining daredevil arts with feminine power, fearless and dynamic performances feature dance, fire, aerial, grinding, stilt walking, and so much more.”