August Burns Red in Riverside

About August Burns Red

August Burns Red formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 2005 and spent the better part of two decades becoming one of metalcore's most reliable names. They're not trendsetting, which is kind of the point. Their albums maintain a consistent approach to technical riffing and controlled aggression without chasing trends. Messengers put them on people's radar, but they've basically been putting out solid records ever since. They tour constantly, which means they've actually built a fanbase of people who've seen them multiple times rather than once at a festival. The band's tighter than they need to be, songs are tighter than they need to be, and their attitude seems to be that if you're going to do this, do it properly. Not flashy, not reinventing anything, just consistent metalcore from people who clearly still want to play shows.

Their crowds are focused, not frenzied. People know every word and the pit moves with the song rather than mindlessly circulating. No stage banter to speak of. They just play, and it feels like they're working as hard as the crowd is sweating.

Known for Messengers, Consumer, The Reflective Property, Identity, Barbarian

August Burns Red + Riverside

August Burns Red rolled through Riverside Municipal Auditorium in February 2022 and leaned into their deeper catalog. They opened with "The Truth of a Liar" and worked through material that showed their range — "Provision" and "Invisible Enemy" proved they're more than just the obvious singles. The setlist was a mix of heavy cuts and surprising moments, like their cover of the Zelda theme wedged between "Defender" and "Bloodletter." They closed out with "White Washed," leaving the room with something that stuck.

August Burns Red in Riverside News

• August Burns Red Book a Co-headline North American Tour with The Amity Affliction Ghost Cult Magazine · Dec 3, 2025
• Ice Nine Kills Performing in Riverside on Aug. 29 mxdwn Music · May 29, 2023
• Killswitch Engage Announce 2022 Tour With August Burns Red + Light the Torch Loudwire · Nov 9, 2021
• Killswitch Engage Announce 2022 Tour With August Burns Red, Light the Torch Revolver Magazine · Nov 9, 2021
• Killswitch Engage announces Spring 2020 North American Tour Metal Blade Records · Nov 5, 2019

Live Music in Riverside

Riverside's metal scene has always been scrappy and self-reliant, the kind of place where bands like August Burns Red—craftsmen first, showmen second—find real traction. The city sits outside LA's gravitational pull, which means venues here prioritize substance over spectacle. Metal crowds in the Inland Empire tend to be dedicated, the kind of people who've actually tracked a band's discography. August Burns Red fits that ethos perfectly: no gimmicks, no shortcuts, just the work.

Riverside road trip to see August Burns Red?

Stay in the Magnolia Center area near downtown Riverside, where restored historic buildings sit alongside new boutique hotels and wine bars—it's the only neighborhood that actually feels like somewhere worth spending an evening. Before the show, dinner at Duane's, a reliable California steakhouse with real cocktails and actual craft to the food. Spend your afternoon at the Riverside Metropolitan Museum or walking through the Mission Inn's sprawling Mission Revival campus—it's genuinely stunning architecture, the kind of thing that reminds you why people actually settled this part of California.