August Burns Red in San Francisco

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 + San Francisco

August Burns Red rolled through the Masonic Auditorium on April 3rd, bringing the kind of setlist that rewards the people who've been paying attention. They dug into the catalog with cuts like 'Bloodletter' and 'Marianas Trench' alongside the expected crowd-pleasers, and closed things out strong with 'White Washed'. The band's history in San Francisco has been built on this exact approach—respecting the room enough to mix deep pulls with the songs that got people invested in the first place. They've carved out a solid relationship with the city over the years, and shows like this one prove why.

August Burns Red in San Francisco News

• Review - Bullet for My Valentine & Trivium @ the Masonic Auditorium (4/3/25) sfbayareaconcerts.com · Apr 4, 2025
• Show Review: August Burns Red, The Devil Wears Prada, and Bleed From Within at Concord Music Hall in Chicago, IL New Noise Magazine · May 3, 2023
• Killswitch Engage Announce 2022 Tour With August Burns Red, Light the Torch Revolver Magazine · Nov 9, 2021
• Killswitch Engage Announce 2022 Tour With August Burns Red + Light the Torch Loudwire · Nov 9, 2021
• August Burns Red, Between the Buried and Me at Regency Ballroom San Francisco Music Connection Magazine · Mar 24, 2016

Live Music in San Francisco

San Francisco's metal scene has always been fragmented and fiercely independent, more interested in innovation than tradition. The Bay Area birthed thrash metal itself, but that legacy sometimes overshadows the current landscape—bands like August Burns Red, rooted in melodic metalcore and technical precision, represent a different lineage. They fit into venues like Masonic that host everything from legacy acts to emerging bands, existing in that middle ground where serious musicians find serious audiences without the stadium overhead.

San Francisco road trip to see August Burns Red?

Stay in Hayes Valley or the Mission—both neighborhoods have the kind of restaurants and bars that make a weekend feel deliberate rather than touristy. Head to State Bird Provisions for dinner if you can get in; it's precise and inventive without being pretentious. Spend a day in Muir Woods or hiking around Twin Peaks for actual views of the city. The de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park is worth a couple hours if the weather holds. Hit up a coffee place on Valencia Street in the Mission just to sit and watch the neighborhood move around you.