If you’ve never seen BABYMETAL live, this fall’s North American tour is a good place to start. If you have, you already know why this one is worth the trip.
The Japanese J-metal phenomenon kicks off their headline North American run September 2nd in Denver, stopping at major venues across the country before wrapping at Aftershock Festival in Sacramento on October 3rd. Supported by Halestorm and Violent Vira on most dates, the tour follows the release of METAL FORTH (Deluxe Edition), the expanded version of last year’s album that made history as the first record by a Japanese fronted group to crack the Billboard 200, debuting at number nine. The deluxe edition adds three live performances and two remixes of “from me to u (feat. Poppy),” including new versions from Major Lazer and Jordan Fish.
METAL FORTH has earned a reputation for its boundary-pushing sound and scope. The record brings together a pretty impressive roster of collaborators from across the heavy music world, with “My Queen” featuring Spiritbox, “Kon! Kon!” with Bloodywood, “RATATATA” alongside Electric Callboy, and “from me to u” with Poppy. With over 200 million streams and 36,000 equivalent album units sold just in its first week, it shows the progress of a band that’s been steadily on the rise since 2010.
Formed in Tokyo and initially known for their explosive live shows (seriously, check some of their live performances on their YouTube channel to get an idea), BABYMETAL broke internationally by the mid-2010s, opening for Red Hot Chili Peppers, Korn, and Lady Gaga before building a devoted global following entirely on their own terms. Fronted by SU-METAL, MOAMETAL, and MOMOMETAL, the trio has spent fifteen-plus years reshaping what heavy music looks and sounds like.
Before the headline run begins, their live performances kick off August 30th with BABYMETAL supporting My Chemical Romance in San Diego. High-profile stops on the headline run include Chicago’s Huntington Bank Pavilion on September 4th, PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel on September 9th, Xfinity Center in Mansfield on September 10th, and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Houston on September 25th. A Latin American leg follows in November and December, culminating in their first-ever stadium show in Mexico City.
Tickets for all dates are available now at the link here.
North America Tour Dates:
August 30 – San Diego, CA – Petco Park (supporting My Chemical Romance) September 2 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
September 4 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island September 5 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
September 7 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
September 9 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
September 10 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
September 12 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
September 13 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek September 15 – Charlotte, NC – Truliant Amphitheater
September 16 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre September 18 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
September 19 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life (festival)
September 21 – St Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater September 23 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
September 25 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
September 26 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
September 29 – Albuquerque, NM – First Financial Credit Union Amphitheater
October 1 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
October 3 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival (festival)
Nathan Smith is a Providence-based music photographer and journalist focusing on capturing the special moments and unfiltered magic of live performances. Whether he’s shooting established artists at sold-out TD Garden shows or documenting the rise of emerging local bands, his goal is the same: to pull viewers directly into the heart of the moment.
His writing spotlights rising artists and local scenes, with a focus on telling the stories that often get overlooked. A lifelong music fan and musician himself, Nathan approaches interviews and portraits as conversations rather than transactions, building trust with artists so their genuine personalities can shine through. Whether he’s backstage, in the photo pit, or at home in front of the keyboard, he brings the same curiosity and care to every assignment.
Outside of his press work with Juice Box Press, Nathan works regularly as a photographer with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, as well as numerous bands in the Boston and Providence area. Nathan also plays violin with a local orchestra, follows Celtics basketball almost religiously, and is an avid fantasy reader.