Watain will headline Fortress: First Light, a separate Friday evening added to Fortress Festival for its fifth year. It runs on 28 May 2027 in the Grand Hall at Scarborough Spa, with its own ticket, and the main weekend follows on 29 and 30 May.
It is an exclusive UK performance, and it belongs to a short list. The band are playing out their final run, and Erik Danielsson framed this one the same way he has framed the others: "We look forward to setting out on a last round of shows before the end." The Polish band Terrestrial Hospice open the night, their first time playing in Britain.
Eight more names went on the main weekend at the same time. Stormkeep come back to Europe after four years, Mare and Sulphur Aeon take exclusive UK sets, Ninkharsag return from two quiet years saying a new album is already forming, Silver Knife and Oerheks make their British debuts, Bloodbark plays only its second show, and the dungeon synth project Ornatorpet takes the theatre room.
Emperor still head the weekend. A festival in its fifth year adding a night rather than a stage is a festival that has run out of room.