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Good Things 2026 Line Up UPDATE: Who is LOCKED & Who is RULED OUT!

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News and Commentary

Overview: Updated Good Things (2026) Predictions

The hosts say their initial 2026 Good Things predictions are outdated because many new tours have been announced since they first made their list. They’ve done a refreshed, “tight” update focused on:

  • Making new guesses for what could fit during the festival period
  • Explicitly ruling out bands that already have other commitments
  • Warning that AI-generated posters and “locked in” lineups circulating online likely won’t happen (because many bands are already booked elsewhere)

Rulings-Out (low likelihood due to competing tours/festivals)

They repeatedly stress that several rumored headliners or major acts are unlikely because of scheduling conflicts or current band activity/intentions, including:

  • System of a Down: unlikely; Serj Tankian reportedly only wants to do a limited number of shows (not an ongoing touring pattern)
  • Rammstein and Tool: “just don’t see it in the cards” (despite fan demand)
  • Linkin Park: already toured earlier in the year
  • Bad Omens: doing Knotfest Mexico during the relevant time
  • Northlane and Dayseeker: tied up with a European run / wrap-up dates
  • Beartooth: touring in January
  • Amity Affliction: likely blocked by a venue run a week later
  • Simple Plan: has a Hong Kong/December tour, so “for sure” not coming
  • Bring Me the Horizon: possible, but they lean toward “more likely next year”
  • Gojira: generally ruled out unless they drop new material/singles (they don’t tend to tour without album momentum)
  • Knocked Loose: ruled out for Good Things specifically because they’re touring during that period (they hope for Knotfest instead)

They also mention other “maybes” that are impacted by the wider touring calendar.

“Locks” / Strong Candidates for Good Things

Clear consensus “lock”

Both hosts agree on one clearest “locked” pick:

  • Spiritbox: they argue Spiritbox hasn’t toured Australia in a long time, and Good Things is an ideal moment to support a new album cycle. They also connect this to promoter patterns—bands often “tease” at Good Things, then return for a full headline run.

Additional strong candidates discussed

Other festival-slot candidates they discuss positively include:

  • Story of the Year: suggested as a fit due to album momentum and the fact they lost a prior slot when another tour plan changed; they also reference prior appearances at major events like Knotfest
  • Billie? / “Bill Murray”: discussed as a “Hogman cometh” style lock—framed as having grown significantly recently with a new album and aligned with the crowd
  • Speed (Aussie hardcore): expected/considered a lock for a mosh-heavy slot
  • Sun Koda: they feel they’ll be added even with some upcoming shows; they argue the timing works for a career relaunch

Old-school / heavier metal slot ideas

In an “old-school metal slot” conversation, they weigh likely options—especially what’s blocked by other big tours. Suggestions include:

  • Testament as a plausible fit
  • Heavier “mega” possibilities like Meshuggah

Headliner Speculation and Skepticism

They discuss how headliner chances may shift based on proximity of overseas dates, and typical routing patterns for international acts through Asia vs. Japan/Australia.

  • My Chemical Romance and Simple Plan are widely rumored by AI posters and fans, but the hosts express uncertainty—especially about MCR, since they note these routing patterns often correlate more reliably with Japan.
  • They won’t rule out MCR, but “something feels off.”
  • Nine Inch Nails: still considered possible; they think it’s being talked about less than other predictions and might “fly under the radar.”

They also float more out-there headline ideas:

  • Panic! at the Disco: framed as a “festival band” scenario (one-off festival appearances that can expand elsewhere)
  • Tatu: a deliberately left-field “wild” idea, based on recent radio / Triple J resurfacing

Genre-Slot Commentary and Additional Possibilities

Beyond the main locks and headliner talk, they cover genre-fit placements and more band ideas:

  • Arch Enemy / Blue Medusa (Alissa White-Gluz’s new band): they argue Blue Medusa could cover a melodic-meets-metalcore angle and add “girl power” representation
  • Additional “girl power” / Aussie-friendly possibilities:
    • Redhook
    • A possible presence of The Veronicas

Rapid-fire hopes include:

  • Sevendust
  • Sleep Theory
  • Orbit Culture
  • Thy Art Is Murder
  • Alpha Wolf
  • A Polaris
  • The Home Team
  • A strongly desired (but unlikely) throwaway pick: Spineshank

Overall Takeaway

The main message is that tour-date changes are driving major uncertainty in Good Things 2026 lineup predictions, meaning rumored AI posters may be wrong.

Key points they emphasize:

  • Spiritbox is the most solid “lock”
  • Multiple rumored acts are blocked by scheduling conflicts
  • They present plausible additions like Story of the Year, Speed, Sun Koda, and potential old-guard or ultra-heavy fits
  • Headliners remain uncertain—skeptical of some popular rumors (like Tool/Rammstein/System of a Down) while leaving room for others (like Nine Inch Nails)

Presenters / Contributors

  • John Mudge
  • Drew (from Metal On Tap)
  • Joe Manji (mentioned as a host identity)
  • Dodgers (mentioned as a concluding signature name)

Original video