Columbus legends Beartooth added to Sonic Temple

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus legends Beartooth have been added to the Sonic Temple lineup.

The band will play on the main stage at 6:20 p.m. Sunday, replacing Alice in Chains, who had to drop off the festival due to health issues with their drummer.

Danny Wimmer, founder of the company that puts on Sonic Temple, offered up the open slot in a video posted to social media Saturday morning addressed to vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Caleb Shomo.

"This is your hometown," Wimmer said. "I'm not asking you to replace Alice in Chains, because you can't replace Alice in Chains. I'm asking you to come party with us here at Sonic Temple and play their slot. I'm putting you on blast. I want you guys to come and play with us tomorrow. Hit me up. You got my cellphone. Call me."

The band is playing Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. With Sunday being a day off for the band, they accepted the offer.

"As far as I know, what, that's like a five-hour drive to Columbus," Shomo said in a video. "We have a day off tomorrow. Do I want to rock at my favorite festival in our hometown? Of course. This is Beartooth we're talking about. We're always down to rock. Let's go dude. It is on. See you tomorrow at Sonic Temple."

The band last played in Columbus in January, with a show at The Schottenstein Center.

Beartooth was formed in 2012 by Shomo, who was raised in Westerville. Their fifth album, The Surface, was released in 2023 and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart. Shomo records Beartooth albums largely by himself, but on stage, he is joined by several other Columbus natives.