This story starts with a metalhead working in a local grocery store in Kalispell in the year 2016. That metalhead is Anthony Barnes, founder of State Of Metal Services. Becoming an active member of the local music scene, he realized the potential of this scene's constant growth and undying loyalty to showing up, paying the door charge, and having a memorable time. Or maybe not so memorable once the alcohol starts flowing, but we took care of each other. Anthony realized it needed something big. He contacts a local promoter about putting on an "all-genres" fest. The idea being, having local bands from different genres (metal, punk rock, hard rock, rap, etc) all performing the same day at the same venue to bring unity into our scene and show it off. As booking got moving along, every band that was contacted that was not metal dropped off of the show. Only the metal bands were left and they were hungry to perform on this show. Flathead Valley Metalfest was born. In the year 2020, Anthony rebranded the name to Flathead Metalfest (without Valley in the middle).

Flathead Metalfest has happened every year since 2016. The unwavering passion Anthony has is all for the local Flathead music scene. To help people be part of something bigger than themselves. Give them a reason to leave their home, their comfort zone, and go enjoy live entertainment.

As the Flathead Metalfest continues to progress, grow, unite, strengthen