HALESTORM and LINDSEY STIRLING bring a magical night of music to the outdoors!

CONCERT REVIEW :: HALESTORM, LINDSEY STIRLING, APOCALYPTICA
Treasure Island Amphiteater - Welch, MN
Sept 26, 2025
Photos by Brett Zisler
Review by Nick

A perfect late summer/early fall evening for an outdoor rock show this past Friday night at the Treasure Island Amphitheater in Welch, MN played host to an incredible evening of music from hard rock favorites Halestorm and violin and dance wizard Lindsey Stirling. Apocalyptica opened the evening with an exciting set of Metallica covers to celebrate their first Apocalyptica Plays Metallica album and their recently released second collection of Metallica reworkings. You can’t NOT bob your head and have a good time when they’re up there rocking “Master of Puppets”, “Enter Sandman” and “Seek and Destroy” complete with guitar solos on the cello! Apocalyptica perfectly opened the night of what was to come.

I’ve only previously seen LINDSEY STIRLING do her fantastic Christmas show so I wasn’t too sure how Lindsey was going to do in a rock show setting. Any doubts that I might have had were quickly wiped away during the opening number “The Phoenix”. Dare I say it got heavier for the second number “Underground”? All of this is thanks to shredder Jason Richardson joining Lindsey’s band for this tour. Lindsey already had a tight band backing her but with Jason added in there, it takes her show to a heavier level. This might have been of some shock to old school Lindsey fans as it sounds vastly different than her records. However, this crowd ate it up playing perfectly to a hard rock crowd! Lindsey got a good laugh out of the crowd when she brought out “The Wheel” to pick the evening’s random song. “Carol of the Bells” was one of the 6 songs that could be played and Lindsey said “Hey, Carol of the Bells slaps!” Personally, I would have loved to hear this band tackle the Christmas classic but the wheel decided on “Til the Light Goes Out” which did not disappoint. Lindsey’s fantastic dancing while playing the violin is amazing enough but paired with her stellar dancers and this heavier band. Chef’s kiss! Lindsey, please release a live album with this band!

HALESTORM came out swinging with “Fallen Star” the lead track off their new album “Everest”, a heavy number that perfectly sets off not only the new album but also tonight’s live show. Halestorm kept the gas pedal down with “I Miss the Misery” and “Love Bites (So Do I)” before slowing it down for a minute with their latest single “Darkness Always Wins” which rocked a little harder live. “Like a Woman Can” went over big with the crowd, the bluesy rocker for the ladies in the crowd. Lzzy sat at a beautiful grand piano emblazed with the Halestorm logo and gave the crowd an encore rendition of her karaoke performance from the previous night inside Treasure Island of the classic “I Will Always Love You” and nailed it! The band came back out for a stunning version of the Everest closer “How Will You Remember Me?” dedicated to Ozzy! The band took the crowd in to overdrive with the unhinged “Watch Out!”. The opening of “Familiar Taste of Poison” was given a nice classic rock overhaul complete with Lzzy drinking from a chalice (maybe a nod to Ozzy as well) which led in to a killer version of “Rain Your Blood on Me” also from the new album. “Everest” sounded just as much of a mountain climbing journey closing out the main set as it does on record, completing the night with an impressive 9 of the 12 songs from the new record. Arejay’s drum solo brought the hand from the back of the Everest record to life and gave the crew a chance to torment Arejay at the same time.

The encore brought Lindsey Stirling back out to perform the new version of “Shatter Me” with Halestorm as the backing band. The track was just released earlier in the day on a deluxe edition of Lindsey’s “Shatter Me” album. The track takes on a heavier vibe adding the guys from Halestorm and brought it to an even more epic level with Lindsey joining Halestorm in front of all those Marshall amps sharing the stage together.

This was an epic evening of magical proportions. Halestorm and Lindsey Stirling came with a co-headlining run that showcased each of their strengths perfectly while trying out something new. If they do a second leg of this tour, do not miss it! This was a perfect billing bringing each other’s fans together to make a memorable evening for every fan!

SEE MORE OF BRETT'S PICTURES FROM HALESTORM, LINDSEY STIRLING and APOCALYPTICA HERE!

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 09/26/25

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 09/26/25

HOUR 1
HALESTORM - "fallen star" // Everest
TURNSTILE - "sunshower" // never enough
TURNSTILE - "birds" // never enough
SPEED - "don't need" // only one mode
FLESHWATER – “green street” // 2000: in search of the endless sky
THORNHILL - "mercia" // mercia - single
SLEEP TOKEN - "caramel" // even in arcadia
SILENT PLANET - "antimatter" // superbloom
REFLECTIONS - "my cancer" // exi(s)t

TOO LATE, BUT STILL - "gentle howls" // night songs
TWO HARBORS - "what you're on about" // can't shake this dream
MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK – “mi Corazón” // the same old wasted wonderful world
MADAM DRIVER - "crossroads" // negative ghostrider
SLDG - "crickets" // of my own design
ALTER BRIDGE - "silent divide" // alter bridge
SHINEDOWN - "killing fields" // killing fields - single

HOUR 2
DYING WISH - "a curse upon iron" // flesh stays together
THE PRETTY RECKLESS - "for I am death" // for I am death - single
THE PRETTY WILD – “paradox” // zero.point.genesis
GORE. - "wrath" // if you do not fear me
AMIRA ELFEKY – “hold onto me” // hold onto me - single
SUMO CYCO – “boring” // neon void
FIRSUN - "speak" // speak - single

DAEDRIC - "night mother" // as the light left
THE HIVES - "roll out the red carpet" // the hives forever, forever the hives
BETTER LOVERS – “don't forget to say please" // don't forget to say please - single
KITTIE – “Charlotte XXV" // spit XXV
BIOHAZARD – “death of me” // divided we fall
ORBIT CULTURE - "nerve" // death above life
REAPING ASMODEIA - "sanctuary of poison" // sanctuary of poison - single

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 09/19/25 - DED

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 09/19/25
GUESTS :: DED

HOUR 1
MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK feat PATRICK STUMP– “particle physics” // the same old wasted wonderful world
FLESHWATER – “last escape” // 2000: in search of the endless sky
DIVIDE THE FALL – “break free” // break free – single
AMIRA ELFEKY – “hold onto me” // hold onto me - single
BUNNY BLOOD - "was it me?" // punktober compilation
RAD OWL – “growl” // rage gracefully
SUMO CYCO – “boring” // neon void

NINE INCH NAILS – “shadow over me" // tron: ares soundtrack
LAMB OF GOD – “omens” // omens
HARMS WAY – “other world” // other world - single
THE CHALLENGER DISASTER CONSPIRACY – “corncob messiah” // city pages 2023 band of the year
DEMON HUNTER – “ouroboros” // there was a light here
DRAIN – “scared of everything and nothing” // drain…is your friend
KITTIE – “Charlotte XXV" // spit XXV
BETTER LOVERS – “don't forget to say please" // don't forget to say please - single

HOUR 2
THE PRETTY WILD – “paradox” // zero.point.genesis
WE CAME AS ROMANS, CURRENTS & AFTER THE BURIAL - "bad luck" // bad luck - single
DED – “purpose: be myself” // resent
DED – “eraser” // resent

DED feat CHAD GREY – “you want honest?” // resent
ROMAN CANDLE – “fire in the night sky forever” // fire in the night sky forever - single
BIOHAZARD – “death of me” // divided we fall
SOULKEEPER – “reality bytes" // join us in creating excellence
SOULKEEPER - "smile because it happened" // join us in creating excellence
AFTER THE BURIAL – “hum from the hollow” // hum from the hollow - single
SABATON – “Templars” // legends
DEFTONES – “cut hands” // private music

**SPECIAL THANKS to JOE from DED for zooming in to the Midwest Beatdown this week! DED is back and heavy with their new album "Resent" out now via UNFD! DED returns to the Myth in Maplewood on Oct 17 with IN THIS MOMENT, DAYSEEKER and THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT!

Midwest Beatdown · Ded 2025 interview

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 09/12/25 - BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 09/12/25
GUESTS :: BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES

HOUR 1
DIVIDE THE FALL – “break free” // break free – single
MADAM DRIVER – “through the trees” // negative ghostrider
THE MONTOYA MACHINE – “we saved a place for you here” // we saved a place for you here - single
BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES - "rabbit hole" // full circle
BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES - "complicated" // full circle
WALLY JOSEPH - "left of faithful" // to the dogs

BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES - "the hurt (a conversation)" // full circle
ANXIETY SOCIETY feat JOSIE - "hands of the painter" // hands of the painter - single
BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES - "hey rose (it is what it is)" // full circle
HALESTORM – “fallen star” // everest
SILVERSTEIN – “negative space" // pink moon

HOUR 2
DEMON HUNTER – “ouroboros" // there was a light here
MUDVAYNE – “sticks and stones” // sticks and stones - single
VENDED – “paint the skin” // vended
CHEVELLE – “wolves (love and light)” // bright as blasphemy
KUBLAI KHAN TX – “the mountain of Corsicana” // the mountain of Corsicana - single
DRAIN – “who’s having fun” // drain…is your friend
TURNSTILE - "birds" // never enough
SPEED – “peace” // all my angels

ROMAN CANDLE – “fire in the night sky forever” // fire in the night sky forever - single
DYING WISH – “revenge in carnage” // flesh stays together
SOULKEEPER – “go ask alice” // join us in creating excellence
LAMB OF GOD – “children of the grave” // children of the grave – single
BODY COUNT – “postmortem/raining blood” // bloodlust
HARMS WAY – “become a machine” // posthuman
LORNA SHORE – “unbreakable” // I feel the everblack festering within me

**SPECIAL THANKS to JOSIE from BULLETS AND BUTTEFLIES for zooming in to the Midwest Beatdown this week! BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES' excellent debut album "Full Circle" is out now!

Midwest Beatdown · Bullets and Butterflies interview

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 09/05/25 - NEW MEDICINE

MIDWEST BEATDOWN PLAYLIST :: 09/05/25
GUESTS :: NEW MEDICINE

HOUR 1
FLESHWATER – “green street" // 2000: in search of the endless sky
MADAM DRIVER – “through the trees” // negative ghostrider
SLDG – “out of here” // of my own design
BULLETS AND BUTTERFLIES – “rabbit hole” // full circle
WALLY JOSEPH – “left of faithful” // to the dogs
THE INTERRUPTERS – “bad guy” // bad guy - single
NEW MEDICINE – “race you to the bottom” // race you to the bottom

NEW MEDICINE – “die trying” // die trying: the double album
NEW MEDICINE – “s.o.s.” // die trying: the double album
NEW MEDICINE feat ADELITAS WAY – “own it” // die trying: the double album
NEW MEDICINE – “miracle” // die trying: the double album

HOUR 2
ALTER BRIDGE – “silent divide” // alter bridge
POPPY, AMY LEE, COURTNEY LaPLANTE – “end of you” // end of you - single
FIRSUN – “speak” // speak - single
THE PRETTY RECKLESS – “for I am death” // for I am death - single
DED – “purpose: be myself” // resent
GORE. – “wrath” // if you do not fear me…
SLIPKNOT – “(sic)” // slipknot

ORBIT CULTURE – “nerve” // death above life
TURNSTILE – “sole” // never enough
DYING WISH – “revenge in carnage” // flesh stays together
SOULKEEPER – “go ask alice” // join us in creating excellence
EVERNOIR – “spiral” // hateful lullabies
TRIVIUM – “bury me with my screams” // struck dead
SHADOWS FALL - "destroyer of senses" // the art of balance

**SPECIAL THANKS to JAKE from NEW MEDICINE for zooming in to the Midwest Beatdown this week! NEW MEDICINE's new double album "Die Trying" is out now! NEW MEDICINE will be at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Oct 17 with ADELITA'S WAY and BRKN LOVE for a special 18+ show you do not want to miss!

Midwest Beatdown · New Medicine 2025 interview