Christmas Burns Red 2024 unites major metalcore acts in fueling mental healthcare
Christmas Burns Red was not your ordinary holiday celebration.
First of all, the two-day festival was comprised entirely of metalcore bands. Although this isn’t a genre many would associate with Christmas music, August Burns Red has increasingly solidified their role as an essential voice in the Christmas season through a series of releases since 2012’s Sleddin’ Hill. This year, they expanded their influence through inviting other genre heavyweights into their seasonal extravaganza, hosted at The Lancaster County Convention Center in Pennslyvania.
Christmas Burns Red 2024 Lineup
DAY 1
August Burns Red
The Devil Wears Prada
Erra
Bodysnatcher
Deadlands
HillhavenDAY 2
August Burns Red
The Ghost Inside
Gideon
Boundaries
Orthodox
If Not For Me
Christmas Burns Red 2024 boasted a lineup that featured some of the biggest names in the genre — and every single one of them showed up for a cause. Beyond simply celebrating the season, each band donated items to be part of a raffle supporting HeartSupport’s mental healthcare. From signed guitars to music to August Burns Red singer Jake Luhrs’s mic, the raffle prizes were all coveted treasures that fans could enter to win at $5 a ticket.
HeartSupport staff members were on-site, witnessing firsthand the impact of the bands’ commitment to healing the scene.
“Working with every band on the lineup really showed how passionate bands are about supporting their fans, and it shows how much they believe in our mission,” HeartSupport’s Bryce Maopolski shared. “These bands see struggling fans every night and go out of their way to help them, and that is why they supported us. The scene is healing in mass as exemplified by CBR, but we still have more people to support!”
HeartSupport had a table at Christmas Burns Red where fans could learn more about the community-led mental health support that is available to them. Attendees could then go online to begin connecting to help in real time.
Nate Hilpert, Executive Director of HeartSupport, was blown away by the way August Burns Red’s fanbase showed up for the cause. He says, “CBR gave us the opportunity to connect with so many August Burns Red fans we've met over the years, and some we've never connected with. The heart of the scene is so obvious among their fanbase: people who CARE. There were so many people willing to stop and talk about the part they can play in helping heal the scene. And the fact that every single band contributed to a raffle to help fund end-of-year donations for HeartSupport? It was a unique and wholesome experience. We are thankful for ABR, Jeremy, and all of the people who talked to us, volunteered, and supported."
Of course, the music itself was a part of the mission. Metalcore music has the ability to capture intense emotions, and each of the bands on the bill are experts at leveraging that impact. Throughout the brutal performances by some of the industry’s best, fans were able to let loose and release whatever burdens they walked in the door with.
August Burns Red themselves epitomized that powerful solidarity and sense of hope as they headlined both nights. They were celebrating 15 years since their seminal work Constellations, offering two different sets to mark the milestone.
The synergy between HeartSupport and August Burns Red runs deep. HeartSupport was founded by August Burns Red’s lead singer Jake Luhrs with the goal of continuing to meet music listeners where they are — long after they’ve left concert venues. In fact, HeartSupport was beginning to take shape around the same time Constellations was blazing a path across the heavy music world. The songs on the album have always impacted listeners alongside the nonprofit organization.
The 2024 end of year focus for HeartSupport was a continued commitment to heal the scene, responding to the ongoing deep need for empathy in response to depression, anxiety, suicidality, addiction, and loneliness. Christmas Burns Red validated the weight of that work.
“One thing that stood out to me over the two days at CBR was how impactful our presence was, even just running a raffle table,” HeartSupport’s Morgan Hochstetler explained. “Simply showing up and demonstrating that HeartSupport and the bands genuinely care about supporting those in the scene meant something. Everywhere HeartSupport goes, our steps leave a mark, just by being there. People attending seemed moved by how we and the bands cared about them. This kind of care inspires a person's spirit to light their own torch and leave an imprint on the scene."
The impact of Christmas Burns Red will live on through another year of quality peer support and expert mental health mentorship. There’s still a chance to be part of healing the scene; consider making a donation today.
