Eight Bands Set for Explosive Overload Festival Return

Bangladesh’s rock music scene is preparing for one of its biggest live events of the year as Overload Festival brings together eight of the country’s most celebrated bands for a major concert on 10 July at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Dhaka. Organised by Live Wave Entertainment, the festival is expected to draw rock enthusiasts from across the country, offering an evening that blends veteran performers with significant new beginnings for two of Bangladesh’s most influential bands.

The line-up features Artcell, Aurthohin, Black, Cryptic Fate, Nemesis, Powersurge, Level Five and RockSalt. While every act carries a strong following, much of the anticipation surrounding this year’s festival centres on the return of Aurthohin and Artcell with newly restructured line-ups, marking an important milestone in the evolution of both bands.

For Aurthohin, the concert represents the beginning of a new era following a series of personnel changes announced earlier this year. On 5 March, drummer Mark Don and guitarist Ehtesham Ali Moeen confirmed that they would be leaving the band. Later that day, Aurthohin unveiled its refreshed line-up, introducing three musicians who will shape the band’s future performances.

Former member Shishir Ahmed, who departed the group in 2023 after nearly two decades of service, has returned and will once again perform on guitar and keyboards. Adnan Atik has also joined the band, while Mechanix drummer Sheikh M Reaz will appear as a guest drummer during live performances. The revised line-up reflects the band’s determination to continue performing despite significant internal changes.

The festival also marks Aurthohin’s long-awaited return to the Bangladeshi concert stage. Live appearances have been rare in recent months because of health challenges faced by the band’s founder and bassist, Saidus Salehin Khaled Sumon, widely known to fans as Bassbaba. The group last performed during a tour of the United States in November and December last year. Their appearance at Overload Festival will therefore be their first performance before domestic audiences in almost 16 months, making the occasion especially meaningful for long-time supporters.

Artcell is likewise entering a new chapter. The 10 July concert will introduce Bakhtiar Hossain as the band’s touring vocalist, marking his first live performance with the group. The change follows founding member and longtime frontman George Lincoln D’Costa’s announcement that he would be stepping away from live performances indefinitely because of personal commitments.

In a video message released through Artcell’s official Facebook page on Wednesday evening, Lincoln confirmed his decision and formally introduced Bakhtiar Hossain, previously the vocalist of Bay of Bengal, as the band’s new touring singer. The announcement provided reassurance to fans that Artcell intends to continue performing despite the temporary absence of its original frontman.

Artcell has also maintained a relatively limited concert schedule over the past year. Its most recent live performance took place in Australia last November, while Lincoln has been living in Canada for some time. According to the band, appointing a touring vocalist allows Artcell to honour future concert commitments and remain active on stage without interruption.

Bangladesh’s rock scene has long been shaped by bands such as Artcell, Aurthohin, Black and Cryptic Fate, all of which have played influential roles in popularising progressive rock, alternative metal and hard rock among local audiences. Bringing these established names together with fellow performers Nemesis, Powersurge, Level Five and RockSalt gives Overload Festival a line-up that spans several generations of Bangladeshi rock music.

With two iconic bands unveiling refreshed line-ups, the return of Aurthohin to the local stage after an extended absence, and a strong roster featuring eight acclaimed acts, Overload Festival is widely expected to be one of Bangladesh’s most eagerly anticipated rock concerts of the year.