Gigantour

Gigantour was a recurring heavy metal and hard rock music festival conceived and organized by Canadian musician Dave Mustaine, best known as the frontman for the band Megadeth. The tour, often featuring a lineup of established and up-and-coming bands, typically traveled across North America, with occasional expansions to other continents.

Mustaine's vision for Gigantour was to create a festival that showcased a variety of metal subgenres, offering fans a diverse and high-quality concert experience. The tour's name is a portmanteau of "gigantic" and "tour," reflecting the large scale and extensive itinerary of the event.

Gigantour's inaugural edition took place in 2005, featuring Megadeth as the headliner and included bands such as Dream Theater, Anthrax, Fear Factory, and The Dillinger Escape Plan. Subsequent editions showcased a rotating roster of prominent metal acts, solidifying Gigantour's reputation as a significant event on the heavy metal touring circuit.

The festival's format typically involved multiple stages with staggered performance times, allowing attendees to experience a wide range of musical styles within the metal genre. Over the years, Gigantour lineups have included bands such as Lamb of God, Opeth, Arch Enemy, Machine Head, Testament, Motorhead, and many others.

While the festival was generally well-received by fans, Gigantour faced challenges related to logistics, scheduling, and financial viability, which contributed to its intermittent runs and eventual cessation. The last official Gigantour took place in 2013. Despite its discontinuation, Gigantour is remembered as a noteworthy touring festival that helped promote and celebrate various aspects of heavy metal music.