Making mayhem work

Written By Amber Hemingway

Mayhem, Music & Making It Actually Work

I’ve spent over 40 years on the road…

Tour buses, splitter vans, muddy fields, sold-out venues, last-minute chaos, last-minute miracles… the lot.

And here’s the truth most people don’t see:

A great event isn’t just about the lineup.
It’s about whether the whole thing actually works when the doors open.

Where I Fit Into All This

With House Of Tours Global, I don’t turn up and try to take over.

I work with promoters and event organisers.

The people putting their money, time, and reputation on the line to make these shows happen.

We’re not putting on our own festivals just yet… that’s coming further down the road.

Right now, I’m focused on helping good people deliver great events without losing their minds (or their shirts) in the process.

For something like this to work, a lot is going on behind the scenes:

“Your One Call gets It All”

Logistics, Freight, Production, Customs/Carnets, Management and everything in between!

That’s where House Of Tours Global fits in.

And I Don’t Do It Alone

There’s no way this works without the team.

House Of Tours Global has a solid backroom crew that keeps everything moving day-to-day… advancing, coordination, all the details that most people never see.

I couldn’t do any of it without Amber. Her organisation, experience, and patience (and trust me… she needs it dealing with me sometimes) are a massive part of why this all works.

I’m out front dealing with the moving parts…She’s making sure everything behind the scenes is tight.

That balance is everything.

Because This Game Isn’t Easy

Let’s not pretend otherwise…

Festivals are tough right now.

Costs are up.
Margins are tight.
And one small issue can ripple through everything.

So what do we do?

We steady it.

  • Budgets that actually make sense

  • Logistics that don’t fall apart

  • Artists and crew where they need to be

  • Problems handled before they become disasters

No drama. Just getting it done.

Now… Let’s Talk About Mayhem 2026 🤘

This year’s Mayhem Rock Festival is going to be fantastic.

Mayhem Rock Festival is exactly the kind of thing this industry needs more of.

It didn’t come from a boardroom.

It came from passion.

Lisa Morrison (Rock Vibes) and Johan Liliedahl had a vision…to bring something fresh, loud, and full of attitude to UK audiences by shining a light on the Scandinavian rock scene.

Not just another show.
Something with identity.

So instead of waiting around for someone else to make it happen… they made it happen.

That’s how Mayhem was born.

And the 2026 lineup backs that up in a big way.

Headliners

  • H.E.A.T – Swedish melodic rock giants closing the show with full-on arena energy

  • Eclipse – Massive hooks, massive sound, and one of the tightest live bands out there

Main Lineup

  • Confess – melodic hard rock with bite

  • Toxic Rose – sleaze rock swagger turned up to 11

  • South of Salem – bringing that UK fire into the mix

  • Suicide Bombers – raw, punchy Norwegian rock

  • Trench Dogs – dirty, high-energy rock ‘n’ roll

  • Smoking Snakes – young, hungry, and loud

  • Kardang – heavy Scandinavian edge

  • Wasted Wizards – the new blood opening the day

And that’s what I like about this…

It’s not just names on a poster.

It’s a scene. A sound. A proper identity.

Big choruses. Big guitars. No filler.

Where It’s Happening

Two nights. Two amazing venues:

  • Nottingham – The Nest (May 16, 2026)

  • London – KOKO (May 17, 2026)

Different cities, same energy.

Get Yourself There 🎟️

If you like your rock loud and melodic

This is for you.

👉 Tickets here:
https://www.gigantic.com/mayhem-rock-festival-tickets/nottingham-the-nest/2026-05-16-13-00

Or check Ticketmaster:
https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/mayhem-rock-festival-tickets/artist/5695455

Don’t hang about… tickets are selling fast!

For Promoters Reading This

If you’re out there putting on shows right now… respect.

It’s not easy.

But if you ever need someone who can step in, understand your vision, and help you make it work without everything turning into chaos…

That’s what we do.

We work with your budget.
We work with your plan.
And we do whatever it takes to make it viable.

Final Thought

When you’re standing in that room at Mayhem…

Lights down.
The band hits the stage.
The crowd goes off.

Just remember…

There’s a whole team behind that moment, making sure it actually works, and I wouldn’t be able to do any of it without my incredible team and network.

Amber Hemingway
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Ride Like A Rock Star