Sonic Temple Festival Lineup Shakeup: Morello, The Offspring Out, Chevelle and Pop Evil In

Iconic rock acts depart 2026 festival, replaced by rising bands

Apr. 1, 2026 at 8:00pm

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The organizers of the Sonic Temple Music Festival in Columbus, Ohio have announced major lineup changes for the 2026 edition of the event. Legendary guitarist Tom Morello and veteran punk rock band The Offspring have both dropped off the bill, with up-and-coming acts Chevelle and Pop Evil stepping in as replacements.

Why it matters

Sonic Temple is one of the premier rock music festivals in the Midwest, drawing tens of thousands of fans each year. The departure of high-profile artists like Morello and The Offspring is a significant shakeup that will impact the festival's overall lineup and appeal to attendees.

The details

Morello, known for his work with Rage Against the Machine, had been scheduled to perform a solo set at Sonic Temple. However, he recently announced he would be postponing his own tour dates to join Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band for The Boss' upcoming U.S. tour. The Offspring, the iconic punk rock band behind hits like 'Come Out and Play' and 'Gone Away', have also withdrawn from the Sonic Temple lineup for undisclosed reasons.

  • Sonic Temple 2026 is scheduled for May 14-17 in Columbus, Ohio.
  • Morello announced he would be joining Bruce Springsteen's tour, forcing him to drop out of Sonic Temple.

The players

Tom Morello

Legendary guitarist known for his work with Rage Against the Machine, who was scheduled to perform a solo set at Sonic Temple before withdrawing to join Bruce Springsteen's tour.

The Offspring

Veteran punk rock band behind hits like 'Come Out and Play' and 'Gone Away', who have also dropped off the Sonic Temple 2026 lineup.

Chevelle

Rising alternative metal band that has joined the Sonic Temple 2026 lineup as a replacement act.

Pop Evil

Up-and-coming hard rock group that has also been added to the Sonic Temple 2026 festival.

Sonic Temple Music Festival

One of the premier rock music festivals in the Midwest, held annually in Columbus, Ohio.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to welcome Chevelle and Pop Evil to the Sonic Temple lineup. While we're disappointed to lose Tom Morello and The Offspring, we know our fans will still have an incredible experience at this year's festival.”

— Sonic Temple Organizer

What’s next

Sonic Temple organizers will continue to finalize the full 2026 festival lineup in the coming weeks, with additional artist announcements expected.

The takeaway

The Sonic Temple Music Festival is undergoing a significant lineup shakeup, with the high-profile departures of Tom Morello and The Offspring being offset by the additions of rising acts Chevelle and Pop Evil. This reflects the evolving nature of the rock music landscape and the festival's efforts to adapt to changing fan preferences.