APOCALYPTICA Headed For OZZFEST?

Finnish cello quartet APOCALYPTICA has announced four dates in the U.S. in early August, leading to speculation that the group will take part in the Dallas Ozzfest on August 9-10 alongside METALLICA, OZZY OSBOURNE and RIGOR MORTIS, among other acts.

APOCALYPTICA will play the following U.S. shows between August 3 (when they are scheduled to appear at the Ankkarock festival in Vantaa, Finland) and August 10 (when they're slated to be at the M'Era Luna festival in Hildesheim, Germany):

Aug. 05 - Colorado Springs-Pueblo, CO - The Black Sheep
Aug. 06 - Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom
Aug. 07 - Little Rock, AR - Village Theatre
Aug. 08 - Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX - Antone's

As BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported on April 11, it is rumored that this summer's Ozzfest will consist of two separate two-day (Saturday/Sunday) events — one of which will be held in Dallas — in early August, with OZZY OSBOURNE headlining one day and METALLICA the other.

Reactivated Texas thrash/speed metallers RIGOR MORTIS announced late last month via their MySpace page (Note: The announcement has since been removed) that they are confirmed for Ozzfest 2008 in Dallas on Saturday, August 9. METALLICA will apparently close out the show this night.

The Ozzfest reports come in the wake of this year's arrival of the metal-oriented Rockstar Energy Mayhem Tour, which will play 30 North American amphitheaters during July and August, the time when Ozzfest is traditionally making its rounds.

Last year's Ozzfest offered free admission, with fans acquiring tickets mostly through sponsoring web sites. But the acts were not paid either, which resulted in a decidedly less than impressive main stage lineup. The Mayhem trek has already robbed Ozzfest of two potential main-stage heavyweights in DISTURBED and SLIPKNOT, with fan favorites DRAGONFORCE and MASTODON also taking part in the Mayhem tour.

APOCALYPTICA took part in a short performance on May 2, 2008 at the studios of WBCN 104.1 FM in Boston, Massachusetts. Watch some of the performance footage below.