Here’s a Schedule of Metal Artist Performances, Interviews and Signings at the 2016 NAMM Show

We’ve already given you 20 Genius Hacks for Surviving The NAMM Show — which runs this Thursday, January 21st, through Sunday the 24th — and the highly informative video How to train for NAMM.

But what’s in store for this year’s convention? Aside from nearly every musical instrument manufacturer in the world both big and small premiering their new products for 2016 — absolute heaven for gear nerds! — there are always a host of artist performances by well-known musicians in the metal community. Usually these consist of an artist playing to a backing track on a small stage at a manufacturer’s booth, meaning you get to see some of the best players in all of metal up close and personal, and maybe you’ll even have a chance to say a few words to them afterwords (just don’t be a punisher!). It’s fucking awesome!

Gear Gods is keeping a schedule of artist performances, signing sessions and interviews at this year’s NAMM Show and it’s being updated constantly as more sessions are announced. A few big names we see so far: Mille Petrozza (Kreator), Stephen Carpenter (Deftones), Devin Townsend, Max Cavalera (Soulfly), John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Gary Holt (Exodus, Slayer), and Javier Reyes (Animals as Leaders). Check out the full list here, and let Gear Gods know if anything’s missing.