THE COUNT: SICK NEW WORLD HITS VEGAS JACKPOT AGAIN

While many will be clad in their best cowboy boots and Stetsons at the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, California, this weekend, another 85,000 or so dressed in their finest leather, studded belts and combat boots will descend on Las Vegas' Festival Grounds for the second annual mega-fest Sick New World, 4/27.

The one-day event, which features upwards of 70 hard-rock, heavy-metal and industrial bands on five stages, will be headlined by System of a Down (WME), who topped the inaugural showing last year, and masked marauders Slipknot (CAA, pictured). The Live Nation event, the brainchild of talent buyer Jeff Shuman, has been sold out since it was announced six months ago.

Other acts making their Sick New World debut include A Perfect Circle (WME), Danny Elfman (Kraft-Engel Management), Sleep Token (IAG) and Alice in Chains (CAA), who share management with SOAD at Velvet Hammer.

This year the shindig is expanding its footprint in Vegas with a series of special "sideshows,” adding more cash to the coffers of acts who've already been generously compensated by Shuman for playing Sick New World proper. Online chatter is already heating up about conflicts arising because several bands are performing at the same time, so make your decisions accordingly.

On Thursday (4/25), Chevelle (CAA) will be at House of Blues, while Front 242 (Persona Grata Agency) and Nitzer Ebb (Wasserman) perform at Brooklyn Bowl. On Friday, Bring Me the Horizon (UTA) and Spiritbox (IAG) are at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Static-X (TKO) & Sevendust (IAG) visit Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort and Wage War (UTA) and Nothing More (IAG) drop by Brooklyn Bowl.

After the festival on Sunday, Lamb of God (Sound Talent Group) with Kublai Khan TX (Sound Talent Group) are at House of Blues, while The Garden (Tour Peachy) with Fury (High Road Touring) will rock Brooklyn Bowl.

There are also plenty of whispers about a potential Slipknot surprise warmup gig in Pioneertown, California, on Thursday, but we can assure you, dear reader, that there’s no truth to the rumors of Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish or Beyoncé appearing at this festival.

Clockwise from top left: Jeff Shuman, Velvet Hammer's Mark Wakefield (in cap) and David "Beno" Benveniste, CAA's Ryan Harlacher and Danny Elfman