HUNTINGTON -- It all started in 1997 with six bands including Jimmy's Chicken Shack rocking the Ritter Park Amphitheater.

A dozen years later, X-Fest has grown into one of the region's largest and oldest heavy metal fests that packs close to 10,000 fans down to Harris Riverfront Park.

X-106.3, WAMX-FM just announced headliners for this year's 13th annual throwdown that features 12 bands on two stages on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Shinedown was named as this year's top headliner, and added to that mainstage lineup is former TVT Records recording artists and Mason County-based rockers Bobaflex, playing their first X-Fest since 2004, and a band that is headlining Columbus' Newport Music Hall for the first time later this week.

Also on the main stage is Tooth and Nail Records recording artists Since October, which has become one of Active Rock radio's rising stars. Currently out with he four-man Bradenton, Fla.-based band Red, Since October, who has just put out a new CD "This is My Heart," has chalked up more than 300 shows in the past two years with such acts as Shinedown and Disturbed.

The Illinois native rock act Chevelle has sold more than 2 million records and is currently out on the "Stimulate This" tour with Staind, Shinedown and Halestorm.

A five-man band out of Las Vegas, Adelita's Way, is perhaps best known for "Invincible," the theme song for the WWE Superstars. Erik Raines, program director for X-106.3, said the band also features a homegrown connection since Beckley native Keith Wallen, of Copper, is in the band.

The band has a new CD coming out July 14.

Also on the bill is hot Louisville rockers Tantric, who has been burning up radio with such songs as "Breakdown" and "Down and Out." Tantric just sold-out a show at the V Club earlier this year.

Raines said X-Fest can be tough to book since bands are often coming off heavy touring of amphitheaters in summer and taking a break.

"It's hard, and it's all about timing and routing," Raines said. "There were a handful of bands I wanted for X-Fest that were taking a break around the 12th or starting to tour later in the fall. But I think the lineup is solid top to bottom with some really good bands."

Raines said one big plus this year was signing up Shinedown for the show early on.

"I got them nailed down pretty early this year, so I could start focusing on the support. I had offers in on Drowning Pool and Burn Halo. Both fell through a couple of weeks ago. Then I turned my attention to Chevelle, which was an awesome pick up. I also jumped at the chance to grab the new up-and-coming band Adelitas Way, featuring Keith Wallen of Copper and originally from Beckley, W.Va. I thought that would be a nice addition to the show."

WAMX-FM DJ Brandon Woolum, who does the Loud and Local show on the X, said he, too, is stoked about the show.

"Killer mainstage line-up," said Woolum, in his Loud and Local blog. "We ran into some road blocks this year ... but still came out of it with a ton of killer bands. A couple bands I really wanted to see come to Huntington didn't work out ... but I'm still very excited about this lineup."

In addition to the stacked main stage, the Loud and Local stage is packed with such X-Fest veterans as Hydrogyn, Split Nixon, Let the Guilty Hang and Stich Rivet, as well as newcomers Blues Sky Falling and Voices of Anatole.

Advance tickets for X-Fest are $35 and are on sale now at Ticketmaster, the Big Sandy Superstore Arena, FYE stores and all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets will be $45 day of the show.

A limited number of VIP Pit Passes are on sale for $50 and include a wrist band that will grant goers access to a special section at the front of stage and an X-Fest '09 T-Shirt. Those are on sale exclusively at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

For more information, go online at www.X1063.com.

Courtesy of www.myspace.com

Shinedown has been named as this year's top headliner for the 2009 X-Fest at Harris Riverfront Park.