M3 Festival

It’s festival week here at The Rock and Roll Guru! This week I’ll be discussing the upcoming summer festivals and highlighting the highs, lows, and all the in-betweens of each. I’ve selected five festivals and will post daily on each. Enjoy!



M3
http://m3rock.webs.com/

Taking place in Columbia, Maryland, at the Merriweather Post Pavilion, the M3 Festival is hard rock and heavy metal at its finest. With old school metal, hair metal, and nostalgic hard rock acts all on the bill, M3 looks to be one of the best festivals of the summer. Taking place over the course of just one day, M3 packs more metal into a short period of time than your old high school metal shop class. M3 is a rocker’s delight.

Ticketing
Tickets are available through Ticketfly, a new ticketing service that is standing up to Ticketmaster. The ordering process is painless and simple, the fees are low and transparent, and the entire ordering process is quick and simple.

Tickets are available in a tiered pricing system from $175 for the best seats, $75, $55, and $35 for lawn seats (all before fees). On the lower end ($55 and $35) these are the best festival prices I have seen for 2010. When you factor in the lineup for this day, it’s almost a no-brainer to attend this show.

Lineup
Going out on what they proclaim to be their farewell tour, The Scorpions are the big headliners of the night. Supporting acts include Cinderella, Vince Neil, Winger, Warrant, Kix, Nelson, and some other 80s metal favorites. For the price of the ticket, this festival would be worth going to just to see The Scorpions and Cinderella. When you add the other top name acts into this lineup, it’s a fantastic day of hard rocking fun.

History
This festival is relatively new to the scene. M3 began last year by bringing top name acts such as Twisted Sister, Extreme, Ratt, Dokken, Slaughter, and others. Fan polls and media reviews show that it was a professional experience, easy to get to, and well maintained. M3 plans to continue the great service in 2010 for year number two. If all goes well, M3 should be back for many more years.

Places To Stay
Since this is a one day festival, there is no camping available at the Post Pavilion. There are plenty of nearby hotels though. The Hilton, Courtyard by Marriott, Staybridge Suites and the Hampton Inn are all within a five mile radius of the Pavilion. Hotel rooms, like tickets for this show, are going fast, so make your reservations now if you plan on attending. A full list of hotels can be found on the M3 web.

Overall
This is the festival that cousin Ryo is attending in 2010. With an amazing lineup of old school glam metal acts crammed into one rocking day, low ticket prices, and an experience that can’t be repeated, M3 is the ultimate hard rock festival. Entering into its second year, the future looks very bright for this rock and roll extravaganza.

Rocklahoma 2010

It’s festival week here at The Rock and Roll Guru! This week I’ll be discussing the upcoming summer festivals and highlighting the highs, lows, and all the in-betweens of each. I’ve selected five festivals and will post daily on each. Enjoy!

Rocklahoma
http://www.rocklahoma.com/

Originally launched as the hair metal lover’s fantasy, Rocklahoma has totally revamped their format and lineup for 2010. Whether that takes away from the experience remains to be seen, but early indications show that fans are not happy about the lineup decisions being made by Rocklahoma and their new promoter, AEG.

AEG took what was a glam metal dream and tried to modernize it in an attempt to increase ticket sales and make Rocklahoma a better draw. The plan may have backfired on them, but only time (and ticket sales) will tell.

Taking place over Memorial Day weekend (May 28-30), Rocklahoma, located in Pryor Oklahoma, hopes to draw a lot of music lovers to travel to middle American and enjoy the festival.

Ticketing
Ticket prices are average for this year’s festivals. The General Admission tickets are $110 for the three day event (before fees). Camping, which is offered on the festival grounds, is not included in that price.

If you are looking for a more lavish experience, Rocklahoma offers a special VIP packages ranging from $290 - $749. VIP packages include PIT access which is located right in front of the stage, a backstage lounge tent (no word on whether the performers hang out there, but food service is included), and special seating in Rows 1 or 2. Packages vary with extra amenities depending on the level of VIP access purchased.

Lineup
The lineup for Rocklahoma is what causes this festival to suffer. While it had the potential to be an incredible festival that everyone would want to attend, the bands selected to play are crippling Rocklahoma 2010. After the major headliners of ZZ Top, Godsmack, Buckcherry, Tesla, Cinderella, Theory of a Deadman, Saliva, and Fuel, there are several bands that you’ve probably never heard of. Rocklahoma is banking on a lot of new, up and coming bands to be a huge selling point to fans. I have to think that it’s not. It’s hard to believe that people would travel from all over the country to see a plethora of unknown bands perform over three days. It was poor selection on the part of AEG.

History
Rocklahoma started in 2007 as a place for all hair metal acts and their followers to gather and celebrate 80s metal. For three years, this was the hair metal festival of choice, held in July. The hot weather did not go over well with fans, and the biggest complaint of Rocklahoma’s past was that the festival was held during the month of July.

Now in their fourth year, Rocklahoma has experience and they know how to run the festival and the adjacent campgrounds. All rookie mistakes have been ironed out and the experience is a professional one. However, with the lineup being totally revamped for 2010, and the festival moving to Memorial Day weekend, it’s hard to say what this year’s festival will be like. One thing is certain; the weather will be much nicer.

Places To Stay
If you are interested in the great outdoors, campsites are available right at the festival grounds starting at $50. The campgrounds include shower facilities, parking for one vehicle per campsite purchased, 24-hour security and night lighting.

Not an outdoorsman? There are nearby hotels where you can stay. Days Inn, Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn, and Econolodge are all within a few miles of the festival grounds. However, with this rock fest happening on Memorial Day weekend, early reservations (as in now) are highly recommended.

Overall
Rocklahoma has to be considered one of the weakest festivals for 2010. While there are some great bands headlining, there aren’t enough solid supporting acts to make this a festival of choice. When compared to M3, Rock on the Range, and other festivals, Rocklahoma doesn’t match up. If you live in the Oklahoma area, this may be a festival worth visiting, but even then, it’s only a maybe.

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Bonnaroo 2010

It’s festival week here at The Rock and Roll Guru! This week I’ll be discussing the upcoming summer festivals and highlighting the highs, lows, and all the in-betweens of each. I’ve selected five festivals and will post daily on each. Enjoy!

Bonnaroo
http://www.bonnaroo.com/


Affectionately referred to as the “hippie-fest” by some, Bonnaroo is a four-day jam festival that features multiple acts from every walk of music. Taking place in Manchester Tennessee every June, Bonnaroo is the festival for the music lover. Whether you love metal, hard rock, jam bands, country, hip-hop, or pop, Bonnaroo has had those performers on their stage.

Ticketing
Tickets for Bonnaroo are not cheap, but considering this is a four day event that includes some major name acts, there is a lot of value for the cost. General admission tickets are $235. This gets you a four day pass to the show and includes camping and parking.

Fans wanting a more personalized experience can purchase the VIP package costing $1,350. This package includes 2 VIP tickets, preferred parking and camping near the venue, special shower facilities, a pre-dinner party on Thursday night and other VIP amenities.

If that’s still not enough of an experience, Bonnaroo offers the Total Access Package which includes 8 tickets to the show with special access throughout the site. A private tour bus with sleeping beds, on-site catering, a special on-stage viewing area, and private ground transportation to and from the show are all included. The price of this package was not available, so if you are interested, contact Bonnaroo directly.

Lineup
Bonnaroo’s lineup has always been one of the strongest around, and this year is no different. Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, The Flaming Lips, Weezer, John Fogerty, Jeff Beck, and GWAR are all performing, and that only names a few of the acts on the bill. The lineup over the course of four days is virtually endless. Well known bands, up and coming acts and established groups are all performing at Bonnaroo in 2010. If music isn’t enough for you, there is also comedy performed by some well known entertainers including Conan O’Brien in the comedy tent.

History
Beginning in 2002, Bonnaroo has been hosting this four-day extravaganza for years. Held on a 700 acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, Bonnaroo literally translates into “a really good time.” The festival started out as primarily a jam band lover’s dream, but over the years has diversified in the type of acts that have been added to the lineup. In recent years, Metallica, Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Wilco, B.B. King, Nine Inch Nails, Pearl Jam, and The Police have all graced the stage at Bonnaroo.

Places to Stay
To get the full experience, camping is available right on site and is included in the price of your ticket. A list of camping rules and regulations is available on the website. If camping is not for you, there are hotels available, but not close. Police checkpoints are set up on the way into and out of Bonnaroo and parking each day would be a nightmare. While a hotel can be done, it is not recommended. With entertainment going on all night and this being a festival of friends with some of the nicest people you will ever meet, the camping experience is highly recommended and encouraged.

Overall
Packed with incredible musical acts, comedians, films, and a slew of other entertainment, Bonnaroo really is the festival of choice. While the ticket price may seem a little high, it’s a four-day event of a lifetime. I think it’s worth the price and the trip, and it’s an experience that you will never forget.

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Rock On The Range 2010

It’s festival week here at The Rock and Roll Guru! This week I’ll be discussing the upcoming summer festivals and highlighting the highs, lows, and all the in-betweens of each. I’ve selected five festivals and will post daily on each. Enjoy!

Rock On The Range
http://www.rockontherange.com/


Rock on the Range is a lesser known festival that is gaining in popularity and status with each passing year. Taking place at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, this 2-day festival brings out some of modern rock’s best talent. This year is no exception. With Papa Roach, Slash, Theory of a Deadman, Rob Zombie, Puddle of Mudd, Three Days Grace, and Seether all performing over the course of two days, Rock on the Range has some major musical acts to bring the masses.

Ticketing
Tickets for the 2-day event are modestly priced at $100 - $120 (before fees). That isn’t a bad price for the amount of hard rocking bands that are performing. Single day tickets are also available and cost $60 - $70 (before fees).

Lineup
Day one performers include Godsmack, Three Days Grace, Papa Roach, Puddle of Mudd and Drowning Pool (just to name a few) on the main stage, also known as the Monster Energy stage. The kicker stage includes Skilllet, Halestorm, and Adelita’s Way amongst others. The Jagermeister stage has some local talent and a couple of bands that are making the festival circuit this year including Helmet and Like A Storm.

Day two performers are just as solid with Rob Zombie, Seether, Slash, Theory of a Deadman, and Limp Bizkit on the main stage. The second stage includes Airbourne, Mastodon, and Coheed and Cambria. The Jagermeister stage has Mushroomhead and Year Long Disaster amongst others.

For the price of the tickets, Rock on the Range appears to be an exceptional festival to attend. With all of that talent, the tickets are a worthy investment. And, if you’re not interested in seeing both days, there is the option for a single day ticket. That’s a great deal!

History
Rock On The Range is a relatively new festival that started in 2007. The first year it was held, the festival was a one day only affair. The next year (2008), the lineup was expanded and the festival grew to a two-day event. In 2009, Rock On The Range expanded even more with the addition of a Canadian version, Rock On The Range Canada, which takes place later in the summer.

Bands that have performed at Rock On The Range in the past include Staind, Motley Crue, ZZ Top, Kid Rock, and Stone Temple Pilots, just to name a few. Growing in size and popularity every year, Rock On The Range is a solid festival for modern rock lovers.

Places To Stay
Rock on the Range offers camping and nearby hotel packages. The ticket and hotel package deals are sold out for this year, but there is still availability at nearby hotels for a discounted price. The Hyatt on Capitol Square, The Crown Plaza Hotel, and The Hilton Columbus. Visit http://www.rockontherange.com/ for details.

Overall
If you’re a fan of a hard rocking stadium show, and if you love the modern rock acts, Rock On The Range may be the festival of choice for you. With affordable tickets, great bands on the bill, and history without complaint, Rock on the Range is a solid festival worth attending in 2010.

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Download Festival 2010

It’s festival week here at The Rock and Roll Guru! This week I’ll be discussing the upcoming summer festivals – highlighting the highs, lows, and all the in-betweens of each. I’ve selected five festivals and will post daily on each. Enjoy!

Download Festival
http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk/home

If you live in the UK, or if you are planning a trip for the summer, the Download Festival is a hard one to beat. Taking place over the course of three days (June 11 – 13, 2010), Download Festival will bring the rock like no other festival can. AC/DC, Aerosmith (with Steven Tyler), Rage Against The Machine, Megadeth, and Stone Temple Pilots are just the highlights of this year’s festival.

History
The Download Festival started off as the Monsters of Rock Festival 30 years ago in 1980. The first year included Judas Priest and The Scorpions on the bill. In 1996, the last Monsters of Rock festival was held and then there was silence for many years. In 2003, the Download Festival was born as a remembrance of the Monsters of Rock and a hybrid of the classic metal from years ago mixed with modern metal for the new arrivals. An amalgam of metal music that’s bound to make everyone happy, Download Festival strives to get the best acts on the bill and give the audience the most bang for their buck.

Lineup
This year’s lineup includes AC/DC as the major headliners. Also performing over the weekend are Rage Against The Machine, Aerosmith, The Deftones, Stone Temple Pilots, Megadeth, Motorhead, Billy Idol, Saxon, and Ratt, just to name a few. When you add in the bands that are performing on the second stage, you have one of the most rocking festivals in existence. Hard and heavy, the Download Festival is metal done right.

Ticketing
Weekend ticketing plus 5 days of camping is 180 pounds, which roughly translates to $270. That’s a little on the high side, but when you look at the lineup, it is definitely worth it. And it includes the price of camping, which is much cheaper than a hotel. As of this posting, no single day tickets were available for Download Festival.

Places to Stay
Thinking of attending? Here are some recommended places to stay and/or visit. The festival itself has camp grounds for those who want to stay right on the site. The campsite opens on Wednesday, June 9th at 10:00AM and is available until Monday, June 14th at 12:00PM.

If camping isn’t quite your style, there are nearby hotels worth checking out. A quick search of the web shows nearby bed and breakfast boutiques located less than 3 miles from the park, some as close as one half mile. There are also plenty of hotels nearby. Best Westin, Marriott, and Days Inn are all minutes away and most of the nearby hotels offer complimentary shuttle service to the park.

Overall
The Download Festival looks like a great concert to attend in 2010. With plenty of heavy hitting headliners and several acts that are worth checking out, Download is going to be an incredible summer festival. I expect to hear good things about this once it has come and gone. If you have the opportunity, check it out and be part of the history.

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Rocklahoma 2010 - Better or Worse?

My initial reaction to this year’s Rocklahoma upon seeing the lineup was “What the heck? They’ve destroyed this festival.” I’ve had a few days to since digest the new direction of this year’s Rocklahoma and now I’d like to dissect it a little bit and point out the good, the bad, and the what the…?

The Good
The modern bands scheduled to perform are exceptional ones. Theory of a Deadman, Buckcherry, and Saliva are all up and coming massive hard rock acts in their own right. Godsmack (even though I don’t particularly care for them) is coming off a successful stint at CrueFest and they are loaded with a huge fan base that loves them. Adelita’s Way, Chevelle, and Saving Able are up and comers that have a nice follow of fans.

The classic rock bands on the bill are awesome ones. Cinderella, Tesla, and ZZ Top are about as good as it gets when you go back to 80s rock. Cinderella is huge as they haven’t toured in a while and a lot of fans are dying to see them in concert again. Tesla always deliver an incredible show and ZZ Top are classic rockers at their finest.

The decision to move this festival to May (rather than the ultra-hot and humid July) was also a good decision. One of the biggest complaints of Rocklahoma’s past was the disgusting weather that the fans had to sit through. The heat was sweltering during the day and not much relief was offered under the cover of night. Having the festival in May should alleviate a lot of the weather concerns.

The Bad
The total makeover of this festival. Now that AEG is promoting Rocklahoma, they’ve got their hands all over it. They took what was an awesome collection of 80s hair metal bands and they destroyed it. Now it’s a modern rock festival with the occasional 80s band thrown in to appease the masses. And who the hell are half of these bands on the bill? Janus? Aranda? Taddy Porter? Like A Storm? Never heard of them! Am I really going to shell out the money and travel to Oklahoma to see Within Reason and Year Long Disaster?

While moving the festival to May was a good idea, moving it to Memorial Day Weekend was a bad decision. This is a very busy travel and getaway weekend, and while a holiday weekend may make it easier for some fans to attend, others have annual plans that weekend, and this may make it more challenging for them.

What The…?
Out of the 27 bands performing, I’ve heard of 12 of them. That means more than half of the acts are ones that I don’t know, and I suspect not a lot of others do either. This is AEGs way of filling the bill with bands they don’t have to pay that much. I have to be honest, this lineup SUCKS. It is not a listing of acts that is going to make people fly in from all over the country. It’s more of a lineup that would make me say “Hmm, I might go to this,” only if I lived in a nearby state. I don’t know what AEG was thinking when they put together this lineup and I don’t know who the “very special guests” still to be announced are, but unless it’s the Beatles or Kiss, don’t expect it to change the attendance of this festival.

Look, if you’re going to change the entire chemistry of the festival by switching from hair metal to modern rock then at least add a lot of bands that people know and want to see. The Used, Taking Back Sunday, Rob Zombie, Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, and Pop Evil all would have helped beef up this lineup and create a buzz. Now, it’s just a joke. It’s a shame to see what was a great hair metal festival go down the tubes due to a major concert promoter that is only looking at lining their pockets with more cash.

What are your thoughts? Are you planning on attending this year’s Rocklahoma, or are you planning on attending a different festival with a lineup suited toward your tastes? Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

For more information or to order your tickets visit: http://www.rocklahoma.com/