With less than two months away from the start of the spring festivals, I thought it was time to remind everyone on the kickoff festival Welcome To Rockville and what it offers to the fans this year. Welcome To Rockville by Danny Wimmer Presents took place in late April during most of the festival’s history, with the exception of its very first year in 2011. But, this year the festival has pushed back to the beginning of May being held from May 3rd, 4th, and 5th. The location is once again at Metropolitan Park in Jacksonville, FL. The massive grounds allow for the festival to host multiple stages (three last year), various food vendors, and merchants.
The Musical Artists
Of course, the main focus of the festival are the phenomenal musical artists. There are headliners for each individual day and this year Danny Wimmer Presents provided a solid lineup of artists:
Friday, May 3:Korn, The Crystal Method, Evanescence, Chevelle, Flogging Molly, Killswitch Engage, Circa Survive, Tom Morello, Mark Lanegan Band, Beartooth, Starset, Issues, Black Pistol Fire, Hands Like Houses, Wilson, Amigo The Devil, Demob Happy, Cleopatrick, Dirty Honey
Saturday, May 4:Rob Zombie, Shinedown, Judas Priest, The Cult, Skillet, In This Moment, Black Label Society, Yelawolf, Tremonti, Badflower, The Damned Things, High on Fire, Zeal & Ardor, Wage War, Movements, Crobot, Boston Manor, Pretty Vicious
Sunday, May 5:Tool, Incubus, Bring Me The Horizon, Papa Roach, The Struts, Meshuggah, Architects, Fever 333, Reignwolf, The Glorious Sons, Dorothy, While She Sleeps, Yungblud, Grandson, Shvpes, The Dirty Nil, Hyde
Friday’s lineup provides us with Korn as the main headliner. The band is no stranger to the Danny Wimmer Presents festivals and have always provided the crowd with stellar performances. The Crystal Method was just announced today as the replacement for The Prodigydue to the unfortunate passing of The Prodigy lead singer Keith Flint. The Crystal Method had just released their sixth studio album The Trip Home on September 28, 2018. Evanescence appearance is the kickoff for their Synthesis Live10 stop tour which will bring back their traditional rock setup over the orchestra from their previous tour. Synthesis was their last studio album released on November 10, 2017. The three-piece band of Chevelle will be certain to rock the crowd out. And personally, I love the addition of the Celtic rock band Flogging Molly. For those who have never seen them, they will be in for a real treat. Killswitch Engage returns to the lineup after having to cancel last year due to vocalist Jesse Leach having vocal surgery. My other personal picks for that day are Beartooth, Starset, Hands Like Houses, Wilson, and Amigo The Devil.
Saturday’s lineup has Rob Zombie as the main headliner. Another veteran to the Danny Wimmer Presents festivals, Rob Zombie has provided the crowds with amazing performances. Shinedown who missed last year’s festival now gives the Jacksonville crowd a chance to see them rock. The band is coming off very successful tours of their sixth studio album Attention Attention. At the end of 2018, they spent 3 days performing at House of Blues in Orlando, FL. Danny Wimmer Presents brings us legendary rock groups of Judas Priest and The Cult. Judas Priest had toured through Jacksonville in September 2018 supporting their 18th studio album Firepower. The Cult was on tour in 2018 with Stone Temple Pilots and Bush. There are a plethora of amazing artists on Saturday including the ever popular Skillet, the theatrical In This Moment, and the hard rocking Black Label Society. Tremonti always provides energetic and rocking performances as does Badflower who is touring on their new album OK, I’m Sick. Honestly, this is a day to try not to miss any of the performers. I’m most looking forward to seeing the rockers Crobot who put on a very entertaining performance.
And Sunday’s headliner appears to be the most talked about with Tool claiming the spot. With a new album coming possibly between May and July it’s very likely Welcome To Rockville fans will get to hear some tracks off the new album. Incubus has been performing at a few of the Danny Wimmer Presents festivals and definitely pleasing the crowd with their performances. This year should be no different. With the 6th studio album, Amo released on January 25, 2019, Bring Me The Horizon has already been out touring to support it and makes a tour stop at the festival. Papa Roach is out supporting their 10th studio album Who Do You Trust? and will absolutely have the crowd moving. And the British rockers The Struts will definitely make an impact with the crowd. My two personal picks for Sunday are the Swedish metal band Meshuggah who always brings the heavy and Fever 333 who absolutely made a huge impression with Welcome To Rockville fans last year, especially when vocalist Jason Aalon Butler climbed the rafters of the stage and performed from there.
Food and Drink
There will be a wide variety of food vendors on hand with a number of them local to the Jacksonville, FL area. Some of the food vendors include: Brucci’s Pizza, Cely’s Filipino Cuisine, Chinchilla’s Eatz on the Streetz, Dos Vatos Tacos, Grumpy’s Homemade Ice Cream, Guanabana Ice Pops, Indochine, Island Noodles, Mama’s Food Truck, Mojo’s BBQ, Pie Baby Wood Fired Pizza, Safe Harbor Seafood, Sweet Pete’s, The Bread and Board, and What’s the Catch Fish Tacos.
Fans who are 21 years of age and older can enjoy a variety of alcoholic beverages including Bud Light, a selection of wine from Caduceus Cellars & Merkin Vineyards Wine Garden, which is owned by Maynard James Keenan, vocalist for Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer, visit the Heavy Tiki Bar which offers cocktails and shade, and other vendors serving local craft beer.
Information
Once again Welcome To Rockville offers a camping option. Car and RV spots are still available for purchase. Camping spots at Tailgaters Parking lots include four nights of camping in a secured lot featuring indoor restrooms, shower trailers and access to a full restaurant and general store.
VIP options are also still available. VIP tickets include: a VIP entrance to venue; access to VIP lounge area featuring dedicated bar, beverage and food service; viewing of main stages; seated area with shade for dining; private restroom facilities; and a VIP guest laminate.
This year’s Welcome To Rockville is a great start for those who have never come to the festival and doesn’t disappoint for those fans returning. To purchase tickets you can visit the official website at https://welcometorockvillefestival.com/. You can also follow Welcome To Rockville on social media here:
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