When Epicenter was announced in 2019 there was a mixed reaction from the fans of the former Carolina Rebellion. A new name and new location had some people doubtful and others very excited for a new and refreshing festival. Danny Wimmer Presents still delivered the same exceptional musical lineup, which gathered the fans behind the festival and more excitement for that weekend. But, issues with traffic getting in and out of the festival weather conditions during the weekend had some fans angry and people swearing they’d never come back. Other fans rolled with the punches applauding the new festival and the amazing time they had. Most festival producers would take note of what went wrong and move on.
Danny Hayes, CEO of Danny Wimmer Presents, took it one step further. He and his team knew there were issues and took that very seriously. Danny himself started being more interactive on the festival Facebook groups. He listened to the feedback. He wanted to ensure what happened in 2019 wouldn’t happen again in 2020 and Danny and his team took action based on feedback the attendees provided. And what they announced, to me, was the best decisions they made for Epicenter 2020.
Epicenter was moving to the Rock City Campgrounds at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. This is the former home of Carolina Rebellion and the fans were thrilled to hear this news. Moving back to this location provides the fans with ample hotel access (most within 1 mile of the Speedway), parking, and camping spots. Also, this location has become so familiar for most of the Epicenter attendees that Epicenter 2020 will bring that nostalgic feeling of the old Carolina Rebellion days. Personally, it was one of my favorite festival locations with such great space and a phenomenal view up on the hill of the VIP area.
Epicenter’s dates were moved up to kick off the festival season. Epicenter 2020 is on May 1, 2, and 3. The last Carolina Rebellion also ran in early May and hopefully, Epicenter will have clear skies that weekend.
Danny Wimmer Presents dropped the bombshell that Metallica would be headlining at five Danny Wimmer Presents festivals in 2020 for not one, but TWO nights. No other festival production company can even boast this claim, yet Danny Wimmer Presents did it. The five festivals are Epicenter, Welcome To Rockville, Sonic Temple Art + Music, Louder Than Life, and Aftershock. If that doesn’t brings fans pouring in, I don’t know what else would. Yet, Danny Wimmer Presents did.
When the full lineup was announced, I was stunned. It is filled with veterans of Danny Wimmer Presents festivals and first time appearances. With Metallica headlining Friday and Sunday evenings (two unique sets) and Disturbed headlining Saturday, this festival was already drawing a buzz. Now include Godsmack, Papa Roach, David Lee Roth, Lynyrd Skynyrd (one of the band’s final appearances ever, as part of their Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour), Staind, Chevelle, Deftones, Volbeat, and Gojira this festival is going to be, dare I say it? EXCEPTIONAL! The full lineup is below:
Friday, May 1: Metallica, Godsmack, Papa Roach, David Lee Roth, Royal Blood, I Prevail, Ghostemane, Ice Nine Kills, The Darkness, Starset, Sick Of It All, Agnostic Front, The Hu, New Years Day, Bones UK, Fire From The Gods, 3Teeth, NASCAR Aloe, Joyous Wolf, Killstation, Stitched Up Heart, Hero The Band, Through Fire
Saturday, May 2: Disturbed, Lynyrd Skynyrd (one of the band’s final appearances ever, as part of their Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour), Staind, Chevelle, Cypress Hill, Anthrax, Alter Bridge, Code Orange, Of Mice & Men, Saint Asonia, Jinjer, Crown The Empire, Anti-Flag, City Morgue, The Chats, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Clint Lowery, Brkn Love, Brutus, Toothgrinder, Brass Against, Selfish Things, Zero 9:36, Like Machines
Sunday, May 3: Metallica, Deftones, Volbeat, Gojira, Rancid, Dropkick Murphys, Hellyeah, Bad Wolves, Hollywood Undead, Sleeping With Sirens, Power Trip, The Amity Affliction, Des Rocs, Goodbye June, Airbourne, Stray From The Path, Plague Vendor, Ego Kill Talent, Higher Power, Skynd, and more
Besides the music, at Epicenter fans 21+ can enjoy multiple specialty curated beverage experiences. First, Danny Wimmer Presents is proud to offer a collaboration with Metallica’s Blackened American Whiskey and Enter Night Pilsner. Blackened is a super-premium American whiskey blend, crafted by the late Master Distiller Dave Pickerell and finished in the earth shattering music of Metallica. The finest bourbons, ryes and whiskeys were hand selected to create something revolutionary—finished in black brandy casks and pummeled by sound. I personally bought a bottle of Blackend after tasting it at Welcome To Rockville and absolutely love it. Enter Night Pilsner is Metallica’s collaboration with the rock stars of craft brewing, Stone Brewing. Blackened and Enter Night will come together under one roof to offer guests a one-of-kind musical festival experience. The massive Boilermaker pop-up will feature a Blackened & Enter Night Pilsner Boilermaker, as well as craft cocktails and ice-cold Enter Night Pilsner. This exciting collaboration marks the latest in a long line of amplified guest experiences only available through Danny Wimmer Presents music festivals. Learn more at http://BlackenedWhiskey.com.
Also, varietals from Caduceus Cellars & Merkin Vineyards (owned by Maynard James Keenan, co-founder of international recording acts Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer) will be available at the Caduceus Wine Garden, and the Heavy Tiki Bar will provide a shaded tropical oasis filled with killer cocktails.
If you love to campout at the festivals, Epicenter will let patrons keep the rock n’ roll party going all weekend long, with campgrounds open from Thursday, April 30 through Monday, May 4. All tent and RV campers will have access to showers, portable restrooms, food and drink vendors, charging stations, information, and medical services.
General admission tickets, VIP tickets, camping and parking options are available now at https://EpicenterFestival.com. VIP tickets include dedicated entrance lanes into the venue, access to the VIP hang area, VIP-only viewing area of the two main stages, access to the VIP tent, a commemorative Epicenter VIP-only laminate, and RFID wristband. The VIP tent is a shaded hang space with dedicated premium bars and comfortable furniture, featuring live audio/video streams of the two main stages, air conditioned flushable restrooms, dedicated merch stand for convenient shopping, dedicated food and beverage offerings (for purchase), and private locker rentals (for purchase).
Rock City Campgrounds at Charlotte Motor Speedway is located at 7301 Bruton Smith Blvd. in Concord, NC, just outside Charlotte, and less than two hours from Raleigh/Durham, Columbia and Greensboro. Visit www.CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com for directions and additional venue information.
For more information on Epicenter, please visit:
Website: https://EpicenterFestival.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpicenterFest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/epicenterfest
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epicenterfest
Don’t miss out on Epicenter 2020 as it is bound to be a weekend to remember.
Be the first to comment