"Officiel: le Rockfest 2013 est COMPLET!!! Merci 1000 fois! //
Official: Rockfest 2013 is SOLD OUT!!! Thank you so much!" -Rockfest
So it's about the time for music festivals of all sorts to kick off. We've had some early bloomers like Coachella, then the recent ones such as Rock Am Ring/Park and Orion. Now this weekend seems to be the international start date for all kind of fun. Bonnaroo and Download Festivals are kicking off this week, while us here in Canada will be venturing to the small town of Montebello, QB.
With a population of 900 people, Montebello hardly seems like the place to do a music festival. Then again, we are 45 minutes away from Ottawa, and 60 minutes away from Montreal so the fan base is definitely there. For the 8th year now, thousands of fans will descend upon the small town and enjoy 5 stages of metal, punk, rock and hard rock. Take a look below at the progression of this festival. Not too shabby for only being around since 2005...
The town of Montebello have comes to terms with this mass amount of people invading their small neck of the woods and chances are thrive off the tourism it brings! The restaurants, stores and shops are probably packed from sunrise to sunset during the weekend. Fans also tend to take some extra time and arrive at the town days before the festivals. I heard the first attendee arrived at Montebello 2 weeks ago!
"Si vous avez besoin de transport à partir de Montréal, Extensive Enterprise organise un bustrip. // If you need a ride from Montreal, Extensive Enterprise is doing a Rockfest bus. http://www.admission.com/event/amnesia-rockfest-bustrip-billets/724985." -Rockfest
Numbers have not been released but since the festival is practically sold out, the rumors have been slated for 80,000+ visitors this weekend for the 150+ band line up. Camping in 5 different locations, shuttle buses running to and from, food tents all over, and the best part is $4 beers!! Can't argue with a deal like that!
"Quel est votre meilleur souvenir du Rockfest? Le nôtre: le gars qui trashait flambant nu pendant CJ Ramone en 2011. // What's your favorite Rockfest memory? Ours is the dude that was naked in the mosh pit during CJ Ramone in 2011." -Rockfest
Like I mentioned before, there will be five separate stages for bands performing on from noon until midnight (and beyond). Two of the recent stages have been named in honour of fallen rock members Tony Sly (No Use For A Name) and Mitch Lucker (Suicide Silence). An interesting tidbit of info for you...
"Confirmé: nos 2 nouvelles scènes se nommeront Scène Tony Sly et Scène Mitch Lucker. No Use For A Name a effectué son dernier concert au Rockfest 2012 et Suicide Silence y a effectué son dernier spectacle canadien. // Confirmed: our 2 new stages will be named Tony Sly Stage and Mitch Lucker Stage. No Use For A Name played its last show at Rockfest 2012 and it was also Suicide Silence's last Canadian show." -Rockfest
The venue seems to be home to many concert goers from across North America. From local areas such as Montreal to Ottawa, and strecthing all the way to New York, Moose Jaw, and even various spots of British Columbia! Some dedicated fans making their way over for this. I am looking forward to sharing a moshpit or two with music lovers from all corners of the continent...
"Toujours intéressant de regarder les villes dans lesquelles nous avons vendu des billets en ligne dans les dernières 12h! // Always interesting to check out the cities where we sold tickets online in the last 12h!" -Rockfest
Québec, QC, Canada
Montréal, QC, Canada
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Gatineau, QC, Canada
Laval, QC, Canada
Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
Toronto, ON, Canada
Terrebonne, QC, Canada
Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, QC, Canada
Mont-Laurier, QC, Canada
Chambly, QC, Canada
Hamilton, ON, Canada
Calgary, AB, Canada
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Hawkesbury, ON, Canada
Fort Mcmurray, AB, Canada
Barrie, ON, Canada
London, ON, Canada
L'Orignal, ON, Canada
Dorval, QC, Canada
Mississauga, ON, Canada
St. John'S, NL, Canada
Blainville, QC, Canada
Edmonton, AB, Canada
Brantford, ON, Canada
Wasaga Beach, ON, Canada
Cornwall, ON, Canada
Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
Cap-Santé, QC, Canada
Moose Jaw, SK, Canada
Brampton, ON, Canada
Cap-De-La-Madeleine, QC, Canada
Salaberry-De-Valleyfield, QC, Canada
Sarnia, ON, Canada
Sylvan Lake, AB, Canada
Oshawa, ON, Canada
Cincinnati, OH, États-Unis
Valhalla, NY, États-Unis
Brownsburg-Chatham, QC, Canada
Courtice, ON, Canada
Camlachie, ON, Canada
Marieville, QC, Canada
Bayonne, NJ, États-Unis
New, Australie
Donnacona, QC, Canada
Sainte-Lucie-De-Beauregard, QC, Canada
Joly, QC, Canada
Timmins, ON, Canada
North Bay, ON, Canada
Casselman, ON, Canada
Peabody, MA, États-Unis
Mont-Tremblant, QC, Canada
Rosemère, QC, Canada
Porto Alegre - Rio Grande Do Sul, Brésil
Laurier-Station, QC, Canada
Val-Belair, QC, Canada
Preissac, QC, Canada
Drummondville, QC, Canada
Laurierville, QC, Canada
Blackstock, ON, Canada
Newmarket, ON, Canada
Sainte-Julienne, QC, Canada
Saint-Dominique-Du-Rosaire, QC, Canada
Bellmore, NY, États-Unis
You get idea. So now time for me to throw my two cents in here and name off a few of the groups that I am eager to see. Even though I am eager to see about 75 % of this lineup (and seen some groups time and time again such as Killswitch, Offspring, Deftones, Pennywise, Dropkick Murphys, etc.), this is also going to be the largest collection of bands I have not yet seen, but have been on my radar.
10 years of going to shows, there are still bands here that I have not seen, some of which you readers would slap me for waiting so long. But ahh well, hundreds of shows with hundred of bands over the years will eventually get them all. Here are the top anticipated performers chosen by AFGM:
Alice Cooper:
Lamb of God:
Madball:
Sworn Enemy:
Rise Against:
Lagwagon:
FLAG:
Less Than Jake:
Miss May I:
Comeback Kid:
The Acacia Strain:
Stray From The Path:
SLAVES ON DOPE:
(*already seen, but always a treat)
As you can see, I've got quite the amount of running around to do this weekend. Jumping between 5 stages will have it challenges and fun at the same time. In festivals like this, you could lose your mind trying to plan everything out to the last detail. You're better off to have a couple if simple rules:
1. Always have a beer in hand
2. Always be near a stage
3. Watch your personals
4. HAVE A BLAST!
Take care and we'll see you in Montebello!
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