Montebello 2013

"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!