Morgan Bates

 This year’s “Welcome to Rockville” was not only my first Welcome to Rockville experience but, was also my first really huge assignment! I went into the weekend with expectations of a rockin’ good time, a few nerves about conducting interviews with some of the incredible artists, and most of all, so much excitement! Naturally, Monster Energy wasn’t going to leave anything to the imagination. The lineup was beyond insane, and super star packed with a festival layout that was larger than life. According to Ashton-Magnuson Media, over 50,000 concert goers rocked Metropolitan Park over the two day concert. A total sell out and a record breaking event, not only in Jacksonville but, in Florida music history!

Though both days at Met Park were hot temperature wise but, the lineup was even hotter! Saturday was heat packed with bands like Escape the Fate, Monster Truck, Enter Shikari, Hellyeah, Pop Evil, Collective Soul, 3 Doors Down, Disturbed, and Shinedown. While Sunday kept us wiping our brows after burning up with The Glorious Sons, Texas Hippie Coalition, From Ashes to New, Ghost, Sick Puppies, Yelawolf, Memphis May Fire, Rob Zombie. Both days literally had too many amazing bands to mention without going through the entire lineup artist by artist!

I had the amazing opportunity to get to sit down and talk with some of the bands about memories on the road to their success, all of the work that went behind the making of their albums, and all the amazing people they’ve met along the way. Getting to know a little more about what made these artists who they are today was an eye opening experience. Though I was somewhat star-struck, getting to know more about what made these artists who they are today was an eye opening experience. Chatting with Escape the Fate, Monster Truck, Enter Shikari, From Ashes to New, and The Glorious Sons, I saw how each of them were unique in their own way and understood that like us, they are people too. These artists are immensely more than just what you see from the screen of your computer or smart phone. They work hard, play hard and live their lives for the music they love, and we love.

Needless to say, Welcome to Rockville 2016 was a smoking hot and a crazy good time! The music was as hot as fire, the sun blazed bright, and the artists made interviews feel like no sweat! Stay tuned for my reviews of the shows and interviews with Escape the Fate, Monster Truck, Enter Shikari, From Ashes to New, and The Glorious Sons!!

For more about Monster Energy:
https://www.monsterenergy.com/

To find out more about these bands, check out their websites:
http://www.escapethefate.com/
http://ilovemonstertruck.com/
http://www.entershikari.com/
http://fromashestonew.com/
http://www.theglorioussons.com/

*Photo credit: I do not own any rights to the photo featured. If you know who this photo belongs to please comment so that I may provide proper photo credit. Thank you!