What is Rocklahoma? The best way I can explain it is to compare it to the Island of Misfit Toys. Why? Picture a pasture located in the middle of nowhere, or on the map, Pryor, Oklahoma. Now take a three day weekend and add 70,000 music fans of all ages and from all walks of life who come together as a family for three days for one common goal… to ROCK! Throw in four stages (three inside the festival grounds and one campground stage), camping, vendors, big kid drinks, food, and of course the best of the best in the music world. That is Rocklahoma.
This year celebrated the 10th year with a lineup that included: Bullet For My Valentine, Scorpions, Disturbed, Rob Zombie, Citizen Zero, Avatar, Screaming for Silence, LoveBettie, NiteRain, Chaotic Resemblance, Ragdoll, 3 Doors Down, HELLYEAH, Soul Asylum, Thousand Foot Krutch, Second Pass, Moxy & the Influence, Pop Evil, Last In Line, Red Sun Rising, Texas Hippie Coalition, and a ton more.
Rocklahoma is the last stop for the World’s Loudest Month tour, which began with Fort Rock & Welcome to Rockville festivals the last weekend in April. These festivals are a must for any music lover. I would equate the Rocklahoma experience with a mix of the original 1969 version of Woodstock meets Wacken Open Air music festival in Germany.
This event not only includes music for the Rock fans both the young and seasoned, it offers VIP experiences, band meet and greets, signed guitar auctions to support local Oklahoma charities (over $50k was raised this year), and more. These things are a small part what makes this festival a must for any music lover. If you want to get in on Rocklahoma get your tickets as soon as they go on sale. Every year it seems to be getting bigger.
A few pointers for those who have never been to Rocklahoma but are thinking about attending next year. With such a vast area that the festival grounds cover, it is good to do your homework. You will see the lineup on line and the stages that the bands play on. Take note of this because stages have distance between them.
With two main stages on the left side of the grounds, a stage on the right, plus the campground stage, there is a lot of running. Also, wear sunscreen even if you think it’s going to be cloudy, take rain gear, be ready for rain, severe weather, and for Mother Nature to show her wrath. This year there was a rain delay on Sunday evening for a few hours and the evacuation of the grounds for a short time. When this happens you can find info about the resumption of the festivities and status updates on the Rocklahoma Facebook page. Use it.
There is a vast vendor row and food stands throughout. This is good to know because you will need to get your eat on during the long days of music, which start around noon on the campground stage and end around 3 am on the campground stage. This stage plays past midnight. Yes, you read that right, that is part of Rocklahoma’s charm. Inside the festival grounds the music runs from 3 pm to midnight.
Now you know a bit about Rocklahoma and know a little about how to prepare for next year. Check out some interviews with the bands coming to Tattoo.com and ROCKwell UnScene Magazine (Print). While you’re here at Tattoo.com, check out our coverage of all the World’s Loudest Month festivals including: Fort Rock, Welcome to Rockville, Carolina Rebellion, Northern Invasion, and Rock on the Range. Horns Up and see you at the next festival or show! \m/