Most major music festivals today began as one-time events. After enjoying so much success the first time around, they begin to reappear each year. Rock On The Range, an annual event that released its 2018 lineup today, happens to be no different. In 2007, at the inaugural sold-out show in Columbus, Ohio, ZZ Top and Papa Roach headlined; next year it’ll be Tool, Avenged Sevenfold and Alice In Chains.
Festivals make names for themselves by hosting talented and well-known musicians, as well as by giving youngsters a chance to shine. A festival is a name and a location; artists define the experience. Rock On The Range has hosted some of the biggest and most talented artists in rock n’ roll since its conception. Today, the festival visits two locations: MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio and Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba. While Columbus enjoyed the festival as early as 2007, it came to Winnipeg two years later in 2009.
The Columbus festival has two stages. One sits inside the stadium at one end of its soccer field; the other just outside in the parking lot. This setup helps with the sound bleed that often can taint a festival experience, having stages both inside and out. Rock On The Range added the appropriately dubbed Jägermeister Music Stage in 2009 to create a trifecta. Now, the stage inside is flanked by two outside stages. In 2013, organizers added roster space to their lineup, creating an extra half-day of music. That same year, they instated the ROTR Rolling Rock Comedy Tent, where “rock’s favorite comedians” perform. In 2014, that extra half-day of music mentioned earlier became a full day. To this day, the 2014 setup persists.
Next year’s show will feature over sixty artists on the festival’s three stages. Rock On The Range will also feature A Perfect Circle, Bullet For My Valentine and Black Veil Brides. Some of the up-and-coming talent includes Greta Van Fleet, Code Orange, Power Trip and New Years Day; stay tuned for the future of rock n’ roll.
Photography Credit: Raymond Flotat
Leave a Comment