Rock on the Range has been a mecca for hard rock fans, growing from a single day event in 2007 into a three-day music and comedy festival by 2013. There was some dissent in the hard rock community this past September when its founder, Danny Wimmers, announced it would be replaced by the Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival. Scheduled for the same weekend, May 17, 18 and 19, 2019, at the usual MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, the rebranding only initially suggested “expanded onsite experiences live never before” along with “a spectacular and diverse music lineup.” A collective 140,000 voices–the number of attendees who experienced the final ROTR in 2018—cried out in concern.
Fast forward to January 2019 and all doubts were eviscerated when the inaugural lineup for Sonic Temple dropped. A trio of hard rock goliaths: Foo Fighters, System of a Down and Disturbed were named as headliners, quite the draw to anchor this year’s festival. Nothing had changed on the size of the festival either, spreading the music across three stages and a comedy tent.
A strong blend of rock mainstays completes the lineup. Bring Me The Horizon, Lamb of God, Ghost, Gojira, Meshuggah, Killswitch Engage and Parkway Drive at the extreme end, while Halestorm, Chevelle, Black Label Society, Tom Morello, In This Moment and SoaD offspring Scars On Broadway offer balance to the lineup. There’s diversity in the form of Joan Jett and The Blackhearts plus The Cult from the ‘80s, electronic pioneers The Prodigy, rapper Action Bronson and rockers The Hives and The Struts, among many others.
Though America’s biggest rock fest was temporarily in limbo, an expected upgrade to the food and beverage offerings coupled with the addition of art installations should easily take Sonic Temple to the forefront. Tickets are currently on sale for single day, weekend general admission and VIP, as well as packages that include accommodations.
One Response
Seriously? This rehashed story that everyone else had last November drops like a few hours ago? Dude, Prodigy front man Keith Flint is sadly gone. They won’t be there.
Do your homework….