Rechristened Rock on the Range has become one of the largest – and loudest! – annual events in the US. Above: In This Moment.
TEXT & PHOTOS BY MARK JACKSON
It was a great weekend of Rock at the Temple.
This was the first year for the Sonic Temple Festival in Columbus, Ohio, but as the people in and around Columbus know, this festival comes from the great team of Danny Wimmer Presents. Danny split last year from his partner and is carrying on the great festivals that he has produced for years while adding some new energy on top of those already stellar festivals. The festival scene has been evolving over the years, and Danny and his team are keeping up with the game by adding some flare, great vendors, and sponsors.
This year’s Sonic Temple festival is the new name of the storied, near-legendary Rock on the Range Festival that has been held in May in Columbus for a number of years. Danny and the team knew they had to have an awesome lineup to kick off the newly named festival — and they delivered, with bands like Foo Fighters, System of a Down, Disturbed, Ghost, Papa Roach, Halestorm, Avatar, The Cult, In This Moment, and many more acts over the three day event.
There was also a comedy tent with Andrew Dice Clay (below) and Pauly Shore.
The weather was perfect for Friday and Saturday, but Sunday gave us a small hiccup with a rain delay due to lightning for about two hours, causing a few of the afternoon bands to be pushed out; luckily, this delay didn’t interrupt the evening headliners. If you missed this year’s event, start planning for next year’s festival, as it is one of the largest rock festivals in the U.S. I for one can’t wait to see who makes the lineup next year. In the meantime, check out the Louder than Life Festival, also produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, that will take place at the end of September in Louisville, Kentucky. (Review and photo gallery of the wild 2017 LTL fest can be viewed here.)
Avatar
Bad Wolves
Badflower
Beartooth
Black Coffee
Black Label Society
Disturbed
Fever
Ghost
Gojira
Halestorm
HO9909
In This Moment
Killswitch Engage
Lamb of God
Meshuggah
Palaye Royale
Parkway Drive
Black Dahlia Murder
The Cult
The Hives
The Struts
Yungblud