May 4th and 5th will mark the fifteenth year that M3 Rock Festival will bring their rock festival to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. Being the beginning of May for a festival is much better than in the dead of summer, however, be aware that it can also be rainy and cold so bring appropriate clothing, so you stay dry and comfortable throughout the day. The pavilion area is covered, so should it be rainy you will be mostly spared, but if you have lawn seats, be prepared with an umbrella. As you arrive at parking lot #5, you will see that this is the best place to be if you like to tailgate and party with friends before the show. Make sure to get your parking tickets for whichever lot you choose through Ticketmaster. They are free but required.
M3 is not just a music event, but also a gathering of friends made over many years of attending concerts together. There are many people who love coming to this event because they get to see friends from across the country and even the world that they don’t get to see regularly. This year it is a two-day event, while in many years past it has been held over 3 days. Upon entering through the main gate, you will be greeted with the merch tables with t-shirts from just about every band at the festival. Moving down the path a little further are the food concessions and then just past that you will be led down into the pavilion and stage area. If you continue through the pavilion and out the other side, that’s where the VIP meet and greets will take place. And, from there, if you go up the hill there will be miscellaneous vendors selling rock-related merchandise.
Saturday will feature Queensryche with Todd LaTorre as frontman. Todd has been singing for Queensryche since 2012, recorded four albums with them, and has blown everyone away filling the spot. If you haven’t seen him live with Queensryche yet, you might be living under a rock. Although they are out on tour playing their EP and The Warning in its entirety, I have the feeling they will be playing a set of mostly hits for this show. Stephen Pearcy, the voice of Ratt, is out on tour playing his Out of The Cellar album in its entirety, so I’m not sure what his plan is for this show. Regardless, you can be sure he will be bringing to the stage all of your favorite Ratt classics, such as “Round and Round”, “Lay it Down”, and “I Want a Woman”.
Also performing Saturday will be Last in Line playing all your favorite Dio songs. Last in Line was formed in 2010 by former band members of Dio, following the passing of Ronnie James Dio. Quiet Riot will be performing with long-time bassist Rudy Sarzo, probably one of the best showmen on bass that exists today. Lynch Mob will be on Saturday’s lineup as well, featuring founding member George Lynch, who is always cranking out new music with his side projects.
Doro Pesch, the voice of Warlock, will be performing all of her favorites, including “All We Are” which was a huge hit on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball. Doro always takes the stage with a huge amount of energy and positivity. Her band has such amazing talent as well. Rounding out the day are Aldo Nova, Child’s Play, and Fan Halen.
Photos of some of the bands that will perform on Saturday
For those of you who survive day one and all the after-parties at the hotels, you will want to get there early, as not to miss Sun Dogs, a Rush Tribute band. It features Mark Schenker and Bob Pare of Kix. Here’s a chance for all of you Kix fans to see a few of the former members back on stage together. Sunday will be headlined by Bret Michaels of Poison. He’ll be bringing some version of his Party-Gras 2.0 tour to the stage. Twisted Sister‘s Dee Snider will be performing some songs with him as well as just about anyone and everyone that’s on the lineup at the festival. I got to see Party Gras last summer in Massachusetts, and what a show it was. “Nothing but a Good Fuckin’ Time!”, as Bret would say. Bret performs all his hit songs from Poison, as well as a bunch of 80’s classic hair-metal hits.
Night Ranger always has a great stage presence to go along with their killer collection of hits. Stryper brings their Yellow and Black attack to the stage here at M3 once again. One of the few Christian metal bands to survive since the 80’s and still keeps churning out new music all the time. And what would a music festival be without summertime girls? Y&T will be performing their hit song “Summertime Girls” along with all their other favorites. These guys were on fire last month on the Monsters of Rock Cruise, so you are in for a performance that will take you right back to your youth.
And we can’t leave out some sleaze, with Faster Pussycat and Pretty Boy Floyd on the bill. Things are sure to get down and dirty. And last but not least is Cold Sweat, a very underrated band from back in the day who just released an album called Unburied Alive, which includes unreleased studio recordings, and new and vintage live tracks. Fronted by Roy Cathey (also of Steel City and The Fifth), these guys will blow the roof off the place.
Check the link below for the press release for the event for any further information.
Photos of some of the bands that will perform on Sunday
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