Returning for it’s second year in North Carolina, Epicenter Festival moves from Rockingham Speedway to the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Widely viewed as a favorable move, the familiar setting of the Rock City Campgrounds has fans excited for year 2. The former Carolina Rebellion Festival made home to the campgrounds from 2013-2018. Produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, Epicenter Festival features a wide range of top rock and metal acts, all in a full 3-day festival.
Last years Epicenter festival got off to a bumpy start with parking delays on day 1 and inclement weather on day 2. The nasty storm that ripped through day 2 put an end to the afternoon leaving headliners Tool and Judas Priest without a performance. Fortunately for the attendees, day 3 went off without a hitch as the Foo Fighters closed out the festival in their typical epic style.
Lineup
2020 brings along an exciting lineup featuring not one, but two nights of legendary metal icons Metallica. An excellent pickup by Danny Wimmer Presents, Metallica will headline day 1 and close out the festival on day 3 with two different sets. Disturbed and Lynyrd Skynyrd fill in as the day 2 headliners. Rounding out the main acts with rockers Godsmack, Deftones, Papa Roach and Volbeat will make for an entertaining weekend in Concord, NC.
With several well known headliner acts, don’t sleep on the remainder of the lineup. Alter Bridge and Chevelle, no strangers to the festival circuits are always on the do not miss list. The English duo Royal Blood will definitely turn heads as well as the newest addition to the lineup, Mongolian rock band The Hu. Check out the full lineup below.
What can fans expect for year 2?
For starters, more lodging options. Rock City Campgrounds located at the Charlotte Motor Speedway is close by to many hotel and other lodging locations unlike last years Rockingham Speedway location. For those that do not want to camp, this location provides more suitable and closer options.
Less delays in parking and entering/exiting the festival. Conveniently located near I-85 along with multiple lanes of highway make for an easier experience getting in and out of the festival grounds. If you’ve attended Carolina Rebellion in the past, this should be a walk in the park (or campgrounds!)
With 4 stages there will be nonstop music until headliners hit the stage each evening. Be prepared for a few of your favorites to overlap during the day. Luckily, each stage is a fairly short walk so it’s very possible to catch at least a song or two from each band during the day. With a lineup as deep as Epicenter, you’ll be sure to find a new favorite or two throughout the day, even on the smaller stages.
Much like the Carolina Rebellion Festival, fans can expect a feeling of community even with tens of thousand fans in attendance. The close quarters and large attendance makes for some excellent bonding time with your fellow festival goers. Whether you are waiting for a set on the main stage, strolling the campgrounds or even crowd surfing your way to the front, you can expect everyone around you to be taking it all in and enjoying the festival.
Tickets and Info
Looking to plan your trip? Make sure to head over to the festivals website for all relevant info – www.epicenterfestival.com. 3 day weekend passes, 2 day passes and single day tickets are all still available. Don’t miss out on one of the best lineups of the summer festival season!
By: Nathan Leslie | Exclusively for @Music, Why Not!