Rock the Locks Music Festival Proves to be a Must Attend Event in Year Two.
October 14, 2024
It has been just a little over a week since the second annual Rock the Locks Music Festival shined a spotlight on the city of Umatilla, Oregon, transforming it into the Pacific Northwest’s epicenter of rock music. The festival was held October 4th-6th on the Big River Golf Course and left a lasting impression on both fans and bands alike, bringing in people from as far away as Australia, Germany, and a group from Sweden, who made the trip to see and support Swedish rockers, Eclipse, on their first US appearance since 2018. Eclipse wasn’t the only international act to make an appearance as Cory Marks, Chase the Bear and The BareNaked Ladies made the trip from our neighbor in the North, Canada.
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Now that the stages have been torn down and it’s back to business as usual for both the golf course and the city it's time to reflect on the sophomore outing of Rock the Locks and what made it such a success.
This year's lineup featured some of today's top rock acts as well as a blend of seasoned rock veterans, rising stars and international rockers. Classic acts such as Warrant, SteelHeart and Winger transported fans back to the 80’s and 90’s and established rockers such as Hoobastank, Puddle of Mudd, Sponge and Josey Scott lit up the stage, while up and coming artists like Cory Marks, Chase the Bear and Phillip Phillips brought a modern twist and sound. Marks mix of rock and country quickly made him a fan favorite at the festival with lots of attendees proclaiming him as the biggest surprise and their favorite act of the festival. While the established acts played the main stage there was lots of regional and local talent that entertained the fans on the second stage of the festival. Blue Tattoo, Bombshell Molly and Dallin Puzey were invited back for year two after performing the first year and were a big hit, proving how popular the local acts are in drawing in people for the festival. The lineup balanced fresh talent, established artists and rock nostalgia in a mix that ensured that there was something for everyone from die hard rock fans to newer listeners.
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Friday and Saturday nights saw the biggest crowds with two of the biggest names of rock headlining in Halestorm (Friday) and Stone Temple Pilots (Saturday). Friday saw rock mainstays Halestorm deliver a powerful opening night performance that set the tone for the rest of the festival and also included Cory Marks who performed a duet with Lzzy Hale for the first time ever for their song “Out In the Rain" Swedish rock act, Eclipse, who was one of the biggest draws of the festival this year also performed on the opening day and put on a performance that won’t soon be forgotten. Hopefully we won’t have to wait almost another 10 years on this amazing rock act to come back. Saturday night saw Stone Temple Pilots put on a set that featured a nostalgic driven setlist to all of their classic hits. Sunday night featured the BareNaked Ladies, whose pop-rock charm closed the festival out on an upbeat note. The banter between the band members on the stage and the audience was one of the highlights with festival goers sharing clips with each other on social media talking about how fun they were and their set.
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The festival also proved to be a hit with the bands performing with Warrant saying that this festival was the best they have ever played at and Stone Temple Pilots commenting on the venue and production saying it was a top not production, with incredible sound and lighting crews making it all work.
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In its second year the festival was a huge success both from the fans’ perspective and number wise. The festival saw attendance grow by almost 35%, with the surge in popularity seeing more fans deciding to camp and take advantage of the full festival experience, which drove campsite numbers to nearly double the sales of the first year. It’s clear that the word is spreading, and this festival is becoming a must-attend event for rock lovers in the region and across the country.
News for next year’s dates will be announced soon with fans eagerly awaiting the announcement and the lineup for what is sure to be an incredible third year.
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Friday Lineup: Groove Principal - Jeff Scott Soto & Jason Bieler - Sponge - Eclipse - Hell's Belles - Cory Marks - Halestorm
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Saturday Lineup: Colorblind - Fine Winos - Chase the Bear - Bombshell Molly - Winger - Josey Scott - Puddle of Mudd - Hoobastank - Stone Temple Pilots
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Sunday Lineup: Dallin Puzey - Steelheart - Sarah Moon Band - Warrant - Blue tattoo - Phillip Phillips - Barenaked Ladies