Rock the Locks Music Festival Finds its Stride in Its Third Year
October 6, 2025
Year three of Rock the Locks Music Festival in Umatilla, OR was one for the books. In its third outing held September 26th-28th, the festival really hit its stride, delivering its most diverse and powerful lineup yet. Heavy hitters like The All-American Rejects, Seether, Third Eye Blind, Black Veil Brides, and Skillet, alongside regional and local favorites including Blue Tattoo, Rail, Wyatt Olney and The Wreckage and more descended on the quiet riverside city of Umatilla, turning it into a rock lovers paradise.
Located on the Big River Golf Course, Rock the Locks might be the most visually underrated festival there is. Forget dusty fields or the concrete jungle of the city and asphalt parking lots of other festivals, here the rolling green grass and wide-open setting invite attendees to sprawl out on the grass, kick off their shoes and dance and soak in the sunlight.
In just three short years, the festival has become the unofficial marker for summer’s passing and the arrival of autumn. This year the festival moved from its regular slot of the first weekend in October to the last weekend of September, bringing with it picture-perfect weather, clear sunny skies and cooler evenings perfect for concert settings. All in all, in was great way to celebrate rock music in Eastern Oregon. Here are some of the highlights of the weekend.
Black Veil Brides for whatever reason are known to be a polarizing band through no fault of their own. When they were announced for the festival, I was ecstatic, knowing that they perform an amazing show but wondered how well they would fit in with the festival crowd. It seemed that they were one of the bands that some people were unsure of or hadn’t listened to before on one hand but on the other with the younger audience they were one of the acts people were most looking forward to.
Their set time on Friday had them playing right before the headliners Seether on the main stage with large crowds already gathering staking out their spots for the rest of the night, plenty of which were wearing Black Veil Brides shirts and wore their signature makeup styles. The band came out and owned the stage quickly making an impression on the people who hadn’t heard them before. Between the energetic songs and guitar riffs frontman Andy Biersack took time to address the crowd asking who had seen them before and asking who had never heard of them. After thanking everyone for showing up and giving their music a chance, while acknowledging their loyal fan base, Biersack led a performance that was voted a fan favorite set of the weekend letting their emo/metal sound speak for itself and connect with the audience.
Christian rockers Skillet were perhaps the most looked forward to band of the weekend and when they came out to the stage the fans let them know it. The fans welcomed Skillet with a massive cheer when the band strode out on stage right before the band let loose with a performance that owned the weekend. They didn’t just play a normal set; they detonated the stage with an arena worthy show.
Skillet has always bridged the gap between a Christian rock act and a rock group but their fans and the fans at Rock the Locks don’t care what you label them. At Rock the Locks they proved how those two worlds can coexist, with John Cooper leading the charge the band become the favorite act of the weekend. Earning more fans with every drum hit, and every insane guitar riff and their message shining through their music and connecting with everyone in the audience.
The All-American Rejects were another band that was a question mark on some attendee’s minds. Although the band is in the midst of a resurgence right now, their pop/punk-emo rock was new to the festival, marking a different sound from years past. In the same scenario from the night before with Black Veil Brides, a younger crowd had made their way to the festival for the All-American Rejects set showcasing the popularity that their house party shows have had in bringing in fans even to festivals.
Once the band made their way to the stage and vocalist Tyson Ritter started making jokes about Stillwater, OK and Umatilla, OR being the same kind of place then breaking into a song only to joke again he won over the crowd. What followed was a masterclass in showmanship with a chaotic set highlighted with anthems, comedy and emotions.
The Rejects sound won over the crowd with their pop-rock anthems and some people who didn’t recognize the name of the band found themselves singing along with songs they knew even if they didn’t know the band. The older rock generation found themselves shoulder to shoulder with millennials, teens and children all singing along and laughing while making core memories by the sets end.
Sunday was nonstop rock the whole day with the shortened hours and incredible lineup but the fan favorite that stood out and was one of the most looked forward to sets was Dorothy. The rock group, fronted by Dorothy Martin, took the stage with the showmanship and confidence of a headliner in their midday slot.
Dorothy’s brand of rock is just what the fans of Rock the Locks love. Their blues inspired rock with feelings and authenticity over flash is what has turned this band into a standout in the genre and made them a fan favorite at the festival. Martin’s voice rolled over the crowd and the grounds reminding everyone of a bygone era of rock, backed by her incredible band, their set showed that substance and sound still matter in the genre.
In a festival with such a stacked lineup as this years I understand there will be different moments for everyone that defined the weekend but for us every festival needs four things, spectacle, fire, fun and soul which these four delivered.
With its beautiful setting, perfect weather, stacked lineup and overall atmosphere Rock the Locks proved it’s not a small city festival anymore, its turning into a destination for rock fans and bands across the northwest and the US.
