Members of Papa Roach, Shinedown, as well as new country star Oliver Anthony sang to despondent festival goers after the day of rock was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Expectations were high for the Blue Ridge Rock Festival at the Virginia International Raceway this weekend which billed itself as "North America’s Largest Rock & Metal Event."
The four-day extravaganza had booked the likes of Slipknot, Pantera, Danzig, Five Finger Death Punch, Vince Neil, Papa Roach, Shinedown, BABYMETAL, Megadeth, The Used, and Stained mixed together with hip-hop stars like Flo Rida, 2 Chainz, Cypress Hill, Insane Clown Posse.
And word to your mother, they even secured Vanilla Ice.
Before the sun had even set on Thursday, opening night, the skies opened and poured rain upon the metal heads and rockers who had congregated to one of the southernmost towns of Virginia, about an hour north of Durham, North Carolina.
On Thursday (September 7) in the middle of their second song, poor Coheed and Cambria had to flee the stage and organizers canceled the rest of the night's activities. It was rainy and windy, there was lightning, and somehow it was also hot.
No, Virginia, there would be no Vanilla Ice this year.
Mother Nature cooperated on Friday, obviously itching to see Danzig, Motionless in White, 2 Chainz, and Soulja Boy.
And she also wanted to hear what all the fuss was about surrounding Oliver Anthony, the blue collared country phenom with the deep voice and misunderstood #1 hit. Anthony was a surprise addition to Friday's lineup and was warmly welcomed.
But she was up to her old tricks on Saturday and the forecast was so ominous the organizers regretfully had to pull the plug on their sold out festival.
Some had driven all morning to get to the show. Others had camped overnight through the foul weather and heat. Few were pleased.
Papa Roach and Shinedown - who are touring together this month and next - had been scheduled to headline later that night on the main stage.
Members of both bands climbed on top of a makeshift wooden "stage" along with a couple dogs and Anthony, and whipped out some acoustic guitars to serenade the unhappy festival goers.
After each of the artists played to the couple hundred in the camping area (not the parking lot as other outlets insist on reporting), members of each group and Anthony, played the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic, "Simple Man," as the audience sang along as a Taylor Swift for President 2024 flag flew next to the stage.
Oliver Anthony does not have many appearances booked at this time. His overnight success seems to have caught lots of people unprepared. He will be playing several festivals over the next few weeks. Tickets available through his website.
Shinedown and Papa Roach are near the beginning of their tour with Spiritbox. Tickets available here.
Shinedown, Papa Roach + Spiritbox 2023 Tour
Spet. 12 — Detroit, Mich. @Pine Knob Music Theatre
Sept. 13 — Syracuse, N.Y. @ St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
Sept. 15 — Ocean City, Md. @ Ocean City Bike Fest
Sept. 16 — Camden, N.J. @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion (no Papa Roach)
Sept. 19 — Gilford, N.H. @ Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (no Papa Roach)
Sept. 21 — Bangor, Maine @ Maine Savings Amphitheater
Sept. 23 — Mansfield, Mass. @ Xfinity Center
Sept. 24 — Newark, N.J. @ Prudential Center
Sept. 26 — Simpsonville, S.C. @ CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
Sept. 27 — Atlanta, Ga. @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
Sept. 29 — Tampa, Fla. @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheater
Sept. 30 — Hollywood, Fla. @ Hard Rock Live
Oct. 03 — Franklin, Tenn. @ FirstBank Amphitheater
Oct. 05 — Rogers, Ark. @ Walmart AMP
Oct. 06 — Allen, Texas @ Credit Union of Texas Event Center
Oct. 08 — Houston, Texas @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Oct. 09 — San Antonio, Texas @ Freeman Coliseum
Oct. 12 — Phoenix, Ariz. @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Oct. 13 — Las Vegas, Nev. @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
Oct. 15 — Irvine, Calif. @ FivePoint Amphitheatre
Oct. 17 — Salt Lake City, Utah @ USANA Amphitheater
Oct. 19 — Albuquerque, N.M. @ Isleta Amphitheater
Oct. 20 — Denver, Colo. @ Ball Arena
