KC Rock Fest 2010


 

In 2010, the perpetually sold-out Rockfest was back at the Liberty Memorial this year, thanks to Kansas City's loyal hard-rockaholics.
Content is from the site's 2010 archived pages, as well as other sources.

For the most up to date information about Rockfest go to their current website at: https://www.rock-fest.com/.

 

 

NEWS

Rockfest is moving to Kansas
David Hudnall
Feb 13, 2017
The Kansas-Missouri border war seems to once again be escalating. Yesterday came news that Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback sees in Kansas City, Missouri's stalled plans to revamp KCI an opportunity to build a competitive airport in Johnson County.

And now this: Rockfest, held at KCMO's Liberty Memorial for the better part of the last quarter-century, will be staged at the Kansas Speedway this June.

As the 98.9 the Rock–sponsored celebration of hard-rock acts has blossomed into one of the largest one-day festivals in the country, there have been hiccups, many of them mud-related. The Kansas City Parks Department and Saturday motorists in midtown are unlikely to shed tears over the move. But an estimated 50,000 Rockfest attendees will be spending their money in Kansas instead of in Missouri this year.

The move will allow Rockfest to erect an extra stage, according to a news release. Another homegrown music festival, Kanrocksas, was held at the Kansas Speedway in 2011. It was scheduled for a repeat at the Speedway in 2013 before it was abruptly canceled a month before the event.

 

Personally: Was this super news or what? I was just entering high school in 2010. Didn't have my license yet. Thankfully I had an older sister who was very cool and she promised to take me and my best friend to the festival. As soon as tickets were available my sister was one of those Rockaholics that grabbed six of the presale ticket- 15,000 tickets went in the first five hours. What can I say. The festival was awesome. The bands blew my mind and the end of the show fireworks were the best I had ever seen. I was indebted to my sister for life, so I said at the time. For the next six years, my friends and I never missed the Rockfest at its home on a hillside in Kansas City’s Penn Valley Park, home to the Liberty Memorial. We head banging multitudes partied hearty to the likes of Buckcherry, Staind and Five Finger Death Punch. In 2017 the location changed and it actually was for the good. Parking was easier and the speedway grounds allowed for two full-size stages whereas in years past, the fest made do with one main stage and a smaller one. Also no more mud.

In the meantime, I'm packing my bags for a spring break in Maui. We're graduating college and this is our last time to spend some crazy time together before heading off to graduate school (me and a couple others) or to real jobs. Our Maui headquarters will be two Kaanapali Alii rentals on the west coast of the island. There is supposedly a three mile long beach right in front of the resort. Whoopee. We're planning on tackling all the possible water sports- snorkel, scuba, or scuba through the reefs off Black Rock which is located near our resort. We're also planning a sunrise Haleakala bike tour. We will be arriving at Haleakala’s 10,023 summit to view the sunrise at the rim of the crater and then experience a self-guided 23 mile bike ride down the mountain. Does that seem awesome or what! We're also checking out the music scene.

Time to take a break from all this gushing about the trip to Hawaii. I just learned that my parents are in discussion with my Aunt who lives in Maryland. Seems like my grandmother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and they are deciding on which Assisted Living facility in the area thay want to approach. My mother emailed me a link to a place called Hart Heritage Assisted Living. Apparently they provide specialized dementia care and Alzheimer’s care for their residents. I don't know anything about assisted living facilities, but I guess it's time I educate myself. In my Mom's e-mail she wrote: check this out and let me know what you think. Wow. I was surprised my parents would even want my input. But I am flattered. I guess the fact that I was pre med in college and plan to become a doctor might have something to do with it. I don't know what I want to specialize in, but neurology has always interested me, particularly Parkinson's disease, since it runs in my family. It's a bummer, though that my granny has Alzheimer’s.

One more thing...I'm looking forward to Rockfest's 26th year. Nothing can beat Rockfest!!!!!!

 

 



The official line-up for the festival on May 15, 2010.

Main Stage 
1:30 Halestorm
2:40 Rev Theory
3:50 Drowning Pool
5:00 Papa Roach
6:30 Seether
8:00 Three Days Grace
9:30 Godsmack

Second Stage
12:00 Taddy Porter
1:00 Shaman's Harvest
2:10 Adelitas Way
3:20 Burn Halo
4:30 The Veer Unionv 6:00 Janus
7:30 Airbourne
9:00 Five Finger Death Punch

Fireworks To Close The Show!!

**Autograph Booth Schedule Coming Soon**

In case you forgot, here are the Ten Commandments of Rockfest, by Berry Anderson:

1. Thou shalt pick up thy brother if he falls.

2. Thou shalt drink one water for every two beers.

3. Thou shalt apply sunscreen so thou won't become the Rock Lobster.

4. Thou shall appreciate Breast Fest with thine eyes, not thine hands.

5. Thou shall find a cop if thou witnesses assholes fighting.

6. Thou shalt not make the sweet love in the porta-potty.

7. Thou shalt put thy hands in the air and wave them like thou just doesn't care.

8. Thou shalt respect the security guards who are just doing their job.

9. Thou shalt not act like a macho dick.

10. Thou shalt not drink and drive.

We are proud to hold Rockfest on the site of the Nation's only World War One Memorial. Dedicated in 1926, The Liberty Memorial has always been a source of pride for Kansas City. We encourage you to visit the amazing WWI museum underneath the Memorial.

 



 

General Information

Parking

Up-front parking is available on the East lawn on Liberty Memorial and on Main Street. Parking attendants will direct you. Other parking close by includes Union Station and the many parking garages around Crown Center. Parking ranges from $20 to free, depending on how close you want park. We strongly encourage you to carpool.

Handicapped Parking

Handicapped parking is at the North end of Liberty Memorial's circle drive at the base of the Memorial. With a visible handicapped placard in your car, turn on Memorial Drive off Main Street. Once on Memorial Drive, parking attendants will direct you to handicapped parking. From the handicapped parking, you will have sidewalk access into the venue.

 

Rockfest Pre-Sale – Final

March 20, 2010

Our most loyal listeners, the registered Rockaholics, are ready for a party May 15th! Rockaholics grabbed the first 40,000 tickets during the $25 pre-sale. Good job – and thank you very much! If you want to join the party at Rockfest, tickets are now $35 plus service charge and on sale at all Ticketmaster locations and the tickets page of this web site. Only 10,000 tickets left until Rockfest will be sold-out. Thank you for your strong support of the show and we’ll see you at The Liberty Memorial May 15th with 15 bands that are just as excited as you to be at Rockfest 2010!

Rockfest Pre-Sale – Day Two

March 18, 2010

Rockaholics have now grabbed over half of the available Rockfest tickets! Over 25,000 have been sold and the pre-sale is still going strong. Friday is the last day for Rockaholics to get tickets for $25. When tickets go on sale Saturday, the price goes to $35. Over 20,000 tickets were sold last year on the final day of the pre-sale. Friday is not only your last chance to save $10 a ticket, it might be your last chance to buy a ticket. Thanks so much to our Rockaholics for the strong support of Rockfest. We truly appreciate it and promise to deliver one hell of a show!

Rockfest Pre-Sale – the first five hours

March 17, 2010

Wow! What can I say? We’re so overwhelmed with your support of Rockfest! In the first five hours of the pre-sale, Rockaholics have already grabbed 15,000 tickets. Rockfest sold-out in just a week last year and sales are going even faster this year. 15,000 tickets in just five hours, looks like the Rockaholics might sell-out the show! Thanks so much for the support and we can’t wait to see you at Rockfest!

Rockfest 2010 Is Here!

March 15, 2010

The entire Rock staff is very excited to announce Rockfest 2010! This is the event we look forward to all year. It’s an amazing experience to party with so many of our loyal listeners at one time! The Rockfest 2010 meetings started two weeks after last year’s show. We’ve been working hard all year to make sure Rockfest is as good as it can possibly be. The line-up is killer and the venue is perfect, The Liberty Memorial, in the heart of downtown KC. How can you beat it? 15 bands, 2 stages, 12 hours of non-stop rock, all for the price of a club show!

We’ve used many of your suggestions to keep improving, including a plan for shorter food lines, better parking access, and increased availability of free water. Rockfest is your show, keep sending in suggestions on how we can make it better. Send me a question anytime and I’ll be sure to respond.

To thank our loyal Rockaholics, you not only get the first chance at tickets, your tickets are cheaper than anyone else. If you plan to join the party, be sure to get your tickets early. Last year’s Rockfest sold-out in just a week. We hate to see our listeners wait, then pay a scalper a ton a of money just to see the show. The cheap tickets are for you, not for someone else to profit from.

 



 

FAQ

What should I bring to Rockfest?

  • One sealed bottle of water, 24 ounce maximum. Free refills will be available through out the show.
  • Blankets
  • Binoculars
  • Small digital cameras. Nothing with a professional lens
  • Cell phones
  • Sunscreen in plastic container
  • Plastic Bags - The kind you'd get at the grocery store
  • Draw String Book Bags - No pockets. No zippers.

What should I leave at home?

  • Umbrellas
  • Glass containers
  • Weapons of any sort, including pocket knives
  • Wallet chains
  • Recording devices
  • Food
  • Coolers
  • Chairs
  • No pets except service animals
  • Camelbacks
  • Backpacks

    How do I get VIP tickets?

    All VIP tent passes are free, none for sale. Look for The Rock with Miller Lite at bars and restaurants all over the city with your chance to win! We’ll have a schedule of those events posted soon. The only way to get a VIP pass is to win from Miller Lite and The Rock.

    WARNING: Many scumbags attempt to sell VIP passes on-line. THEY ARE FAKE. Too many people were turned away last year with bogus passes. Don’t get ripped-off, don’t buy a worthless VIP pass on-line.

    Is Rockfest an all-ages show? YES! Rockfest is not child friendly, so use your best judgment.

    Can you leave the show then come back later? - Only with a new ticket.

    No re-entry.

 



 

Thank you for checking the Rockfest hotel page. Unfortunately, all Rockfest hotel packages are sold-out. We plan to increase the number of hotel packages for Rockfest 2011.

HYATT REGENCY CROWN CENTER
2345 McGee Street
Kansas City, MO 64108

For questions call 314-726-8015

RnR Package - SOLD OUT
2 Person Max
1 Hotel Room - 1 King Bed
Saturday, May 15th, 2010
2 Rockfest Tickets
2 Rockfest T-Shirts
Price inclusive of service charges
RETAIL VALUE - $319
PACKAGE PRICE - $299
YOU SAVE - $20

Hangover Package - SOLD OUT
2 Person Max
1 Hotel Room - 1 King Bed
Friday, May 14, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
2 Rockfest Tickets
2 Rockfest T-Shirts
Price inclusive of service charges
RETAIL VALUE – $518
PACKAGE PRICE - $399
YOU SAVE - $119

Roadtrip Package - SOLD OUT
4 Person Max
1 Hotel Room - 2 Double Beds
Friday, May 14, 2009
Saturday, May 15, 2009
4 Rockfest Tickets
4 Rockfest T-Shirts
Price inclusive of service charges
RETAIL VALUE - $638
PACKAGE PRICE - $499
YOU SAVE - $139

 



 

More Background on KCRockFest.com

Rockfest, also known as 98.9 The Rock's Rockfest, has been a cornerstone of the Midwest rock music scene for nearly three decades. This annual one-day festival has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the largest single-day music festivals in the United States, attracting tens of thousands of rock fans each year. Let's dive into the history, significance, and impact of this iconic event.

History and Evolution

Rockfest began in the mid-1990s as a small local concert organized by Kansas City radio station 98.9 The Rock. The inaugural event featured a handful of bands and drew a modest crowd. However, the festival quickly gained traction among rock enthusiasts in the region. Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Rockfest steadily grew in size and popularity. The organizers began booking more prominent national acts alongside up-and-coming local talent, creating a diverse lineup that appealed to a wide range of rock subgenres. For many years, Rockfest was held at Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. The picturesque setting, with the iconic World War I monument as a backdrop, became synonymous with the festival experience. The hillside venue allowed for a natural amphitheater setup, giving attendees excellent views of the performances. In 2017, after more than two decades at Liberty Memorial, Rockfest made a significant change by moving to the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. This move allowed for expanded capacity and improved facilities, marking a new era for the festival.

Known For

Rockfest has built its reputation on several key factors:

  1. Diverse Lineups: The festival consistently features a mix of established headliners and rising stars in the rock world. From hard rock and metal to alternative and post-grunge, Rockfest caters to various rock subgenres.
  2. Single-Day Format: Unlike many multi-day festivals, Rockfest packs all its performances into one action-packed day, creating an intense and memorable experience for attendees.
  3. Affordability: Compared to other major music festivals, Rockfest has maintained relatively affordable ticket prices, making it accessible to a wide range of fans.
  4. Local Focus: While featuring national acts, the festival has always made an effort to showcase local and regional talent, helping to nurture the Midwest rock scene.
  5. Community Atmosphere: Rockfest is known for its passionate and tight-knit community of attendees, many of whom return year after year.

Cultural and Social Significance

Rockfest has played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscape of Kansas City and the broader Midwest region. As one of the area's largest and longest-running music events, it has become a rite of passage for many rock fans and a highlight of the summer concert season. The festival has also had a notable economic impact on the region. With tens of thousands of attendees, many traveling from out of state, Rockfest brings substantial business to local hotels, restaurants, and other establishments. Moreover, Rockfest has served as a platform for numerous bands to reach wider audiences. Many acts have credited performances at the festival as crucial stepping stones in their careers, highlighting its importance in the rock music ecosystem.

Audience and Attendance

Rockfest consistently draws massive crowds, with attendance figures often exceeding 50,000 people. The audience demographic is diverse, spanning multiple generations of rock fans. While the core audience consists of listeners from the Kansas City metropolitan area, the festival attracts attendees from across the Midwest and beyond. The festival's popularity is evident in its ticket sales history. In many years, tickets have sold out within days or even hours of going on sale, demonstrating the high demand and loyal fanbase the event has cultivated.

Press and Media Coverage

Over the years, Rockfest has garnered significant media attention, both locally and nationally. Local news outlets in Kansas City provide extensive coverage leading up to and during the event, highlighting its importance to the community. National music publications and websites, such as Rolling Stone, Loudwire, and Blabbermouth, have frequently covered Rockfest, reporting on lineups, memorable performances, and the festival's growth. The festival has also faced its share of controversies and challenges, which have been documented in the press. Issues such as weather-related problems, crowd management, and the impact on the Liberty Memorial grounds have all been subjects of media scrutiny.

Notable Performances and Moments

Throughout its history, Rockfest has hosted numerous memorable performances and moments:

  1. In 2004, Korn's headlining set was cut short due to severe weather, leading to disappointment but also creating a legendary "I was there" moment for attendees.
  2. The 2010 edition saw Godsmack deliver a powerhouse performance that is still talked about by long-time festival-goers.
  3. Five Finger Death Punch's 2015 set was particularly noteworthy, with the band's high-energy performance setting a new standard for Rockfest headliners.
  4. The final Rockfest at Liberty Memorial in 2016 was an emotional event, marking the end of an era for many long-time attendees.
  5. The 2017 move to Kansas Speedway was a significant moment, with Soundgarden's performance being one of their last before the untimely death of frontman Chris Cornell.

Challenges and Controversies

Like any large-scale event, Rockfest has faced its share of challenges:

  1. Weather Issues: The outdoor nature of the festival has led to weather-related problems, including muddy conditions and storm-related cancellations or delays.
  2. Venue Impact: The festival's long tenure at Liberty Memorial raised concerns about damage to the grounds, contributing to the eventual venue change.
  3. Crowd Management: With such large attendance figures, ensuring safety and managing crowds has been an ongoing challenge for organizers.
  4. Noise Complaints: The festival's urban location at Liberty Memorial occasionally led to noise complaints from nearby residents and businesses.
  5. Lineup Debates: As with any music festival, there have been debates and discussions among fans about lineup choices and the balance of genres represented.

Impact on the Music Industry

Rockfest has played a significant role in the rock music industry, particularly in the Midwest. It has provided a major platform for bands to reach large audiences and has helped to break numerous acts into mainstream success. The festival's booking practices have often reflected and influenced trends in rock music. As the rock genre has evolved over the past few decades, Rockfest's lineups have adapted, showcasing the changing face of rock while maintaining a connection to its roots. For many bands, playing Rockfest has become a badge of honor and a sign that they've "made it" in the rock world. The festival's reputation for passionate crowds and high-energy performances makes it a sought-after gig for both established and up-and-coming acts.

Future Outlook

As Rockfest continues to evolve, it faces both opportunities and challenges. The move to Kansas Speedway opened up new possibilities in terms of capacity and amenities, but also changed the character of the event for long-time attendees. The festival will need to continue adapting to changes in the music industry and fan preferences. This may include embracing new subgenres, incorporating more diverse lineups, and finding innovative ways to enhance the festival experience. Despite these challenges, Rockfest's long history and dedicated fanbase suggest that it will remain a vital part of the rock music landscape for years to come. As it approaches its 30th anniversary, the festival stands as a testament to the enduring power and popularity of rock music in America's heartland. In conclusion, Rockfest has grown from a small local concert to a major force in the rock music world. Its impact on Kansas City, the Midwest music scene, and the broader rock community is undeniable. As it continues to evolve and adapt, Rockfest remains a beloved institution for rock fans and a crucial platform for artists in the genre.

 

 

KCRockFest.com