WASHINGTON 鈥� Everything old will be new again at Merriweather Post Pavillion this weekend.聽Not only will concertgoers get a聽glimpse at聽renovations to the 48-year-old venue聽— expected to be completed in June聽—聽they’ll also transport聽back in time聽to聽1989聽with聽big hair, spandex and guitar-driven rock.
The M3 Rock Festival makes its triumphant return to Merriweather for the seventh聽year in a row, showcasing a lot of the hard rock and hair metal bands of that era.
The weekend kicks off Friday with the annual Kix-off party, featuring local favorites Kix as the headliners for the evening.聽 The fun continues Saturday with a full day of music and people watching. 聽That means tight pants, short skirts, hair with enough Aqua Net to hold a style for days, guys with long hair and guys that still wish they had that long hair!
With聽so few metal-centric festivals available, fans come from all over the world to be there.聽 TV and radio personality Eddie Truck returns to host the festival with two聽new additions: 鈥淰ideo Vixens鈥� Tawny Kitaen and Bobbie Brown.聽 If those names don鈥檛 ring a bell, watching Whitesnake鈥檚 “Here I Go Again” and Warrant鈥檚 “Cherry Pie” video may jog your memories.
With 20 bands over two stages and no overlapping sets, there is definitely something for everyone.
Friday’s bands include Trixter, Dio Disciples, Quiet Riot, Dokken and the aforementioned Kix. However, the day will kick off on a somber yet heartwarming note, as Maryland band Korupt takes the stage at 4 p.m.聽 Billed as a memorial show, the band will honor lead singer and founding bandmate Sean (McCall) McAuliffe, who passed away earlier this year.聽 Long time friend and roadie Buddy Zappa will front the band and all proceeds from the memorial T-shirts will go to McAuliffe鈥檚 family.
Saturday brings the addition of the second stage, featuring Killer Dwarfs, Tyketto, Black N Blue, Bang Tango, Winery Dogs and Y & T. It will also feature Cinderella鈥檚 Tom Keifer performing solo with聽songs from his debut album “The Way Life Goes,” as well as some Cinderella favorites.聽The main stage will see Bad Seed Rising, Rhino Bucket, Vixen, LA Guns, Krokus, Warrant聽 and Queensryche.
Closing out the night will be Swedish rock band Europe, who just released聽its tenth聽studio album “War of Kings” in March, but you probably know them best from the song “The Final Countdown.”
If committing a whole weekend to a festival isn鈥檛 your thing, single day tickets are available.
Click for ticket information.
