The Blue Ridge Rock Festival (BRRF) is a significant event in the rock and metal music scene, drawing in fans from all over with its diverse lineup and vibrant atmosphere. With a wide array of performers covering various subgenres within rock and metal, the festival offers something for everyone, from classic rock enthusiasts to fans of modern metalcore. Held annually in Virginia, USA, the festival typically spans several days, allowing attendees to immerse themselves fully in the experience.
One of the standout features of the Blue Ridge Rock Festival is its commitment to providing a platform for both established acts and up-and-coming artists. This blend of well-known bands and emerging talent ensures that attendees are treated to a dynamic and exciting lineup each year. From iconic headliners to underground favorites, BRRF showcases the rich diversity of the rock and metal music scene, fostering a sense of community among fans and artists alike.
In addition to its stellar musical lineup, the festival also offers a range of other attractions and amenities to enhance the overall experience. These may include food and beverage vendors, merchandise stalls, art installations, and more. For those who want to make the most of their festival experience, camping options are often available, allowing attendees to stay on-site and fully immerse themselves in the festivities.
Overall, the Blue Ridge Rock Festival stands as a testament to the enduring popularity and cultural significance of rock and metal music. With its electrifying performances, welcoming atmosphere, and passionate fanbase, it continues to be a must-visit event for anyone who loves great music and good times.
If only I had known then what I know now, and that’s that the ‘Blue Ridge Rock Festival’ is an unorganized conglomerate of deceitful practices, ineptitude, and an overall disregard for the safety and health of their employees, freelancers, vendors, and attendees.
It started with ticketing issues, followed by long (and I mean long) 3-4 hour wait times for shuttles to and from the festival with many fans disappointed and frustrated. Many were not willing to return the next day due to this alone, and I can’t say that I blame them. Shuttle services were reported to have improved by Saturday (Day 3 of 4) but still had fans seeing 1.5-2 hour wait times to their cars.
ADA was a complete joke with vendors, friends and family pushing wheelchairs up and down a very steep hill that festival goers coined as, “The Hill” or the “Kate Bush Hill”. The inaccessibility forced many ticket holders to miss out on bands they paid to see due to the steep terrain. One fan shared their experience when asking for assistance,
“I tried speaking with someone about ADA there, and the response I received was, ‘“If someone is that handicapped to the point they can’t get around without aids then they probably shouldn’t be at a rock concert.’”
Reddit user ‘Surtorias’ quoted,
“I walk with a cane and it was really difficult for me. The Hill was my biggest challenge, and so was the lack of promised water refill stations. I opted out of seeing certain bands to avoid hiking up/down The Hill and it left me feeling really frustrated.”
A photo shared by a fan utilizing the ADA shuttles shows festival goers waiting under the glow of flood lamps late into the evening stating, “all of the able bodied people are long gone”. When ADA shuttles did arrive, drivers had no care or patience left to attend to the needs of those they were transporting.
“By the second day, the ADA shuttle drivers were no longer bothering to anchor my mobility scooter in. I tilted over on my son’s 90 pound girlfriend Saturday.”
The problems didn’t stop there; in the mud filled venue grounds, one camper broke her leg in two places when she stepped into a hole trying to navigate her way to a bathroom. And speaking of bathrooms, sanitation was completely nonexistent with trash cans and ‘Port-a-Potties’ overflowing and a severe lack of toilet paper being a theme throughout the weekend; but perhaps the worst part of it all was the absence of hand washing stations. It was apparent that hygiene and personal health were a non-priority with showers costing $10.00 a pop and not a sanitary station in sight. This alone had many questioning how food vendors were maintaining safe food practices. One anonymous bartender had this to say,
“We had NO staff showers and four individual staff Port-a-Potties, and they were cleaned only after the smell was so bad that we complained. We had no access to working showers (pretty gross since we handle food and beverages all day). “
Lauren Wiecek a camper who stayed at the festival over the weekend shared,
“The showers were awful. We waited 2 hours one morning to take one, and after paying $10 for each of us I was the only one who got a real shower. My partner had the water cut off and was kinda just told, oh well.”