Rockville '25 : America's Biggest Rock Festival Breaks Records Yet Again

(Photo by @samshapiromedia)

Daytona International Speedway was alive and loud this May as 230 thousand people converged for this year’s epic gathering. Four and a half days, five stages… the massive festival brought together over 150 acts from across the rock and metal worlds including heavy touring mainstays, up and coming bands, and iconic headliners for an event that has consistently grown for well over a decade.

MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS:

Having so many artists together and such a massive crowd of music lovers means Rockville is frequently a generator of buzzworthy events, collaborations, debuts and rare appearances. This year’s fest notably featured the doomy sounds of the recently-reunited Acid Bath and hard rockers Crossfade. The gulf coast’s own 3 Doors Down, who were forced to cancel due to Brad Arnold’s recent health developments, were still felt throughout the festival as multiple artists such as Three Days Grace and Shinedown offered their love and sampled bits of 3DD songs. Other late notice lineup changes such as the unfortunate loss of Alice in Chains were met with welcome ones such as the addition of The Pretty Reckless, and the people were treated to as much high powered rock madness as one could take in a week.

In one particularly stunning moment, Thursday headliners Shinedown teased their well known acoustic cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man,” and then brought out Lynyrd Skynyrd members Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke to perform a powerhouse full band version of the iconic song.

Shinedown’s set, which tied in with their “Dance Kid Dance Tour” set the weekend off with explosive pyrotechnics and a larger than life attitude.

Green Day’s set treated their enormous Friday night crowd with non-stop, raw energy as the band blasted through decades’ of hits, extended jams and off-the-cuff improv and crowd banter with barely a moment’s rest in between. Their performance featured recent singles from their latest release Saviors and leaned heavily into their long celebrated album American Idiot, which recently marked its 20th anniversary.

Linkin Park’s Saturday night set was hotly anticipated. The band recently reformed after several years’ absence in the wake of Chester Bennington’s passing, and came back big with a revised live lineup, new vocalist Emily Armstrong, and a hard hitting new album : From Zero. While some long time Linkin Park fans remain conflicted on this new era of the band, it was a treat to hear their classic songs brought to life again and to see Shinoda, Hahn and crew back at it. Armstrong has one of the best voices in rock in my opinion, and the band’s new material just rips. The Rockville set marked the live debut of “Let You Fade” from the From Zero (Deluxe Edition) release, and I look forward to seeing what they do next.

I have never seen a Korn show where they didn’t absolutely dominate the stage. Sunday’s headliners had the task of closing out the whole festival, and they did so with all the slamming, thunderous mayhem they have built a reputation on over thirty years, keeping bodies moving with a set that included all the big ones, some deep cuts, and a touch of their classic bagpipes. Any energy the Rockvillians had left in them was well spent in that final hour.

Acid Bath heavying up the Vortex Stage. Photo by @JMULKA

Good Charlotte w/ Wheatus singer Brendan B. Brown performing “Teenage Dirtbag.” (Photo by @nathanzucker)

Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless delivering her signature powerhouse vocals. (Photo by @stvthrasher)

Crossfade shinings their colors. (Photo by @lexiealley)

Halestorm live debuted several new songs for their Rockville attendees. (Photo by @stvthrasher)

Marilyn Manson showed up in force, continuing his recent return to touring with a hard hitting set, new music, intense vocals and a powerhouse band performance. (Photo by @stvthrasher)

Rob Zombie and company Demon Speeding through another Rockville with a tight performance and huge spectacle. (Photo by @lexiealley)

It was all good vibes for Sublime’s late afternoon set, with Jakob Nowell killing it in the front where his father Bradley once played. (Photo by @stvthrasher)

Theory of a Deadman kicked off their run at sunny Rockville just before heading to rock our friends in Biloxi. (Photo by @stvthrasher)

Three Days Grace with singers Matt Walst and the recently-returned Adam Gontier were a weekend highlight as the band ripped through their catalogue with a tight and well executed set featuring both singers fronting.

Energy was high throughout the week, and even the intense Florida sun couldn’t bring it down. In between band performances, festival patrons consistently enjoy an enormous spread of food options, shops, VIP areas, activities and hangout spots. This year the festival added a new hideout area up in the grandstands where attendees could dodge the weather and take in an elevated view of the festival. The party starts early and runs late for those who opt in to Rockville’s on site camping options, which grants special access to the Wednesday preparty. This year’s Wednesday featured the original voice of Saliva Josey Scott as well as Pop Evil, Nonpoint and more.

Campers stay immersed in the festival experience until well after the final notes ring out, with car and tent as well as RV lot options, access to the speedway’s built in shower and restroom facilities, various additional shop and food options, and campground organized events and gatherings.

Were you there? Let us know what you thought!