In its third year, Rock On The Range, the annual rock festival at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, drew an audience of over 55,000 people during the weekend event held May 16 and 17 2009.
The two-day, multi-stage music and lifestyle event featured 19 bands on three stages each day, highlighted by performances from some of rock’s biggest artists, including Mötley Crüe, Slipknot, Alice In Chains, Avenged Sevenfold and Korn.

This year, the annual event also furthered its commitment as the people’s festival by making a special offer of $30.00 general admission stadium tickets to recently unemployed rock fans in the Ohio Valley. To take advantage of this offer, fans brought a state-issued unemployment certification or unemployment pay stub to the Columbus Crew Stadium.  Each person with valid documentation could purchase up to two general admission stadium tickets per festival day at this special price.

Presented by Right Arm Entertainment, AEG LIVE and Crew Stadium, Rock On The Range drew 30,000 people in its inaugural year in 2007 and more than 55,000 people in 2008.  New event features in 2009 included the addition of a third stage--the Jägermeister Music Stage--on-stage fan platforms for contest winners and an expanded vendor village which had various vendors selling everything from clothing and accessories to tattoos and everything else you could want. Columbus’ own 99.7 The Rock was there not only covering each day but holding contests, playing music live on air and adding to the good time as only they can do.

Day one featured Black Stone Cherry, Saliva, Flyleaf, Chevelle, Korn, Alice In Chains and Slipknot on the Main Stage. Early Pearl, Veer Union, Crooked X, Duff McKagan’s Loaded, Rev Theory, All That Remains and Atreyu played the Second Stage. The Leo Project, X Factor 1, Halestorm, Hurt and Static X rocked the Jager Stage.

 

Day two had Main Stage action with Hoobastank, Saving Abel, Blue October, Shinedown, Buckcherry, Avenged Sevenfold and headliner Motley Crue. The Second Stage featured Drive A, Framing Hanley, Cavo, Pop Evil, Sick Puppies, Billy Talent and The Used. The Jager Stage played out with Royal Bliss, Burn Halo, Adelita’s Way, Charm City Devils and Clutch.

 

With so many bands playing the three stages, you had to have some kind of “plan of attack” to see all the bands that you wanted without missing too much of any other band on your “must see” list. I missed several of the bands that I wanted to see because I was at another bands set. One of the high points of day one that had the fans talking was the Alice In Chains set featuring new vocalist William DuVall that did an outstanding job bringing life to the songs. The band rocked so much that they inspired Duff McKagan (Guns N Roses/Velvet Revolver/Loaded) to join them for “Rooster.” Another band on my list was Slipknot. Watching the entire chaos that went on is unbelievable. That is one band that must be experienced live by any rock fan! Buckcherry (who was one of the bands that were cool enough for the fan meet and greets) was one of the highlights of day two. They got the entire crowd on their feet and when they finished their set with their smash hit “Crazy Bitch” it sent fans into frenzy.

	With each year the festival keeps getting bigger and better and the 2010 Rock On The Range will be an event not to be missed! I would like thank Kristine Ashton-Magnuson at Mitch Schneider Organization for helping TEN gain accesses to the festival and for her support throughout the event.