Sure, it gets lively at Talen Energy Stadium for Philadelphia Union home matches, but nothing quite as intense as this.
Monster Energy Rock Allegiance, a two-day, all ages festival of metal and hard rock, craft beer and “gourmet man food,” will feature 35 bands on three stages Sept. 17-18.
It was expanded to a second day after Rock Allegiance’s debut last year drew more than 26,000 people, shattering the stadium’s attendance record. The stadium is at 1 Stadium Drive, Chester.
Gates open at 11 a.m. both days, and firing the opening salvos Saturday will be Alice In Chains, Breaking Benjamin, The Offspring, The Cult, a Sepultura flashback with “Max & Iggor Cavalera Return to Roots,” Motionless In White, Baroness, Chevy Metal, Trivium, Buckcherry, Avatar, Sick Puppies, “Saturday Night Live” alumnus/comedian Jim Breuer and the Loud & Rowdy, letlive., The Apocalypse Blues Revue, Skindred, Young Guns, The Word Alive and Dinosaur Pile-Up.
The barrage resumes Sunday with Avenged Sevenfold, Slayer, Volbeat, Chevelle, Pierce The Veil, Ghost, Anthrax, Killswitch Engage, Of Mice & Men, Sevendust, Hellyeah, The Amity Affliction, Neck Deep, Crobot, Twelve Foot Ninja, KYNG, Death Angel, Devour The Day and Hundredth.
What exactly is gourmet man food? RockAllegiance.com spells it out that it’s not wimpy portions, nor pretentious, nor just for men. The food vendor lineup includes Braz-B-Q, Chickie’s & Pete’s, The Cow & The Curd, Dos Hermanos, Dump ‘n’ Roll, M.A.T.T.’s Gourmet Sliders, Mama’s Meatballs, Seoulfull Philly, Sum Pig, The Tot Cart, Angry Bird Grill, What’s the Catch, Chef Dante’s Delicious Dishes, Stella Jeanne’s Festival Foods, Cheese E. Wagon, Lil Trent’s Grille, Tilted Kilt and Rigatoni’s.
The beer flavors are amped up too. The brewer lineup: Evolution Craft Brewing Co. (Salisbury, Md.), Fordham & Dominion Brewing Company (Dover, Del.), New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins, Colo.), Starr Hill Brewery (Charlottesville, Va.), Troegs Independent Brewing (Hershey) and Victory Brewing Co. (Downington).
And that’s not all. Monster Energy will have free samples on the Monster Energy viewing deck, which will have interactive artist experiences (check www.facebook.com/monsterenergy). FYE will also be hosting fan-and-artist interactive experiences throughout the festival. Get updates at www.facebook.com/FYE.
The Jack Daniel’s Experience invites you to see and smell whiskey dripping slowly through charcoal and the new oak barrels used in maturing the famous Jack Daniel’s whiskey.
Zippo Encore will offer a full stock of Zippo lighters, including limited edition festival designs. They’ll have contests and giveaways and free lighter fills and tune-ups. “The Music Experience” features elements involved in making music in a professional band setting. The interactive exhibit features guitars, basses, amps, drums, keyboards and electronic gear, plus autograph signings and artist interactions throughout the day (check www.facebook.com/themusicexp).
The Philadelphia Union sponsors “Rock ‘N’ Jock.” One winner, plus a guest, each day will receive prizes from the soccer club, Monster Energy Rock Allegiance and a private meet and greet with Pierce The Veil (Saturday) or Breaking Benjamin (Sunday), along with an “ultimate fan experience” at both the festival and a 2017 Philadelphia Union game of their choice. To enter, visit www.philadelphiaunion.com/rock-enter.
And find out how you can help detect cancer early, and help those battling cancer, from representatives from Dyin 2 Live and the F.C. Cancer Foundation.
There are several ticketing options – among them, WMMR four-packs and VIP – but single day tickets are $54.50 (stands) and $69.50 (floor) and weekend tickets are $99 (stands) and $129 (floor).
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/rockallegiance, @rockallegiance on Twitter and @RockAllegiance on Instagram.
