First off, let me say, I had an amazing time at the Rock N America festival in Oklahoma City.   It was a three day event, but  I was only able to attend Saturday and Sunday.

What a venue!  Having never been to a show there before, I did not know what to expect.   First of all, there was free parking which really surprised me!  Second, there is hardly a bad seat in the place since the amphitheater is built on a slope.  Last, but certainly not least, even if you didn’t pay extra for VIP tickets, you could still get close enough to the stage to get some good pictures and see the bands. 

The line ups were phenomenal to a die hard hair band fan like me!  Saturday’s bands included Steelheart, Firehouse, MSG, Cinderella, and the Scorpions on the main stage.  Sunday’s main stage hosted Warrant, Slaughter, Lita Ford, Dokken, and Ratt. 

The majority of the bands sounded just as good as I remember them, but there were a few stand out performances…..

Cinderella, though predictable, put on a good show and played all of their hits and fan favorites. Everyone was on their feet as soon as they heard the opening guitar riff of “Gypsy Road” and stayed that way until Tom Keifer and crew left the stage.

If any of you get a chance to see the Scorpions on this, their farewell tour, see them.  They were amazing!  I had never seen them in concert, so they were one of the main reasons I went to the festival.  They far exceeded my expectations.  They tore the place down with favorites like “The Zoo”, “Rock You Like a Hurricane”, and “Big City Nights”.  Concert goers also got the treat of seeing past band members Michael Schenker and “Herman ze German” Rarebell  jam with the band. 

Sunday, though there were many problems with sound equipment and a torrential downpour with no umbrellas allowed in the park, a good time was had.  Slaughter wins my best of show for Sunday simply because they sounded amazing, played all of their old hits, and Mark Slaughter came out into the crowd.  A band that caters to the fans gets me every time.  They also had a guest back up singer for the 80’s anthem “Up All Night“…..Vince Neil. 

Lita Ford, who I am convinced brings the rain (if you were at Rocklahoma in 2008, you know what I am talking about!) sounded great and ended her set with predictably asking the crowd if any of them went to a party last Saturday night! 

Though not as high pitched as the old days, Don Dokken and band delivered the goods!  Hit after hit after sing along hit.  They really got the crowd going….. as they always do.  They are and always will be one of my favorites of that genre. 

In closing, the Rock N America Festival was definitely worth the trip to OKC!  I don’t know how they will top this year’s line up, but hopefully they will try it again next year.  If you get the chance to check out this venue in the future, pack some sunscreen and a poncho….just in case Lita Ford is in the area.  And to all my peers and fellow fans….Keep on Rockin’!!!

Thanks for the review Shelley, I think we may have to attend this festival next year, awesome line up.

The lineup is:

Thursday
Backstage Pass
Downtread
Staring at Stars
Asphalt Valentine
Rock N’ Roll Damnation
Hairball

Friday
Wild Street
Mama Kin
Black Mollys
Far Cry
Lita Ford
Bret Michaels

Saturday
Red Moth
Jukebox Zeroes
Attention
Paisty Jenny
Tango Down
Rockarma
Talon
Bombay Black
Ted Poley (Danger Danger)
AXE
Molly Hatchet
Warrant
Vince Neil (Motley Crue)

Thursday night is the Kick-Off night and is being called Freedom Rocks!  Military personnel and their families will be admitted free on Thursday night with their military ID.

Tickets are on sale now! Buy them before the show and save! There are VIP Packages available that include unlimited food and drink for Friday and Saturday. The VIP tent is located stage right and walk throughs with bands allowed when possible!

This is an all ages show, 10 and under are free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Billion Automotive Family is giving away free Dakota Rock Fest tickets beginning June 18th. For more information and to register visit billionauto.com.

Camping is available on a first come first serve basis.  You will need to contact the Fairgrounds for a reservation at 605-367-7178.   There are hotels in the area also. You can find great deals at Priceline.com.

September 29, 2009
Alice In Chains – Black Gives Way To Blue

Breaking Benjamin – Dear Agony

Lynyrd Skynyrd – God & Guns

Buckcherry – Live & Loud 2009

Foreigner – Can’t Slow Down

October 6, 2009
Relient K – Forget and Not Slow Down

Lita Ford – Wicked Wonderland

Everclear – In a Different Light

Powerman 5000 – Somewhere on the Otherside of Nowhere

October 13, 2009
Pearl Jam – Backspacer

W.A.S.P. – Babylon

Lynch Mob – Smoke & Mirrors

Kansas – There’s Know Place Like Home

Mr. Big – Back to Budokan

October 20, 2009
Theory of a Deadman – Scars and Souvenirs(Special Edition CD/DVD)

Saw 6Soundtrack – 18 tracks featuring Hatebreed, Lacuna Coil, It Dies Today, Chimaira, Type O Negative, Converge and many others

October 27, 2009
Trans Siberian Orchestra – Night Castle (2 CD)

Creed – Full Circle

Train – Save Me San Francisco

Winger – Karma

Lita Ford

Wicked Wonderland

Lita Ford will also be joining Queensryche on their current American Soldier tour. She will be performing at 26 of the dates beginning October 15, 2009. A duet with Geoff Tate will be performed for the song “Close My Eyes Forever” originally performed with Ozzy Osbourne.  Lita Ford will perform 2 other songs that will also be accompanied by Queensryche.

Here are the dates for the concerts with Queensryche as posted on Lita Ford’s MySpace page.

Thu 10/15/09	Louisville, KY	Tickets
Fri 10/16/09	Montgomery, AL	Tickets
Sat 10/17/09	Pensacola, FL	Tickets
Sun 10/18/09	Asheville, NC	Tickets
Tue 10/20/09	Charlotte, NC	Tickets
Wed 10/21/09	Raleigh, NC	Tickets
Thu 10/22/09	Philadelphia, PA	Tickets
Fri 10/23/09	Norfolk, VA	Tickets
Sat 10/24/09	Englewood, NJ	Tickets
Sun 10/25/09	Westbury, NY	Tickets
Tue 10/27/09	Covington, KY	Tickets
Wed 10/28/09	Columbus, OH	Tickets
Thu 10/29/09	Indianapolis, IN	Tickets
Fri 10/30/09	Fort Wayne, IN	Tickets
Sat 10/31/09	St Louis, MO	Tickets
Sun 11/01/09	Joliet, IL	Tickets
Mon 11/02/09	Fargo, ND	Tickets
Wed 11/04/09	Missoula, MT	Tickets
Thu 11/05/09	Spokane, WA	Tickets
Fri 11/06/09	Boise, ID	Tickets
Sat 11/07/09	Stateline, NV	Tickets
Tue 11/10/09	Houma, LA	Tickets
Wed 11/11/09	Nashville, TN	Tickets
Thu 11/12/09	Atlanta, GA	Tickets
Fri 11/13/09	Jacksonville, FL	Tickets