Photo by Brett Murray.
In under a week, some of the biggest names in rock n’ roll will unite at one of the nation’s largest music festivals, and it’s only five minutes from campus. Daytona International Speedway’s annual Welcome to Rockville returns May 9-12 and features an array of artists spanning over the past 50 years of rock, metal, grunge, pop-punk and more. From the Foo Fighters to Falling in Reverse, the lineup for WTR 2024 is going to be challenging for future festivals to live up to.
Marking the fourth year the Speedway has hosted WTR, the four-day lineup welcomes back numerous familiar faces to the stage. Some of the many bands returning to Daytona for the festival are headliners Slipknot, Evanescence, The Offspring, Mudvayne and Breaking Benjamin.
Past Daytona WTR’s have set the bar high for this year’s event. Having to push back the 2020 festival a year due to COVID-19, WTR 2021 (my first ever concert), welcomed Metallica to the stage for two nights, with company including southern rock pioneers Lynyrd Skynyrd and heavy metal giants Disturbed.
In May of 2022, KISS, Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach, Shinedown, Halestorm and the Smashing Pumpkins dominated the festival, which sadly saw many anticipated bands cancelled due to inclement weather. Among those were Korn, Megadeth, Bush and Guns N’ Roses, none of which have given WTR a second chance.
Last year, legends such as Pantera, Avenged Sevenfold, Tool, Alice Cooper and Deftones led the stacked festival, but this year’s WTR might just be even bigger and better. WTR 2024 added an additional stage and will hail over 150 bands.
Arguably the most anticipated band of this year’s lineup is the Foo Fighters. Scheduled for WTR 2022, Nine Inch Nails had to replace the six-piece headliner due to the untimely death of 50-year-old drummer Taylor Hawkins. Now with the decorated Josh Freese on the drum kit, the Foos are back for what is to be an emotional set, as they are guaranteed to perform new music from their latest album “But Here We Are,” that celebrates the late Hawkins.
Photo by Amy Harris.
Saturday’s lineup of 90’s legends altogether is sure to draw the most crowds. Aside from the Foos, others that will take the stage are Primus, Queens of the Stone Age, L7, Helmet and more. The modern rock heroes Greta Van Fleet will be headlining as well. The Stone Temple Pilots, having to cancel their WTR set in 2021 due to COVID-19, are also back in the lineup for Saturday.
However, if you’re looking for REAL dad rock, look no further than the opening day of this year’s festival. From Mötley Crüe to the returning Anthrax, Disturbed and Mudvayne, Thursday’s roster hosts some of the greatest metal lineups of the past five decades. Judas Priest, the oldest WTR 2024 band formed in 1969, will take the stage right before the Crüe, making their Florida debut with new guitarist John 5, a WTR veteran who’s played solo (WTR 2022) and with Rob Zombie (WTR 2021). Just two weeks ago on April 26, the Crüe released their first new song in five years, “Dogs of War,” which should amp up the anticipation for their headlining set.
But what about mom rock? Nothing says Happy Mother’s Day quite like the heavy metal legends Slipknot. Sunday’s Mother’s Day lineup features Breaking Benjamin, Evanescence, Sum 41 and many more, all of which are sure to attract everyone (and their mom).
Friday’s lineup isn’t to be missed out on either. Headlined by the Florida native icons of nu-metal Limp Bizkit, other artists on the roster include The Offspring, Falling in Reverse, In This Moment and Jelly Roll. All in all, WTR 2024 has something to offer for every type of rocker.
Four days. Five stages. 100+ bands.
Pack up your sunscreen, throw on your favorite band tee and get ready to chow down on some delicious island noodles. Welcome to Rockville 2024 is here. Get your tickets while you still can.