Amnesia fest recalls roots in June lineup
More than 125 acts — a record — will focus on punk, metal and hardcore
Look out, Montebello. This year’s edition of Amnesia Rockfest will not only welcome back two of its biggest headliners of recent years — California pop-punk outfit Blink-182 and Chicago’s hardcore heroes Rise Against — but it will also present the first Quebec appearance in 20 years of alt-rock legends Jane’s Addiction.
That’s just a sample of the more than 125 acts set to blast the west Quebec village of Montebello in the 11th annual instalment of the eardrum-bursting festival, which will unfold on five stages at the Montebello Marina June 23 to 26. More than 200,000 fans are expected to invade the quiet community alongside the Ottawa River.
“It’s actually a record for the number of bands this year,” said festival founder Alex Martel. “I really focused it on punk rock, metal and hardcore, which is how Rockfest started. Obviously it’s more diverse now, but I wanted to go back to those roots. Our early fans are happy and feel like the old Rockfest is back, but at the same time, I tried to keep the diversity that we’ve added in the past couple of years. I think it’s a good balance for everyone.”
Other highlights: the only Canadian date for ’80s metal stars Twisted Sister on their farewell tour; a rare Quebec appearance by party monsters Limp Bizkit; rapper Ice Cube and nu-metal champs Korn. Billy Talent and Sum 41 will also be part of the fun, as will England’s Bring Me the Horizon and Florida’s A Day To Remember.
The 29-year-old Martel, a Montebello resident who founded the festival when he was 17, brainstormed the lineup with two friends who happen to be high-profile members of the U.S. punk community: Rancid singer-guitarist Tim Armstrong and NOFX’s Fat Mike. It’s the second year the three have collaborated on the program.
“Those guys became close friends over the years because they played Rockfest many times,” said Martel. “They really believe in what I do, and they’re always willing to help and give advice. I ask what they think of this band or that band, and they throw some ideas at me. I do the actual booking, but they obviously contribute to some of the ideas.”
No wonder Martel is particularly proud of the punk portion of the lineup, which also includes California’s Lagwagon (performing their album Hoss), Sweden’s Millencolin, New Jersey ska-punks Streetlight Manifesto, melodic hardcore punks Strung Out, Leftöver Crack, Wizo and more. Meanwhile, a series of tribute shows will focus on the music of No Use For a Name, Black Flag and GG Allin, to name a few.
Rarities and reunions are a big part of Rockfest’s appeal. This year includes NOFX performing their album Punk in Drublic, The Used performing In Love and Death, reunion shows by At the Drive-In and Underoath, and solo shows by Blink-182’s Travis Barker and Fat Mike, who will appear as Cokie the Clown.
“That’s something that’s always been important to me at Rockfest, to have these special things,” says Martel.
Those special performances also intensify the celebration at Rockfest, evident in the legions of fans who wear costumes and party like there’s no tomorrow.
“It makes it special,” Martel says, “because people know they’re going to see something they might not ever see again. It definitely adds to the vibe at Rockfest of just living a unique experience.”
For many fans, it’s also a nostalgic trip back to their teenage years.
“One thing I really notice,” Martel said, “is we have lots of people in their late 20s or early 30s who used to go to tons of shows when they were younger and now they have a more serious job or a kid, so this is the one weekend every year they can get away and forget everything and be teenagers again.”
The metalheads among them will be happy that there’s no shortage of the heavy stuff, thanks to Lamb of God, Anthrax, Sepultura, Cannibal Corpse, Corrosion of Conformity, The Black Dahlia Murder and The Faceless, as well as the first Canadians shows in years for Sodom and D.R.I. Also notable is a reunion of Poison the Well.