The tranquil lush green fields near Maverick’s bar on Bixby Road in Groveport are about to be ravaged by 500 metal-thirsty fans ready to thrash to their favorite central Ohio metal bands. Grandma and grandpa better get their ear plugs out – Metal X Fest is here.
Twenty local bands will be playing the first Metal X Fest, beginning 6 p.m. June 27 through June 28, at Maverick’s Bar, located at 2888 Bixby Road in Groveport, about 20 miles outside of Columbus. Fans have been invited for two days of camping and metal, rain or shine.
The event, promoted by Karel of KB Sound Services, is deviating from the norm by not heralding any band over another.
“It is not about headlining bands and openers,” he said.
Metal X Fest was designed to bring the central Ohio metal community together and organizers hope it will bring more interest into the local scene, which has had its share of problems.
Qball, lead singer for XFactor1, one of the anticipated bands performing at Metal X Fest, thinks the local metal scene could use something like this event to encourage the camaraderie among the bands.
“It can be a very hateful and clique-ish kind of scene at times,” he said. “We’re always looking to bond with other bands. There are some really good bands on the central Ohio music scene.”
Those bands are the reason XFactor1 decided to play the festival.
“A lot of the bands we like are on the show,” Qball said. “We love them all, especially if they share their beer.”
Another featured band, Stapled Mouth Shut, placed 25th in the 2005 Battle of the Bands for Ozzfest. Lead singer Ryan Henry agreed the festival could help ignite some much-needed interest in the local metal scene.
“The point is not about openers and headliners but about the spirit of local metal music,” he said. “What makes it special is the hope to wake the community to what underground metal is and how it affects all those around it.”
Another aspect of Metal X Fest that is special is that fans can bring their vans, campers and RVs and camp out in the fields while listening to the bands perform. Included in the $20 ticket cost is a breakfast buffet served Saturday and Sunday morning by Maverick’s. Drinks will also be provided.
Gates will open at noon Friday and the first of eight bands will perform at 6 p.m. Karel said that in case of inclement weather, some of the 12 bands scheduled to perform at 2 p.m. Saturday might have to carry over to Sunday.
Some of the bands to perform this weekend are Trimble, Corrosive Vengence, Evil Around Us, American Zero, Cycle of Punishment, Krynos and Deflagration.
Ryan Henry said he is looking forward to what he hopes is the first of many Metal X Fests to come.
“We are looking forward to just letting loose and showing the crowd a great time,” Henry said.
Qball of XFactor1 is hopeful as well, but he realizes it will take more than just a summer festival to nurture the need for a strong metal presence in Columbus.
“It takes constant promotion and hard work being sustained to make anything good happen in the music biz,” he said. “Our band works hard to make sure it’ll always be worth our while. We promote a lot and sell a lot of tickets on the streets and to our supporters. I hope all the bands do their end. It could be huge.”
For more information about Metal X Fest, please visit www.myspace.com/columbusmetalxfest or www.myspace.com/kbsoundservices.
Amanda Forbes can be reached at [email protected].
