On June 16, 2012, over 100 bands began performing in Salt Lake City, Utah for the Vans Warped Tour. Vans Warped Tour is an over forty day-long, festival-style tour that go across the entire USA in the summer. The tour consists of punk/alternative-rock bands who are either upcoming or well-known across the country. I had the pleasure to attend Warped Tour when they came to Columbia, MD on July 24. It was fun and something that everyone should experience it at least once in their lives.
Fans waiting for Sleeping with Sirens, one of the many bands who are touring in Vans Warped Tour
The day started early for my friends and I. We woke up around 6 a.m. since we couldn’t get contain the excitement for the day ahead of us. We arrived around 8 a.m. at Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, MD. The doors didn’t open until 11:30 a.m. and yet, there were three lines that were formed in front of the entrance. One line was formed for those who’d brought canned foods for donation in order to receive a bracelet that allowed them to stand in another line that was formed for people who wanted to enter the venue before anybody else. The last line was the regular line, in other words, the people who bought tickets at a regular price.
Once the doors opened at 11:30 a.m., people rushed through the entrance to get glimpses of their favorite band. When you enter every arena where Warped Tour is being held, there usually is an enormous stage where some of the featured bands are going to perform. Actually, there is a various amount of stages that spread throughout the entire venue. There is also a skating ramp where skaters can enjoy their time skating while listening to rock music.
Around each stage, there were many sponsors whose tents held merchandise of either bands, record labels, or causes (such as breast cancer). In some tents, sponsors would provide times and places where bands would perform and when/where they would be for signings. This year, there was tent sponsored by Klean Kanteen where they provided free filtered-water for fans. There were also tents designated for people who needed a break from being out in the sun all day and needed some shade.
All in all, the Vans Warped Tour is a great place to meet new people, listen to new and old rock music, and skate with other skaters. The bands were great and sweet to their fans. Catch Vans Warped Tour near you before they head to London, which is the first time the tour goes internationally since 1998, making their first stop in Alexandra Palace this November 10th.