M3 Festival?

So I watched the end of the Daytona 500 then was flipping around channels looking for something to watch and I stumbled upon AXS TV showing highlights from the 2012 M3 Festival, something I've never even heard of. 

I googled M3 Festival to see if it's still "a thing" and it turns out it is.  This 2 day festival is in Columbia, Maryland and takes place May 1 and 2 this year.   Check out this lineup:

FRIDAY 1ST MAY

KIX
Dokken
Quiet Riot
Trixter
Dio Disciples

SATURDAY 2ND MAY

Europe
Cinderella's Tom Keifer
Queensryche
Krokus
Warrant
Y&T
Winery Dogs
LA Guns
Vixen
Bang Tango
Black N Blue
Tyketto
Rhino Bucket
Killer Dwarfs
Bad Seed Rising

That seems like a lot of good bands and yet I've never even heard of this thing.  Anyone ever heard of it or even better, been to it?

I've heard of it. It's been going on for a few years now. I've watched bits and pieces of previous years online and on cable.

Yes, it's been a regular festival for several years now. This is probably one of the weaker lineups they've had. It seems to downsize a bit each year. Still an excellent lineup though. I like nearly all of those bands.

I've heard of it, sounds like fun. I believe jokeriv has been to it a time or two.

Eddie Trunk been the host the last several years

Fat Freddy wrote:

I've heard of it, sounds like fun. I believe jokeriv has been to it a time or two.

Correct - I have been the past three years. I will try to make it this year too.The festival is going strong and attendance has been up every year - including a sell out last year.

On the AXSTV highlight show, I can see my self a number of times (was 4 or 5 rows back).

Used to watch it then for some reason my cable provider dumped AXSTV Jan 1. I remember being impressed with QR and they sounded better than I expected. Scott Vokoun sounded good and I was disappointed when he left.

Oh, and I believe it is when The Geoff told the crowd they sucked.

Quote :

Oh, and I believe it is when The Geoff told the crowd they sucked.

That was at Rocklahoma. He didn't sound great at M3 though.

I'd love to check this out. It's just about a 4 hr drive for me. For a 2 day trip that's very doable. 2 day passes range from $60 - $210 which actually isn't too bad considering what you're getting.

007 wrote:

I'd love to check this out. It's just about a 4 hr drive for me. For a 2 day trip that's very doable.  2 day passes range from $60 - $210 which actually isn't too bad considering what you're getting.

It's worth it. I recommend booking a hotel now, as all the hotels in Columbia fill up quickly. The bands usually stay at the Sheraton on Columbia, MD.

I live close enough to drive, but the one year I did both days I got a hotel room (helps when drinking lol!) Lots of after gig parties at the hotels too.

thejokeriv wrote:

Lots of after gig parties at the hotels too.

Now you're talking !

glassprison wrote:

Quote :

Oh, and I believe it is when The Geoff told the crowd they sucked.

That was at Rocklahoma. He didn't sound great at M3 though.

Correct. M3 was the festival he started dry-humping a camera man during on of the songs....... Most people after their set made the comments that the band sounded great, GT was OK but something was very off. I heard a good number of people (myself included) say they were done with Queensryche after that show. If you watch the clips closely, you can see security all over both sides of the stage. You can also notice the band and Geoff don;t go anywhere near each other during the performance. I think they edited out the clips of Geoff leaving the stage and being escorted by several security guards.

Bonus - when I met the band after a show (Todd now in place), I told Eddie Jackson that the last time I saw them was at the M3 festival, he responded "I'm sorry - I hope tonight made up for it." It did

mikeinfla wrote:

Oh, and I believe it is when The Geoff told the crowd they sucked.

What a loser

I've heard of it and have friends who attend this fest. I'd like to go but haven't been able to.

mikeinfla wrote:

Used to watch it then for some reason my cable provider dumped AXSTV Jan 1. I remember being impressed with QR and they sounded better than I expected. Scott Vokoun sounded good and I was disappointed when he left.

Footage from this performance was used in the recent QR documentary. As we watched it, I jokingly said to my wife that we should go to this festival. It's probably only a 2 hour trek for me. Surprisingly, she didn't entirely dismiss the idea. She said the people watching factor would be worth it.