After waiting for a year, it was finally time to begin the journey. The journey to Virginia International Speedy way for Blue Ridge Rock Festival 2022. My trip began Tuesday September 6th as my camp family made our way down to VA from all over (myself, Pennsylvania). We got a hotel to stay in Tuesday night as camping check in started at 7a and we wanted to be in line by 5a. Lesson learned for me, I booked at TERRIBLE hotel in South Boston, VA. Terrible as in cardboard in the windows terrible. Thankfully, another hotel up the road had a room we and we skipped the roach motel.
At 330a another part of our caravan stopped by and woke us up. It was time to link up with the rest of the crew and get in line for camping! We quickly learned last year BE EARLY! Blue Ridge Tip #1: Be extra early for camping check in. If you think you’re early enough, you aren’t.
By 5am we were on our way to camping line up. The Blue Ridge and local police did a FANTASTIC job of showing us where we needed to go. I can’t speak for later in the day or the days following but if you were there early they had us organized and ready to go. We were moving into VIR before 7am. They had us move in large groups for security checks and bomb dogs. By 7:05am we were driving across the raceway to our camping spot. We were the first group into the festival grounds. Because of that we were also NEXT TO the north venue entrance and right behind the URW stage.
Wednesday ended early for me. It had been a LONG almost 2 days on very little sleep and spoilers for later: I was coming down ill and didn’t know it (nope, not covid!).
Thursday was the official day 1 of the festival. My day began at the “main” stages (Zyn and Monster). They were about half a mile up a GIANT hill. This hill has now become the inspiration for many, many memes. And later in the week when the rain hit, the inspiration for many, many injuries.
A Skylit Drive
Kicking my Blue Ridge week off with a bang was A Skylit Drive. This was a THROOOOOW back!
Fire From The Gods
I’ve been following FFTGs for quite some time now and they’ve been on my “must photograph” list for just about that long. Hello, opportunity! Their energy was fantastic and I love, love when singers aren’t afraid to hop into the crowd.
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
The way the two main stages, Zyn and Monster, were set up this year they were next to each other and alternated bands playing. One would end and five minutes later another would start on the other stage. It made it easy to catch acts back to back. We slid right into The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus!
Spiritbox
Now for the absolute highlight of my Thursday at Blue Ridge. I can’t exactly say I have a favorite band. But if I did, it would be Spiritbox. As a complete fangirl, I was disappointed with the short set. However, I finally got to see Rotoscope live and it was nothing short of amazing. Courtney is really coming into her own as a performer. And if you were there and saw me hop out of the photo pit after my three songs and completely lose my brain for the rest of the set just mind your business. Because I 100% did.
Over all days 0-1 were in my book, a great time. Blue Ridge really made improvements with camping check in. The ease of it for everyone was a HUGE difference. The alternating side by side main stages were also a massive improvement. The only big down side was The Hill of Doom. Downside? Hill? See what I did there? Stay tuned for part II including less terrible puns!
