If you didn’t leave Daytona International Speedway with sunburns, bruises, or your face melted off from 120-decibel guitars, did you even go to Welcome to Rockville 2025?
Thursday: The Foreplay
We rolled in around 2:30 PM like responsible adults avoiding heatstroke, and immediately got blindsided by Blue October. We came for the riffs, but stayed for the nostalgia—turns out we knew every damn word. The Pretty Reckless delivered a set with more attitude than your ex on tequila, and Three Days Grace crushed their set before Shinedown closed things out with a flawless barrage of angst and power chords that reminded us why they’re still at the top of their game. We also caught Exodus and Finger Eleven, setting the tone for a weekend that was already sweating greatness.
Friday: Hellfire and Heritage
The sun turned Daytona into an Easy-Bake Oven. At one point it hit 96°F, and Everclear’s frontman looked like he was melting in real-time. Still, props to him for soldiering through. Bush brought the Brit-grunge heat, Jimmy Eat World sounded like a nostalgic mixtape come to life, and Social Distortion—finally, finally—graced our eyes and ears. First time seeing them live, and worth every bead of sweat. Good Charlotte was surprisingly killer (a friend of ours was sitting next to Cameron Diaz, Benji’s wife, in the Owners Club seats), and Green Day reminded everyone why they’re festival gods. Billie Joe had the crowd in the palm of his eyelinered hand.
Saturday: Shade, Sweat & Surprise Killers
Another scorcher. Thank the rock gods for the VIP shade, because the GA crowd was dropping like flies—Danny Wimmer Presents, please add more shade before someone spontaneously combusts. Hollywood Undead and Pierce the Veil delivered unexpected haymakers. Beartooth and Incubus rode the wave of adrenaline, but it was Linkin Park that burned the place down (metaphorically). Their new frontwoman? Absolutely nailed it. Chester would be proud, and anyone who says otherwise is just wrong. This was our first time seeing them live—and it was everything. Raw, emotional, explosive.
Sunday: The Rock Gods Rested… but Not Before Raising Hell
Cloud cover arrived like a miracle, but the fire kept burning. Sevendust once again proved they’re one of the most underrated live acts in the game—Lajon’s emotional crowd talk hit hard. Motionless in White brought the theatrics, Filter detonated the afternoon with “Hey Man Nice Shot,” and Daughtry flexed vocals like a champ. Chevelle? Perfection as usual.
And then came the moment we’d waited years for—Marilyn Manson. No, he didn’t play our favorite deep cuts, but the man showed up. His band deserves a shrine. Bad Omens followed with a killer set, and Korn closed out the night in signature fire-breathing fashion. When the bass drops hit, they shook the Speedway down to the roots.
This year’s Rockville was, according to Danny Wimmer Presents, the biggest one yet, with over 200,000 people roaring back to life after years of silence. The staff, crew, security, food vendors, bartenders, medics—everyone deserves a standing ovation for making chaos look like choreography.
We’ll say it louder for the people in the back: THIS. WAS. LEGENDARY.
And Sleep Token? Yeah, we love you, but you missed your shot. This would’ve been your festival to dominate.
Didn’t make it? Feel the FOMO in real time.
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