The first-ever, nearly nonstop, 48-hour rock and roll party and festival on The Strip is certain to go into the record books for many reasons, and not just because it’s competing head-to-head with the pedal-to-the-metal IndyCar race weekend’s thrills and spills. First, no less than 22 hard rock and heavy metal bands are scheduled to play on two stages this weekend as part of The 48 Hours Festival. Secondly, whenever there’s a break in the hells-a-poppin’ onstage antics, there’s the death-defying, big-air freestyle motocross jump action. The host hotel casinos Luxor, Mandalay Bay and Excalibur are setting up their own festival fairgrounds on The Strip directly across from the Luxor.
Organizers are proud to call it a “debauchery weekend” for “the world’s biggest rock and roll party” complete with a hangover brunch at Mandalay Bay Beach with Korn’s Jonathan Davis making a rare DJ appearance Sunday.
The 48 Hours Festival sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink begins tomorrow with a House of Blues kickoff party at Mandalay Bay featuring Steel Panther. Doors open Saturday at 2 p.m. with Orange Blossom Special. Then the following bands alternate until Avenged Sevenfold closes out with a show starting at 9 p.m.: Adelitas Way, Hell or Highwater, Black Tide, Escape the Fate, Rev Theory, Bullet for My Valentine, Hatebreed, Hollywood Undead and Five Finger Death Punch.
The official after-party is scheduled for Saturday night at House of Blues hosted by Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed. There’ll be an all-star jam with many of the rockers sitting in with the Sin City Sinners, plus Chris Jericho’s band Fozzy, to get the fun started. It isn’t all about the guys, though: Special guests from Revolver’s “Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock” issue include Maria Brink of In This Moment, Syd Duran of Valora, Alexia and Anissa Rodriguez of Eyes Set to Kill and the ultra-sexy but controversial Butcher Babes.
On Sunday starting again at 2 p.m., it kicks off with Valora and then alternating bands Eyes Set to Kill, 10 Years, Taking Dawn, Sick Puppies, Art of Dying, Seether, Seven Dust, Three Days Grace, Godsmack and wrapping with Korn. Rockstar’s Metal Mulisha riders Derek Garland, Wes Agee and founder Brian Deegan are making appearances and featuring multiple big-air, freestyle motorcross jump shows.
A two-day weekend ticket is $99 for the 22 bands and $129 onsite. I’m told that if it’s pulled off successfully and with minimal problems, everyone wants it to become another fixture on the annual Las Vegas entertainment calendar. For more information, go to 48HoursFestival.com.
