As a rock fan, do you feel left out of festivals? Sure, Bonnaroo has a few rock bands, but their headliners are always more pop, for the purpose of selling tickets. And with Jazzfest in New Orleans, it seems like there’s a real gap in the market for rock festivals. No more! You can put 98Rockfest on your calendar. If you’re not local to Florida, you’ll have to travel – but there’s not much to complain about in sunny Tampa, Florida. If you’re tired from moshing, you could even plan an extra day off to lay on the beach – it’s up to you.

The Nitty Gritty Details

98Rockfest was created a few years about by 98ROCK, a local Tampa radio station who noticed the gap in the market. That’s where the 98 comes from – it’s not a throwback to the ’90s. It’s held, traditionally, in AMALIE Arena, which seats up to 20,500 people. That’s a lot of rock fans!

The day of fun usually starts with a free pre-show outside the venue, and the free bands that open are always different. Seat options include VIP tickets, which allow you to see acoustic or warm-up sets from headlining artists and gives you access to a party area. If that’s a little out of your price range, there are general admission and floor tickets available as well – they just don’t come with those extra perks.

The Lineup

The lineup of Rockfest changes every year, but previous festivals acts have included bands like 3 Days Grace and Fozzy. Dirty Honey, Beartooth, Theory of a Deadman, and Godsmack have all taken the stage as well. It’s a show you won’t want to mix – no matter who the headliners are this year! If you’re local, listening to the radio station will allow you the chance to win tickets – but there are no guarantees.