Celebrating its 30th anniversary on campgrounds eight miles away from the small town of Cadott, Wisc., Rock Fest doesn’t need to embellish its name. It’s the original Rock Fest, taking place on the same 360 acres of Wisconsin fields where festival organizers first began Country Fest in 1987. Rock Fest started in 1994, and with five stages and over 7500 campsites, they consider themselves the United States’ “largest rock and camping event.”
Headlining the 2024 festival are Thirty Seconds to Mars, Shinedown and Jelly Roll. There’s also a Bonus Bash, on July 17, a day before the festival begins, headlined by Vince Neil alongside seven other acts including Quiet Riot, Burning Witches and Killakoi. As in years prior, radio host Lou Brutus will MC the main stage. Offstage, the entertainment sounds just as intense. Activities range from Hell’s Hollow wooded trail, where the buddy system is recommended, to the Chapel of Love, where you could marry said buddy, to Hellzapoppin, a rock-n-roll circus sideshow.
But even a festival 30 years along will have some trouble now and then. Three months after the release of the 2024 lineup, Californian metalcore band Of Mice & Men was brought in to replace Mongolian folk metal band The HU for unexplained reasons. Last year, the lead singer of Falling in Reverse, started some drama on Twitter by complaining about a “boring” crowd. Fans were split between critiquing their performance and the festival’s policy that didn’t allow moshing. Whether for this reason or another, this year’s Rock Fest will have a mosh pit, set up at the Budweiser Boneyard (one of the side stages) for a test run. They’re putting a foot down on flailing and hardcore moshing, but you still can rock out some of that communal metal energy in the new pit.
The Specs
- Nearly 30,000 people attend each day.
- 3-day General Admission starts at $129 and 1-day passes are currently $109. There are also reserved lawn seats, pit passes, camping and other add-ons available.
- Check out Fifty Grande’s guide to Wisconsin here, including a review of Oxbow Hotel in Eau Claire, which is about 40 minutes away from Cadott.
FAQs
Do I have to camp?
You can stay at a hotel or other accommodation – there are daily shuttles available to and from the festival. Camping (and parking) passes are sold separately from the main festival ticket.
What is the closest airport to the festival?
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, though in a different state, is the closest major airport to Cadott, about 111-133 miles away. Eau Claire Regional Airport is about 40 minutes from the venue.
Is the festival ADA-accessible?
There are accessible parking, camping, and seating areas available, and ASL interpreter services can be requested at least 2 weeks before the festival.
Which artists are on the Rock Fest Wisconsin 2024 lineup?
Vince Neil, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Shinedown, Jelly Roll, Quiet Riot, Burning Witches, Psychostick, Shallow Side, Feel, Killakoi, Evernoir, 311, Killswitch Engage, Sevendust, Dirty Honey, Ayron Jones, Upon a Burning Body, Sleep Theory, Citizen Soldier, True Villains, Crossbreed, Until I Wake, Cultus Black, Softspoken, Gabriel and the Apocalypse, Citizen Kane, Nine Left Dead, Twinspan, Illusions of Grandeur, Cowboys from Hell, Gravezig, Heartsick Heroine, Krook Fool, Lockjaw, Parkway Drive, Beartooth, Atreyu, From Ashes to New, Stabbing Westward, Cold, I See Stars, Saul, Silent Theory, Uncured, City of the Weak, Living Dead Girl, Kazha, Reign of Z, Amerakin Overdose, The Rumours, Domidium, The Hybrid Theory, Sabbatha, Motherwind, Dead Amsterdan, Xaeto, Chevelle, Of Mice & Men, Fever 333, The 2 Live Crew, Struggle Jennings, Austin Meade, Liliac, Holy Wars, Another Day Dawns, Blue Felix, Kingdom Collapse, Ignescent, Eyes Like Midnight, Alborn, Dark Sun, Sepsis, Neverwaker, Who’s Who, Motörcityhead, Leaving Hope, SIIN and Hammer Down Hard.
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