6,000 atttend annual X-Fest at riverfront park |
By TAYLOR KUYKENDALL
Harris Riverfront Park was filled with around 6,000 Tri-State music fans fist pumping to a hard hitting rock soundtrack Saturday at X106.3's X-Fest 2008.
Early showers gave way in the afternoon leaving plenty of time for both local and national musicians to rock the crowd.
"How many rock festivals do you get to see in an area like this," asks Derek Chapman, marketing director for X106.3. "X-Fest is without a doubt the biggest rock fest in the area."
The show was split into two stages. The main stage hosted the headliners while area bands broke the silence between main acts on the loud and local stage.
"X-Fest and the WAMX Loud and Local Show always have offered local bands a place to be heard. We look for the best, and there is a lot of great talent right here in the area," Chapman said.
Avenged Sevenfold headlined X-Fest 2008 on its first tour through the Tri-State area. The band kicked off its fall tour with the X-Fest show and will continue its national tour in promotion of its released self-titled CD and a live DVD set to be released September 16.
Chapman said the staff of X106.3 has been working very hard to make sure the event went well today. Erik Raines, known for his show, "Erik on the X," said everyone at the station looks forward to the event.
"It's like Christmas for us. It means a lot to be able to come out and be with the listeners. It's cool for the listeners and really cool for the station," Raines said.
Many in the crowd were X-Fest veterans, ranging from their second time to a few claiming they attended all twelve of the annual festivals.
"This is my fifth X-Fest. It's really amazing, I just love it. I would like to see someone like Lamb of God or Metallica play next year," said Blake Collins from Grayson, Ky.
The main stage featured acts by Avenged Sevenfold, Shadows Fall, Pop Evil, Egypt Central, Another Black Day and Midnight to Twelve.
"We have played Huntington before. Club Echo I believe," said Leigh Kakaty, lead singer of Pop Evil. "West Virginia is becoming like a little, small second home to us. It really is embracing our record and our band, so we love to expose it to the masses here at X-Fest. It's great to see all the love here."
The Loud and Local Stage included shows put on by X Factor 1, Pi, Bud Carroll and the Southern Souls, Downtrend and Stitch Rivet. |
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