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Outdoor Rock Survival Guide

Get the most out of your Rockfest experience.

Three Days Grace wears sunscreen. Will you?

From the time the gates open for Springfield Rockfest at 3 p.m. June 10 to the end of the show around midnight, six bands will take the stage for their chance to perform in front of a sea of sunburned fans. The show will be headlined by Three Days Grace, with sets from a number of other bands throughout the day (read sidebar for more details.) That’s a lot of rock to absorb in one sitting, we understand; but experienced local rock fans know the ins and outs of making it through a long day such as Rockfest. The Outdoor Rock Survival Guide goes something like this:

• Playing With Matches bassist Andy Marshall suggests hydrating like crazy. Jordan Valley Field has about as much tree cover as the moon’s Sea of Tranquility. That means a sunny day of music watching can turn into a sweaty nightmare in a very short time. If you’re out in the heat for the whole day, keep a water bottle or two in hand. Scott Perket, a graphic designer with Robinson Creative Group who has been going to outdoor music festivals since 1999, says this may also mean holding off on drinking beer or other alcohol until after the sun goes down. Otherwise, you may be passed out before the headliner ever goes onstage.
• Wear light clothing, Marshall says. The less you force yourself to sweat, the better off you’ll be.
  
• Don’t piss off security by bringing banned stuff. Concert organizer FM Productions has a list of items not allowed onto Jordan Valley Field, including lawn chairs, photo and video cameras, coolers and blankets. If you forget this rule, hopefully you’ll remember to park nearby. Otherwise it could be a long, lonely walk back to the car with an armload of unusable stuff.
  
• Positioning is everything. Some shows just sound better from the back of the crowd, while others demand a front-row experience. Judge for yourself what kind of show you’re in for early on and work your way through the crowd accordingly. If you find yourself at the back of the crowd at what appears to be a front-row kind of show, sit tight until the band starts its most rocking material. Inevitably, Perket says, the crowd will start jumping around with its arms in the air. At the moment this begins, put your arms out in front of you and begin plowing your way through the crowd with a series of swim moves. You’ll be in the front row by the end of the song.
  
• Move around constantly. Staying in one place under the sun is a recipe for exhaustion, so Perket suggests walking around throughout the day to keep the blood moving. It also encourages more socializing, he says.
  
• Throw a ’bow once in a while. Your elbows are a communication device, Perket says. If someone is standing too close to you during the show, nudge them aside.
  
• Obey lawn seating etiquette. Stake your claim to your piece of ground, give space to the others around you and defend your space against anyone who tries to invade it. If drunk people decide your spot looks good for them, use your elbows.
  
• Crowd surfing rules state that a person goes from the stage to the back of the crowd, not the other way around, Perket says. If you’re watching a show and get hit in the back of the head by a crowd surfer, grab him or her by the nearest available body part and pull the crowd surfer down.
  
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