Page 9 - ION Indie Magazine JulyAugust 2018 Issue

My good fortune has allowed me to attend one of the best run summer festivals in the USA today. A company
called Danny Wimmer Presents knows exactly the rock music that the fan of today wants and certainly gives
it to them – with a lot extra!

DWP brings us Rock On The Range, Northern Invasion, and my favorite so far, Carolina Rebellion. I was
fortunate enough to attend this festival the last two years and it was nothing short of spectacular each time.
But, I also say, “So far…” because I’ll be making the trek out to Louisville Kentucky for Louder Than Life later
this year -- and judging from the recently announced lineup, I think DWP has once again raised the bar.

Carolina Rebellion is all about “fan experience”. If you attended and for some God-forsaken reason didn’t
enjoy it, well, I guess you just don’t know what a good time IS -- and you also probably were an absolute
delight to hang with (yup, intentional sarcasm) for anyone who went with you.

Four stages, two major stages, and two smaller ones make up Carolina Rebellion. The Carolina Stage and the
Rebellion Stage host some of the biggest names in music, while the two smaller two stages, the Black and
the Gold, play host to some amazing smaller, up-and-coming bands. For the bigger stages, you can expect
the likes of Godsmack, Muse, and Shinedown. Smaller stages feature bands such as Bad Wolves, Them Evils,
and The Fever 333 – to name just a few of “newer” bands that you can catch there. But rest assured, these
bands will be back and playing the larger stages very soon.

And the food…everywhere there’s food! How can you go wrong in a place called “Pig Out Village?” While
festival fare offers all types of food, true to North Carolina cuisine and to tempt my palate’s particular
preference, there was plenty of BBQ! And then you have beer, beer, and more beer! Oh yeah, and plenty of
whiskey (not that I have any personal knowledge of such things). You really can’t go wrong when PBR and
Jack Daniels are major sponsors. And for the more refined taste buds -- a Wine Garden. My, how very fancy!

The VIP areas boast covered food and beverage courts, air-conditioned restrooms, and elevated viewing
areas…all well worth the bump in price. It just doesn’t get much easier to stay for the entire event as
attractive hotel deals and camping nearby make it so easy to ditch the worries of driving.

Are you getting my point yet? Yesterday’s festivals weren’t bad, and I certainly have some epic memories
(those that I can remember, that is). Yesterday’s festivals just don’t compare to today’s events! Today’s
summer music festivals I liken to “destination adventures” (I just totally made that up, so go ahead and
hashtag that!). All kidding aside, they really are destination adventures. You can get lost in the music for a
few days, stay and play…let loose! Isn’t that what rock n roll really IS all about? And over 60 bands in one
weekend? Are you kidding me?

One of the very best in bringing you these festivals is Danny Wimmer Presents. Check them out and find a
festival near you at: https://dannywimmerpresents.com

It was my pleasure to get to interview the man who brings us all the great bands for DWP, Senior Vice
President of Festival Talent, Gary Spivack. He is responsible for finding and booking all of the bands that play
the DWP festivals, and in my humble opinion, has the coolest job in America!

WWW.CAROLINAREBELLION.COM