Boardwalk Rock Festival: Day 1

The inaugural Boardwalk Rock Festival made a thunderous debut in Ocean City, Maryland, turning the inlet into a sea of music, community, and rock 'n' roll energy. From the moment gates opened at 12PM, fans packed the grounds, ready to experience three stages of non-stop live music.

The early afternoon kicked off with energy on all three stages. Kat Von D set the tone on the Thunder stage with her haunting, synth-heavy sound, while Royale Lynn brought a southern rock flair to the Bolt stage. Meanwhile, over at the Lightning stage, Trapt had the crowd singing along to early 2000s alt-rock anthems.

As the afternoon continued, The Struts amped up the glam-rock vibes with a vibrant and theatrical performance. Puddle of Mudd followed on the Bolt stage, delivering a nostalgic dose of post-grunge power. Extreme shredded their way through a heavy set on the Lightning stage, drawing in a crowd of longtime fans and curious newcomers alike.

By late afternoon, the festival atmosphere intensified with back-to-back sets from some of our favorite bands. Chevelle’s driving riffs echoed across the Thunder stage, while Mammoth WVH brought fresh energy to the Bolt stage. Over on Lightning, Everclear gave fans a strong dose of 90s alternative rock. Bush followed on the Bolt stage, closing out the daytime portion with a dynamic and powerful performance.

As the sun set and the crowd swelled, the night truly came alive. Rob Zombie took the Thunder stage with a ferocious and theatrical set that lit up the evening sky. Over on the Lightning stage, Flyleaf reunited with Lacey Sturm and delivered a raw, emotional, and electric set that left fans buzzing. Halestorm kept the energy high as they dominated the Bolt stage with their signature blend of power vocals and headbanging rock. Finally, the legendary Def Leppard closed out the night in epic fashion on the Thunder stage, giving fans a full-scale arena rock show right on the beach.

We made time to swing by the #RockandRecycle booth, where we collected cans and earned a free t-shirt for helping keep the festival clean—a cool way to rock responsibly!

We also visited the Heart Support booth, a powerful presence at the fest. Heart Support is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping every fan in the metal scene get the mental health support they need. It was inspiring to see so many people engaging with their message of healing and support. www.HeartSupport.com

With a stacked lineup, community-driven initiatives, and beautiful weather, the first day of Boardwalk Rock Festival was everything we hoped it would be. Bring on Day 2!

Photography: Mike Detwiler for OC Shore Magazine - https://mikedet.net / Facebook