As is tradition, the M3 Rock Festival kicked off the first weekend of May in Columbia, Maryland. This year’s festivities took place over Saturday and Sunday, with pre-party events kicking things off on Friday evening just as it did the previous year. Well almost, you see last year, we were still trying to recover from the Monsters of Rock Cruise, which luckily took place back in early March this time around.
There were options on Friday beginning early in the day with the “Pre-Gathering” beginning at noon on Friday at the Fish Head Cantina with Creem Circus, Liquid Lucky, Thrill Ride, Mr. Grey and Vertical Tracking performing for a $25 ticket. Additionally, D-Toxin Productions also hosted the M-Pre Party at Reckless Shepherd Brewery again this year with doors opening soon after the party at the Cantina wrapped-up. For a $30 ticket The Show included Generation Landslide (the band of Anthony White from Cold Sweat), Scarlett Roxx, Rat Rod, Ratchet Dolls and The Midnight Devils.
We even made our way there when we got word of an unexpected jam with members of the line-up including The Midnight Devils, Cold Sweat, and Rat Rod were joined by members of Dirty Looks, and Aldo Nova just before midnight.
In the meantime, the M3 Rock Festival VIP Party began at 6:30 pm at The Collective Encore with the official pre-party featuring Pete Evick (Brett Michaels Band) and Dean Cramer (Funny Money, So Low) opening the doors to the general public for a second performance dubbed the “Official M3 Pre-Party” at 8:30 pm, which sold-out well in advance of the show.
The duo first introduced us to the brand new venue last year along with their partner in crime Chad Stewart (Faster Pussycat) and a few other special guests. Sadly Chad didn’t make it out this year, but that didn’t mean that there was an even bigger and longer party.
Former Bret Michaels Band drummer Chuck Fanslau joined in on percussion along with Joe Scibilia from the “Rock N’ Roll Coffee Show Podcast” on bass. He tells us that he is working on a project called Villain Press featuring Dirty Looks and Dangerous Toys members Paul Lidel and Jason McMaster and Adam Hamilton who is probably best known in this arena for his work with LA Guns both as a band member and as a producer. While they have no plans to tour, it definitely sounds like something we will want to check out.
For those who didn’t make it out, The Collective Encore has an intimate Comedy Club atmosphere with candlelit tables seating and an extensive bar area with standing room at the rear and is located lakeside just a few steps from the host hotel, the Merriweather Lakehouse and less than a mile from the Merriweather Post Pavilion which hosted. the two-day festival starting on Saturday. Had we not ventured out to the other D-Toxin bash, we could have simply walked back to the room in minutes.
The pre-party was full of surprises and lots of fun cover tunes amongst heavy drinking and storytelling. Special guests included Last in Line’s Andrew Freeman, Poison’s Will Doughty, and Pete’s son Gavin Evick on guest vocals, and attendees included Child’s Play members John Allen, Jason Heiser, and Larry Henshaw, and Cold Sweat’s Marc Ferrari pictured below.
Coverage from DAY 1 and DAY 2 of the festival can be found here!
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Watch for continued coverage of local shows and regional shows with Faster Pussycat, Judas Priest and Sabaton, Queensryche and Armored Saint, Aldo Nova, and more in our recent recaps. Follow our socials for more captures from the M3 Rock Festival as well.
Coverage by Editor and founder Kara Marie Uhrlen posted on 5/11/2024. All event photos by photographer Kara Uhrlen and The Pure Rock Shop.
