The city of Bangor, Maine is located not far to the North of the Central Maine coastline. One attraction that has had people coming to Bangor is the home of noted horror author, Stephen King. Bangor is also home of the Hollywood Casino hotel as well as the gateway to the great North Maine Woods. Starting in 2018, Bangor is also known as the home of Impact Music Festival. The festival is a collaboration of efforts by Waterfront Concerts, SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) and Music Matters. Impact Music Festival brings some of the biggest names in metal music as well as up and coming metal bands together for a weekend of great music.
Impact Music Festival is held at Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion on the banks of the Penobscot River. It’s a scenic venue located in the downtown area with plenty of local parking (for a fee). The site consists of a main stage with several different “seating” areas although most areas are standing only. There are also two smaller stages located side by side not far from the main stage. Unlike some festivals, no two stages are occupied at once. During the first part of the day, smaller bands alternate between the two smaller stages and then the main stage is opened and the rest of that bands perform there. Not having to make choices as to which band you see is a great thing. No bands need be missed which is always a plus when dealing with festivals.
The festival in 2018 was a three day extravaganza headlined by names such as Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Slayer, and Avenged Sevenfold. This year’s festival was a two day affair and the names were no less impressive as its inaugural year predecessor.
Day 1 started off bright and sunny. The B & C stages kicked things off with Dirty Honey, Norma Jean, Fit For A King, and Andrew WK. All fours bands worked hard to show why they were asked to perform. Because of their energy and musical prowess, the crowd was enthusiastic. The music then moved to the main stage where Amigo The Devil started things off. Amigo is a solo performer who plays both acoustic guitar and banjo. Because of this, he seems an odd act to open a main stage at a metal festival but the festival goers loved his set. He won over many who had not been aware of this dynamic performer. Next up was Raleigh, North Carolina’s Between The Buried And Me. With influences across the metal world, they blend them all into something that appeals to all fans of the metal genres.
Hard rockers Clutch took the stage next. Singer Neil Fallon’s vocals were as strong as ever and the band followed his lead. Because they put on such a great show and deliver great music, they’ve been a force to be reckoned with since 1991. The energy carried over to the next band to take the stage, Memphis Christian hard rockers, Skillet. Apart from their great music, they put on a great stage show including fire extinguisher-like “guns” strapped to lead singer John Cooper’s arms. To the delight of the crowd, jets of foam were sent flying as he and the band performed.
The Gothic metal band In This Moment took the stage next with a new and spectacular set. As always, they wowed the audience with their theatrical performance complete with multiple outfit changes. Singer Maria Brink delivered her strong vocals as the rest of the band and her supporting cast, the Blood Girls stalked the stage menacingly. Closing day one was the amazing Five Finger Death Punch. This is a band who clearly loves what they do. Singer Ivan Moody proclaimed that they were supposed to end their set due to a curfew but they would continue because the audience paid for a show and they were going to deliver.
Day 2 also started off as a bright and sunny day. Joyous Wolf started the day off on the C stage as announced show starters, Dube was unable to arrive in time due to apparent vehicle trouble. Joyous Wolf set the tone for the day with their extremely high energy performance. Canadian prog rock /metal band Crown Lands followed with a sound that defied the fact that they are a two piece band. One can tell they are clearly influenced by their countrymen, Rush. The Massachusetts band All That Remains ended the small stage shows with a bang! They’ve been blisteringly delivering heavy metal for 21 years and this day was no exception.
The main stage was opened up by another band from Massachusetts. Hard rockers Mammothor kicked things off with a strong set that got the audience revved up for what was to come. Frontman Travis Lowell was seen throughout the day talking with fans and having selfies taken. Because of their great music and self-promotion, they should move upward. An amazing set by Fever 333 was next. Singer Jason Aalon Butler was a wild man through the whole set. He left the stage twice during the set which got the crowd frenzied. First he sat on a hillside singing and trying to tear down a banner. Towards the end of the set, he sang and did a belly flop on top of a group of porta-potties. The Ohio hardcore band, Beartooth delivered a forceful set next. Their deeply inward-looking songs are as intellectually heavy as their sound.
Buckcherry tore the stage up next with their hard rocking music and dominant stage presence. Singer Josh Todd strutted back and forth giving one a feeling that they are watching Steven Tyler and Mick Jagger rolled into one. While Josh strutted, the rest of the band played to the crowd and hammed it up for the cameras. The result was a truly memorable set by these hard working rockers.
The skies turned dark and there was a threat of evacuation due to lightning. Fortunately, the brunt of the storm moved to the North and festival goers got relief from the heat thanks to the falling rain. The show continued with yet another band from Massachusetts, the 20-year old metal band, Killswitch Engage. They gave people a flaming set that made people forget that they were being rained on.
The festival was winding down but there was no slowing down the music! Evanescence took the stage and singer Amy Lee delivered what was one of the most memorable vocal performances of the weekend. While the band behind her consists of more than capable musicians, it’s Amy who steals the show. She proves her musicianship by taking a turn on the keyboards as she sings. While they are heading off to a major European tour, look for a possible new release in 2020!
Closing the festival was again, another band from Massachusetts. Heavy metal giants Godsmack took the stage to a thunderous welcome from the crowd. Theatrics and pyrotechnics are not needed for this hard hitting giant. They played a stripped down loud and heavy set that left the crowd looking forward to next year’s Impact Music Festival. Let’s hope this well run festival continues onward and upward!
