Rock Fest — Attraction in Town of Arthur

I went to Rock Fest in Cadott expecting a weekend of intense live music, killer pits, and unforgettable energy. What I got instead felt more like a tightly controlled outdoor theater experience than a true rock festival.

First off, the crowd energy is practically nonexistent. It’s hard to get hyped when you’re surrounded by rows of seats right up to the stage. You can feel the atmosphere being sucked out of the air—it’s awkward, quiet, and disconnected. People mostly sat around, and any attempt at engagement felt out of place.

They advertise a “pit,” but here’s the catch: • You need to pay extra for a Pit Pass, • The pit is tiny, and • Moshing is shut down immediately by security.

That’s right—no real pit action, no high energy, and every time the crowd started to move, staff was on top of it. For a rock/metal fest, that’s ridiculous.

Drinks were another headache. You either: • Wait in line at a separate ticket booth to buy drink tickets, or • Pre-register your credit card online just to buy a beer. Either way, it’s a mess. It overcomplicates something that should be simple and quick.

This festival has completely shifted away from the raw, chaotic energy that rock music thrives on. It’s too polished, too restricted, and frankly, a shell of what a real rock fest should feel like.

TL;DR: • Low energy crowd • Pit is small, controlled, and no moshing allowed • Too many seats kill any vibe near the stage • Frustrating drink system • Overpriced for what you get

Unless major changes happen, I won’t be returning—and if you’re expecting an actual rock show experience, you might want to look...

It was a fun experience. I worked with Northwoods Portables for both Rockfest and Countryfest. Flag our trucks down for camper pump outs on Sundays so you can leave in 10 minutes instead of waiting all day for the dump station.

Speaking of which, there are definitely capacity issues. I don't think the management and infrastructure of the festgrounds can handle a load larger than they took this year. It was at the brink. Several times, they made all of the campground gates Entrance Only to clear traffic off the roads, essentially trapping us workers who did not have campsites at the grounds from being able to go home.

I also think the crowd here this year wasn't really here for the artists or their music, they just came for the massive party and the excuse to get hammered all weekend while wearing the wild outfits they aren't allowed to wear to most other events. I actually felt bad for Godsmack. Yall didn't have to do them dirty like that. But at least they took it in stride, unlike falling in reverse. Even though Ronnie is a pansy little princess, there are certain points to his complaints that I understand and agree with. However the comment about having to share a Porta Potty with the crowd was an absolute bold faced lie. You want to be a prissy celebrity, thats fine. You're not the first or the last to do that, and we're all OK with it to a point. But don't be a liar Ronnie.

Overall it was decent. But it didn't hold a candle to the Rockfests of the past. THOSE...

A great place for Rock and Metal Fans. 5 stages of Music. No overlapping sets. Friendly atmosphere. Staff are well organized. A lot of camping spots. The festival also offers, giant games, hammocks, yoga, tattoo artists, a slingshot, wrestling, boxing, and a circus show; just to name a variety of options for people who want to take a break from Music. Many food and drink vendors. Two convenience stores located on the property for basic necessities. Traffic coming in and going out of Rockfest is smooth with minimal issues. In case of inclement weather, the festival has years of experience dealing with this. They work quickly to accommodate the fans and put on as much of the festival as possible for the day. If you want to come to a rock festival that features many baby bands and world touring bands, and be able to party in a farm field. In case of an emergency fans will move to allow staff to assist you and get you to thecm medical tent. Rockfest also has many cooling stations that allow you to cool off and fill your water container. There are also showers, located on the property for those who want to clean up from camping. You have to come to ROCKFEST. Also I want to include, it is absolutely safe to bring your young child. The adults look out for the children and make sure they have...