Hello again…I’m back! Yes, me, Rich “The Meister” Dillon, CGCM‘s guy who does everything, returns for my second blog at Time To Rock Festival 2023. When I left off last time, I had basically just reached Folkets Park in Knislinge, the scene of the impending crime. This is the continuation of that story.
The Arrival
I walked up to the festival site, basically in the middle of this sleepy little village in Southern Sweden. In the accreditation tent, the folks were so very friendly and quickly found my name on the list. They sorted me out with the required wristbands for entrance and directed me to enter the grounds and to the press tent. Cool, I’m on site before the gates are even open! I easily found said press tent and met up with press officer Andreas “Hygge” Hugard. Even though we have never met before, he knew my name as I walked up. My reputation precedes me I see….good or badly remains to be seen. Hope he doesn’t see the remnants of airplane lasagna still prominently displayed on my shirt.
While he fixed me up with photo vests and a workstation, we chatted away. Nice to get to know him a little after a few emails back and forth. Interestingly enough, he told me that his uncle was helping here behind the scenes at Time To Rock. You’re wondering why I mention this? Like, you’re thinking “So what?” Well, his uncle was previously involved with Sweden Rock and sold his interests in about 2015 when Live Nation came in. So that’s some weight behind Time To Rock right there! Time To Rock event actually started in 2006. Yes, that’s not a typo, I said 2006. In those days it was under a different name (as production manager Martin had mentioned when he guested on my show), Helgea (or something else I can’t spell or pronounce) Festival. Apparently, it’s the name of the river behind the festival site. And I’ve never heard of Time To Rock until this year….ah, the uncle is reaching folks and raising the bar methinks!
Lasagna and Candy Corn
Per arrived, a little later than he originally had planned and as such there was no time to go home before the event got underway. And so here’s my luggage in the corner of the press tent…lol. And FFS, I’m still wearing the damn “Lasagna shirt”. But now to complete the epitome of fashion ensemble, coupled with my yellow t-shirt, the bright orange photo vest. I feel like a piece of friggin’ candy corn….lol. A roadworks pylon even! And so, a beer and checking out the festival grounds was the next task on the list!
Slakkten
The first band of Time To Rock Festival 2023 would be Slakkten. I did ye olde Google translate and came up with: “slackened” for a meaning. Seems wrong. I was anxious to get underway, get warmed up to the photo area and get shooting. Into the pit I went and clicked away, fiddling with settings as I captured. BTW, I have a new camera, so there’s some trial, error and learning process above my regular learning processes🤣. Anyway, this band were not really my bag. It didn’t help that I couldn’t understand a damn thing. This Pre-Party day and its bands are more for the local community. As a result, they’re basically all in Swedish, so this was the beginning of a confusing evening for the 🇨🇦🤣. For one thing, with Slakkten, one guitarist and the bassist were wearing lime green knapsacks🤷🏻♂️. No idea what that was all about. But definitely, they seemed a bit of a party band and I was reminded of Spirit Of The West and their “Home For A Rest” song. They drew quite a decent crowd as well in front of the stage. Then suddenly and quite randomly, the singer introduced one song in both Swedish and English. Wait, what? Can that guy read my mind? Decent and fun band overall, but just not to my preferred listening tastes.
Mats Ronander Band
I had heard floatings that this guy used to be quite big here in Sweden. Of course, I was in the dark with all things Ronander! Things did not clear up either as of course, it was all in Swedish too. I really should get back to that Duolingo app for the amount of time I’m in this country! As I clicked away, especially during song two I think it was, I picked up a definite 80s pop feel. And goddammit, that bass player looks familiar as all hell! Wait, what? I hear English singing! “Love is Just a Loser’s Game“, I think the song went, which also included a harmonica. The leader/singer, presumably the Ronander equation himself, asked in English: “Are you ready for some Blues?” And the song was also in English. But I’m not a huge Blues dude and my stomach was making noise louder than anything emitting from the PA. So I drifted to the side and enjoyed a kebab. Where the hell is Casey’s Fish & Chips? My Sweden Rock Festival staple meal did not seem to be on site this weekend. How disappointing. As I consumed said not fish & chips kebab, I noted things were still in English on stage. Wait, maybe the whole damn thing has been and I’d just tuned out while shooting in anticipation of Swedish? Then suddenly, doh, the penny just dropped as they say! The bassist is Nalle Pahlsson? of Treat!
Shakin Hands and Kissin’ Babies
Time to mingle a bit. This first day saw only a portion of the festival area open for business. One stage out of the three on the go. So obviously a smaller area and fewer folks than expected all weekend long. However, I sweet-talked someone into allowing me to check out inside the fenced-off area that would open tomorrow. I can already tell this will be a small intimate large festival….if that shit makes any sense to you🤷🏻♂️. It’s large enough, yet at the same time it’s……”cozy“. The very word Time To Rock has used in their descriptions…..and it rings true. Very easy to get from stage to stage and to find friends. It was great to see some of my worldwide friends here. Including folks from Belgium, Sweden (as expected given I’m in Sweden🤷🏻♂️), and France. I’m already having lofty, airy spirits here at TTR!
Browsing Collection’s Happy Hour
Sadly for me, the one band I knew and liked from today’s bill had to withdraw due to illness sometime while I was in the air. And so, on extremely short notice, Happy Hour (who also plays on Sunday) stepped up. Not really sure how to describe the band Happy Hour? Pop punk, maybe….but let’s face it, I don’t really know what that even is🤦🏻♂️. Anyway, they were fucking weird to me, but fun as all hell to photograph! So much activity and action on stage! There were three singers even! Two of which seemed to alternate handling lead every other song. The third guy, I never saw take centre stage nor lead vocal on a song. But his very important job seemed to be spraying or throwing macaroni pasta from an open box into the crowd. WTF? If I spoke Swedish, I’m still not sure I’d get this reference🤷🏻♂️. All six guys seemed to sing the gang vocal choruses. And they had harmony! I drifted around the crowd sort of tuning out a bit. But I did catch a confetti firecracker during one song. As I retired to the press area, they were playing a cover of “Knocking On Heaven’s Door“.
Gasbox
While I’m certain this band’s name could also be an insult directed my way in some hands, that was not tonight’s case. This band I know nothing about and took very little notes. The photos were extremely difficult given the stage lighting and sheer volume of dry ice smoke billowing out. We were still in the Swedish language and I wasn’t taking to the band’s slower-paced fare. Plus it was getting later and my driver had had an even longer day than I with his 7hr highway trek. We abandoned ship to attend our cabin. Plus, I needed a shower and to finally get out of these lasagna-stained candy corn clothings.
BUY: Tickets Here!
I’m here, I made it, I’m ready! It’s definitely Time To Rock! Next blog: An overview of the first full day.
Before the Festival Blog Part #1: Time To Rock Festival – Getting There (Blog)
Follow along with all of my coverage here: Time To Rock Festival 2023 Full Coverage page.
Cheers,
The Meister
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