LIVE: UPHEAVAL FESTIVAL – Grand Rapids, MI, USA – July 19 / 20, 2024

Venue: Belknap Park

City: Grand Rapids, MI

Dates: July 19-20, 2024

Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com)

Another Michigan summer means another year at Belknap Park to celebrate the Uprising of metal fans as they venture to Grand Rapids for the fourth installment of Upheaval Festival.  Both days were stacked with different metal bands covering many of the various subgenres and ages of metal fans in the area.  While the third stage, The Rising, had bands that garnered a lot of positive reviews from friends and fans, as well as my cursory listen as I walked by the stage at various points through the two days, the other two stages were packed with photography options that I couldn’t pass up.  I suggest you check out this stage when you hit the festival in 2025.

The Lookout stage on top of the hill opened with Final Confession and I rushed up the hill once I arrived at the urging of the group, I was attending the festival with.  The rockers took the stage and hit fast and hard.  While I was unfamiliar, I was impressed with the band’s music and efforts on stage.  COMPLETE SET OF FINAL CONFESSION PHOTOS — FINAL CONFESSION SETLIST

On The Upheaval Stage (Main), Flat Black took their places and kicked the festival off with a solid rock and roll punch in the mouth.  Guitarist Jason Hook brought his experience, killer riffs, and amazing fret work to the festival stage and rocked the crowd as they filled through the course of their set.  With the band’s debut release dropping the same day as their appearance, they had nothing to lose and everything to gain, and based on the crowd I would say they definitely gained.  COMPLETE SET OF FLAT BLACK PHOTOS — FLAT BLACK SETLIST

Making my way back up the hill (with the assistance of the cart drivers) I wanted to check out Citizen Soldier as I was curious what the buzz was all about.  They recently played a sold-out show at a favorite venue of mine (Flint, MI’s The Machine Shop).  While not necessarily my thing musically, the driving rock music was a great fit for the festival and the crowd got into the set.  COMPLETE SET OF CITIZEN SOLDIER PHOTOS

While I love a lot of the bands on the schedule, one of the bands I was excited to see was Saliva.  These guys have been a part of my music collection from their debut release and through the various incarnations of the band.  Armed with a set loaded with hits and WWE entrance songs, Saliva hit the stage and pulled out all the expected hits and more, as they worked from one song to another in the set.  Don’t sleep on this band if they hit a venue near you, as you will know more than you thought going in.  COMPLETE SET OF SALIVA PHOTOS — SALIVA SETLIST

One band I had heard so much about that piqued my curiosity was Austin Meade, and I am SO glad I made it up to the Lookout Stage to check these guys out.  There Texas-heavy spin on rock and roll was just what the doctor ordered for an afternoon of music.  The band id things their way from the moment they hit the stage in boots and shorts, hats, and bright fingernail polish.  Once they got rolling, they converted everyone around and soon had everyone rocking along with them while they delivered one of the best sets of the day.  Hopefully, these guys return to Upheaval and rock the hell out of the main stage at some point.  COMPLETE SET OF AUSTIN MEADE PHOTOS

Making my way back down to the hill, I readied myself for Of Mice & Men, a band I had seen once before in a small club.  The band took advantage of the larger stage and crowd, delivering a good set of rockers that had the crowd moshing, surfing, and overall enjoying the sunny afternoon in the Grand Rapids sun.  While not my cup of tea, they filled many a cup that afternoon and gave their fans what they wanted.  COMPLETE SET OF MICE & MEN PHOTOS — OF MICE & MEN SETLIST

While I missed Ayron Jones (do yourself a favor and don’t miss him if he lands near you), I was able to get some other stuff done and prepare for what was to come from Killswitch Engage.  I have seen them before, but by getting another look and listening to them, I was able to enjoy the sonic blast flowing from the stage and sound system and across the packed crowd in front of The Upheaval Stage.  The set was full of songs pulled from across their catalog, prompting a lot of moshing and surfing from the back to the front and side to side.  The band’s time on stage allowed each member their moment in the musical spotlight.  Seeing them on a festival stage was quite different than a headlining set but made me appreciate their show and music that much more.  COMPLETE SET OF KILLSWITCH ENGAGE PHOTOS — KILLSWITCH ENGAGE SETLIST

A final trip up the hill found me in front of Sevendust once again for another show full of metal and high energy fun.  An odd pairing of Sevendust and a side stage seemed off base, but they did the maximum with the minimum and delivered one of the better shows I have seen from them in the last 15 years.  A bit of nostalgia crept in, as these guys were one of the first bands I ever photographed and kept me engaged even after the camera was put away.  From Lajon up front to Morgan behind his kit, 7D killed from the moment they hit the stage.  Guitarists John Connolly and Clint Lowery delivered the riffs and solos we all know and love while bassist Vince Hornsby anchored the set.  I will always find myself in the crowd when Sevendust plays near me, and you should too.  COMPLETE SET OF SEVENDUST PHOTOS — SEVENDUST SETLIST

Closing out Friday, was Godsmack and I couldn’t have been happier to end on such a high note.  I have seen these guys a lot over the years and will continue to do so, as I love their stuff.  Opening and mostly closing with material from my favorite Godsmack release, When Legends Rise, including the set opening title track and closing out with two in the encore including “Under Your Scars” it simply could not have been a better set.  Front man Sully Erna and drummer Shannon Larkins shared their drum solo duet while bassist Robbie Merrill and guitarist Tony Rombola controlled the ebb and flow of the show from the wings and occasionally the shadows.  Overall, the day went perfectly thanks to the security team that got people to safety with a sh*tload of surfers coming over the barricade and a ton of mosh pits forming throughout the day.  COMPLETE SET OF GODSMACK PHOTOS — ​​​​​​​GODSMACK SETLIST

While the opening day was more my sweet spot sonically, there was plenty to enjoy about Saturday’s lineup.  I found my way into the venue and after catching up with other photographers, staff, and security, I made my way back up the hill for the opening of the day. Ovtlier was the first music of the day as well as being brand new to me as well.  The set was cool and was a fun injection of rock and roll to get the fists pumping and blood flowing.  COMPLETE SET OF OVTLIER PHOTOS

Another new to me band Sleep Theory was next down on the Upheaval Stage, so down the hill I went for the first of many trips down today.  Sleep Theory was another new find that will stick with me for a while and has become part of my daily listening while working away in the office.  There were a lot of fans that loved these guys from the moment they hit the stage and the size of that crowd swelled through their time onstage, which included playing a previously unreleased song.  I look for big things from these guys.  COMPLETE SET OF SLEEP THEORY PHOTOS — SLEEP THEORY SETLIST

While Saul was heavily anticipated, Shallow Side was announced last minute as a replacement, and they worked to win over a crowd that didn’t completely know there was a schedule change.  Working through the allotted time on stage, the band rocked and gave the crowd a reason to hang out and enjoy their set.  COMPLETE SET OF SHALLOW SIDE PHOTOS

The band I was most excited to see on Saturday was Drowning Pool… not only do I enjoy their catalog, but they were the first band to offer me a photo pass back in my Kodak point and shoot days.  These guys rocked the f*ck out of their time on stage and gave us all something to enjoy from opener “Sinner” to closer “Bodies,” the temptation to raise my horns and rock out were tempered only by the task at hand to photograph their set.  The song sounded as good as they did every time I hear them, all the way back to one of their first times in Detroit at Ozzfest through the various shows I have seen at The Machine Shop.  I will turn up time and time again for these guys… I might even find myself in a mosh pit or surfing at some point.  COMPLETE SET OF DROWNING POOL PHOTOS — DROWNING POOL SETLIST

I See Stars was next up on the Lookout Stage and I found myself finding yet another band that I would be happy to see again at some point as well as listen to while working.  There was something very accessible about their music without being too overdone or bland.  The vibe of the music set the pace for the set from the opening song to the close of their time.  The band’s energy was contagious and kept the show flowing as the crowd grew from song to song.  COMPLETE SET OF I SEE STARS PHOTOS — I SEE STARS SETLIST

Another band in the list of bands I knew little about was Badflower.  They broke the mold a bit as they had a poppier punk sound than most of the metal bands on the bill.  From the rip, they seemed a little polarizing, but I found myself easing back and listening while photographing the first couple songs of their set.  I exited the pit a little early to move back a bit and enjoy the set with the POV of the fans and other festival goers.  Watching other dance, rock, and just dig the moment reminded me of the magic of a festival.  It isn’t ONLY about getting “the shot,” hearing only bands you know and love; it is also about hearing and feeling something new.  COMPLETE SET OF BADFLOWER PHOTOS — BADFLOWER SETLIST

Stabbing Westward was one of the bands that has been around the longest and built one of the bigger underground fanbases.  Frontman Chris was chatty before their set and was looking forward to a great set and crowd, and it was realized for sure.  The crowd that packed the Lookout Stage got into the music and dove headfirst into the songs one after another.  The songs flowed from the stage creating a slightly different rock vibe without deviating from the essence of the festival and experience.  COMPLETE SET OF STABBING WESTWARD PHOTOS

Beartooth captivated from the minute they hit the stage, but not only their fans.  I found myself trying to sing along song after song from within the barricade as well as my time outside the pit enjoying the band.  There were tons of bonus moments in the set from a second stage at the back of the crowd from which Caleb sang parts of a couple songs to a guest appearance from the Sleep Theory vocalist on the band’s final number.  Forget your preconceived notion of what you think of these guys.  Get out to a show and witness this live.  They just may be one of the faces of metals ever building future.  COMPLETE SET OF BEARTOOTH PHOTOS — BEARTOOTH SETLIST

Up the hill one last time for the weekend found me in front of From Ashes To New and I was excited, as I had heard a lot of their music previously but had yet to see them live. The crowd went crazy from the moment they hit the stage and didn’t let up until the final note came blasting through the sound system.  The bands setlist was an ebb and flow of energy and interaction between the dual vocalists, the band, and the audience.  Other than Sevendust the night before, this was the busiest I saw the hill over the course of the weekend.  With a set that pulled from across their catalog, there was something for everyone that knew the band’s music as well as new to band fans like me.  I have added these guys to my must-see list moving forward.  COMPLETE SET OF FROM ASHES TO NEW PHOTOS — FROM ASHES TO NEW SETLIST

While Bad Omens opted to keep most of the photographers out of the pit, I did settle back in the crowd and check them out for a bit.  The crowd went nuts and took in each song, each lyric, each moment the band was on stage.  Like it, love it, or otherwise, they did what bands have done forever while building their fanbases and careers.  I am sure this isn’t my last foray into their music and live show.

So, after looking back at the weekend, this accountant can quantify the experience and festival in numbers.  From the moment I left home, there was…

• 14.2 miles walked at Belknap Park…
• 18 bands seen and heard…
• 20 hours of music and comradery with other rockers, music fans, and photographers…
• 29 floors climbed up and down the hill…
• 399 miles driven…
• 4,500+ photos taken and edited…
• Countless memories to hold me over until 2025…

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Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries