It’s that time of year again – The Mid Atlantic College Rock… something, I don’t think they use that acronym anymore…. anywho, MACROCK is a dope ass festival in Harrisonburg that brings a ton of up-and-coming acts to the Commonwealth and it’s always a good time.
This year’s line up features some of our favorite RVA bands, some more great projects from across the state we’ve never heard of… and then some even more interesting acts from around the country. The best part is I haven’t heard most of the stuff which is what makes this fest so great: you get to learn about new tunes before everyone else. And you get to say you saw them before they blew up.
In it’s 20th year, it’s also an incredibly diverse fest with all types of genres represented. From hip hop to metal to experimental to electronic dance to ambient, you’ll have many chances across many stages to catch a ton of different tracks.
MacRock happens over two days (4/7-8) across multiple venues – there’s also talks and workshops and a label expo, but it seems a lot of that is still getting programmed.
Check out some stand out acts, as well as all the acts from RVA/Virginia below:
Stand out national headliners:
Swan Meat – Do you like your music to challenge you? Then you’ll enjoy this DC/Chicago-based weirdo:
RP BOO – do you like to dance? Do you like aggressive booty shaking? Nice sampling and gross bass are sure to be involved in this show:
RHIN – How about brutal, riff-driven metal from West Virginia? These guys are channeling some serious mid-90’s Marilyn Manson.Tool in the best way:
As for local Richmond acts hitting the fest, check out our list below and click the names to hear what it sounds like – a like a Speak and Spell but for good local tunes and its on a computer so you use a mouse. So its nothing like a Speak and Spell.
Sha Shakusky – Funky modern electro beats, trans-made
MAJJIN BOO – math rock
Cold Beaches – bluesy, female-made rock
Ashes – slimy rock
Yaya – solo female alt-emo
Wester Green – Americana indie
Antiphons – india/”bummer” rock
Unsacred – black metal
Hobo Knife – black metal
Stone Woman – stoner metal
Brandon Hurtado – ambient experimental
Gemstone – noisy experimental, female made
Jaguardini – bit-trip electro
Pete Curry – sweet meats for your sweat meat
And tons more from across the Commonwealth:
Zooanzoo – experimental electro – Harrisonburg
Hair Cut – female punk/hardcore – Charlottesville
Grayling Skyy – hip hop – Harrisonburg
TheVoiceofSaturn – ambient electronic jamz – Charlottesville
Maxx Katz – flute/guitar/female looped jamz? – Charlottesville/ W&M
Diseased Earth – doom metal – Staunton
The Vomiting Dinosaurs – (awesome band name!) metal – Winchester
Wes Swing – modern cello jamz – somewhere in the Commonwealth
Gold Connections – alt rock and roll – Charlottesville
True Body – post-punk – Somewhere in the Commonwealth
ING – emo/progressive indie – Charlottesville
Hook Field – alt rock – Somewhere in the Commonwealth
https://countopal.bandcamp.com/releases – Count Opal – Leesburg – math rock
