And from the depths of hell they rose, the GWARMY, ready to retake the summer-stronghold of family fun and good-time water park fun, Hadad’s Lake…
And from the depths of hell they rose, the GWARMY, ready to retake the summer-stronghold of family fun and good-time water park fun, Hadad’s Lake… and they called it GWAR-B-Q 2014.
The fifth annual end-of-summer bash held at Richmond’s greatest/sleaziest private water park has carved itself a unique niche in the city, and the world. With 13 world-class metal bands, food, GWAR-Beer, skate boarding, and other events uniquely GWAR-ed, no self-respecting Richmonder should miss out this weekend.
“It’s going to be a huge spectacle,” said GWAR drummer Jizmak Da Gusha/Brad Roberts. He’s part of the team helping to get the GWAR-B-Q together and is pumped to bring the event back.
“Every year there’s new elements… [all at] the glory of Hadad’s Lake,” Roberts said. This year’s ‘new elements’ include The Crypt of Chaos, the Haunted Maze Maze, the Rolling-wheels-of-death Skate Park, and a dunk tank. “All these dynamics make GWAR-B-Q an event unlike any other in this town,” said Roberts.
Planning for GWAR-B-Q is a year-round venture, with decisions being made the day after last year’s GWAR-B-Q ended according to Roberts. And much like any good festival, every year it grows and becomes more complex. “The bands, the food, everything gets bigger and better. There’s more logistics, it’s part of the nature,” said Roberts. But he says he’s doing it for the betterment of RVA and its local musicians. “We want to grow it into something huge for the music community in Richmond.”
But this space-mutant ruckus does have a foot in reality, it’s the first GWAR-B-Q since the passing of lead singer Dave Brockie.
Brockie lead GWAR since it’s inception in 1984, and had been instrumental in planning past GWAR-B-Qs.
Roberts said it’s not been easy planning the massive concert without his former frontman, but, at the same time, he knows Brockie would want the event to go on. “I know that Dave [Brockie] would want us to celebrate his life and that’s what we’re going to do.”
“We’re carrying on what Dave hoped would last forever. He was talking about how he was going to train his replacement after our 30th anniversary so GWAR can go on for 1000 years,” said Roberts. “He really believed it.”
Friday afternoon, August 15th, a special memorial event will be held for Brockie and his stage-persona Oderus Urungus. Roberts said the event will be emceed by Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) and feature speakers like Adam Green (Holliston) and Randy Blythe (Lamb of God).
The memorial will end with the Oderus Urungus costume being set out on a raft and lit aflame in a viking-style funeral, allowing the metal-god to return to Valhalla. “[Brockie’s] sweat essence is actually in the costume that is being torched,” joke Roberts.
“Come out and well do a big primal scream and cheer to Dave Brockie,” said Roberts. “We’ll do lots of fun GWAR-stuff, but it’s also for the man who made GWAR possible.”
Additional info via GWAR-B-Q Website:
EVENT HAPPENS RAIN OR SHINE!
PRINT ALL TICKETS- NO ENTRY WITHOUT IT! NO EXCEPTIONS!
NO PETS! (don’t leave your pet in the car, asshole!)
NO GLASS!
NO WEAPONS!
NO ALCOHOL!
BACK PACKS AND COOLERS WILL BE CHECKED BY SECURITY!
CARPOOL- SINGLE OCCUPANCY CARS WILL BE TURNED AWAY AT THE GATE!
Full list of bands found here.
Weekend Schedule:
Friday Aug 15th-
Dave Brockie/Oderus Urungus Memorial
at Hadads Lake
4pm-7pm
Friday Aug 15th
B4BQ
at Broadberry
Doors 7pm – Bands 7:30pm
Saturday Aug 16th
GWAR B-Q at Hadads Lake
10am-7pm
Saturday Aug 16th
GWafter Party
Bandito’s Burrito Lounge
(2905 Patterson Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221)
7:30pm-2am
