Soundwave Music Festival Line-Up Features Rock Artists

BERLIN — The Soundwave Music Festival is returning to Worcester County this weekend, featuring a massive lineup of rock bands, vendors and attractions.

The three-day event will take place outside on a 50-acre open-air venue off Worcester Highway and organizer Airlift Entertainment expects an even larger turn out than the festival’s first year.

“There’s a lot of hype. Ticket sales are very brisk. We’re getting a lot of phone calls,” said Tim Keane, co-owner and co-promoter of Airlift, in an interview last month.

A lot of the attention is likely coming from the festival’s line-up. Soundwave will feature internationally known headliners like Trixter, Kix, Saving Abel, L.A. Guns

Kix will headline the live music entertainment on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Kix will headline the live music entertainment on Saturday, Sept. 13.

and Slaughter as well as over a dozen other rock artists. The music began on Thursday, Sept. 11 at Airlift Acres, which is located at 11039 Worcester Highway in Berlin, and will run through Saturday, Sept. 13.

Keane is anticipating a huge turnout given the amount of buildup that has gone into Soundwave this year. Unlike last year, when some obstacles meant that only about two weeks’ worth of advertising could be run, Soundwave 2014 has been on the regional rock world’s radar for months. The multi-day, open-air format is unique to the area, said Samantha Miller, co-owner and promoter of Airlift.

“It’s something that has never been done around here. There’s never been a multi-day music festival in this area,” she said. “We’ve always traveled to go see that, and we want to bring people here to see it.”

The large festival space will hold more than music as there will be merchants, food vendors, raffles, games, pony rides, fortune tellers and helicopter rides to complement the concerts. There will be two autographed Fender guitars as giveaway prizes.

Keane stressed that it is an all-ages festival and there will be something there for everyone from die-hard rock fans to families looking to enjoy some late summer weather.

“It’s 50 acres, it’s an outside venue. People can bring their own blankets and umbrellas. We’re going to have food vendors and we’re going to have games,” he said.

L.A. Guns is another featured act at this year’s Soundwave Music Festival, taking the stage on Saturday, Sept. 13.

L.A. Guns is another featured act at this year’s Soundwave Music Festival, taking the stage on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Soundwave will be taking place during the same weekend as Bike Week and Keane and Miller look to see some crossover there. They also hope to draw from Berlin, Ocean Pines and Ocean City with the resort being about a four-minute drive from the venue as well as from out of state. Soundwave has been getting a lot of attention from Baltimore and Virginia, said Keane, and the diverse roster of rockers is sure to appeal to a variety of fans.

With the event starting on Sept. 11, Keane and Miller felt it was fitting to honor first responders and members of the military by allowing them free access on that day as well as a $10 discount on tickets for Friday and Saturday. Part of the proceeds from Soundwave will also be donated to local charities, though Miller said that not all of the recipients have been selected yet.

The LEOSA Foundation (Law Enforcement Officers Safeguarding America) will be a sponsor for the event as well as Royal Plus, 98Rock of Baltimore and Bliss Salon and Spa. The music will be live broadcast on the radio via Great Scott Broadcasting.

This is Soundwave’s second year in Worcester but, due to organizational issues Miller and Keane are considering moving it next year, though it will almost certainly stay nearby. However, they would prefer to remain in the county if possible.

“We’d like to keep it here, right down the road, 50 acres, perfect, right outside of Ocean City,” said Keane.

For more information and a full list of the bands visit www.airliftentertainment.com or call 443-513-4749 or like Airlift Entertainment on Facebook.