Laura Lucas

On May 12, Canaries Stadium will open its doors for the second annual KRROfest.

Jered Johnson, president and CEO of Pepper Entertainment, said KRRO Fest was an idea developed by Pepper Ent. and partner, Hunt Industries. “We are all from Sioux Falls and we wanted to brand an annual event showcasing major national touring acts. We introduced the concept to KRRO [radio station] and we all decided to move forward with it.”

This year the lineup has some big-name rock/metal bands including Slipknot, Korn, The Used, Clutch, All That Remains and Dirtfedd.

Johnson said ticket sales are projected at 7,500 to 10,000, which is good for this area. “The reaction has been great. Hopefully, people come out and support events like this as it’s very difficult to get bigger bands to play tertiary markets like Sioux Falls.”

One big name is Slipknot, a nine-member metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. The band has been together since 1995 and have released four albums. Their newest, All Hope is Gone, was released in August 2008. Other than the band’s the large number of members, this band stands out by wearing unique masks.

Another big name band that is attending is Korn. Chris Mullett, senior psychology major who is going to KRRO Fest, said he is attending to see the bands Korn and Clutch.

“I have liked Korn’s music for a while now. It’s great to have the opportunity to see such a great headlining band come here,” Mullett said.

According to their Web site, the metal four-person band, Korn, started in 1993. “The act has evolved into a reliable source for efficiently brooding guitar riffs and lyrics heavy with antipathy, although it isn’t afraid to still let loose its inner freak and experiment a bit,” the Web site said.

Another four-person band attending is the Utah-based rock group The Used. According to bassist Jeph Howard, the band has not played a show in South Dakota for a while.

“It should be a great show. We will play new songs as well as old favorites. It will be an awesome concert and show,” Howard said.

The Used has not had an album out since 2007 but plans to release one in June or July. Howard said the album is titled Artwork and is the best thing they have ever done.

“Be honest, great rock music should make you smile – that is mandatory,” said Clutch’s Web site, which also described the band as “a classic rock band with an ultra-modern sweep.”

The band released an album in 2007 titled From Beale Street to Oblivion and has been touring since.

The music of Clutch is good but underrated, said Mullett. “They are a rock band that will rock your face off ? the music is what gets you pumped up.”

Returning to South Dakota is the band All That Remains. According to guitarist Mike Martin the band was in the area in September or October of last year.

“We had a good show. It was a bit odd and hilarious because we woke up in a cow barn,” Martin said.

Martin offered advice to students who are attending the show. “Brace yourself. Beware of things flying at you and take care of yourself. We don’t want people to get hurt.”

KRRO Fest is open to all ages. Tickets are available online and at the Canaries Stadium. Advanced tickets cost $39.50 and $50 the day of the show. The gates open at 3 p.m. and the music will start at 3:30 p.m.

There will also be a pre-party to KRRO Fest on May 5 at Nutty’s North. The pre-party will feature “humor-hardcore” band Psychostick. Mechanical Brain and 66 Crush will also play.

According to Psychostick’s Web site, humorcore is a mixing of comedy, metal and hardcore. The band formed in 2000 “to bring the ridiculous ideas and antics of a few computer nerds and lovers of music.” Their third album titled Sandwich will be released the same day as the pre-party.

The show is open to all ages and begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are available online or at Last Stop CD Shop and cost $10 in advance and $12 the day of the show.

Johnson said a festival like KRRO Fest helps the Sioux Falls community in two ways. First, it puts the Sioux Falls market on the map in terms of hosting major music events. “This helps us get more bands, more often,” Johnson said. said.

Secondly, this type of festival helps out the city economically. People from all over the region travel for this event and subsequently will shop, dine, lodge and obviously visit local tourist attractions, Johnson said.

“You never know what is going to happen so come and check it out,” said Howard.