10 June 2022 marked the first day of the inaugural Orange Loop Rock Festival. Down at the Showboat Festival Grounds in Atlantic City, New Jersey, a smorgasbord of ’80s and ’90s bands were locked and loaded, ready for a weekend of all things hard and heavy.
Orange Loop Rock Festival – Part One, Friday
Words and photography: Shannon Wilk
The festival was initially supposed to be outside but due to weather concerns, the party was moved inside mere days before. The night’s show was dubbed ‘Rockstar Tributes,’ featuring tributes to Metallica, Bon Scott-era AC/DC and Ozzy Osbourne. These epic rock tribute acts travelled from all around the country to perform on the main stage kicking off the Orange Loop Rock Festival.
Taking the stage at 7:20 PM were East Side Steven And The Asbury Jacks. From the streets of Asbury Park, NJ, to the opening act of a major festival, these guys kick ass. This new band pays homage to their favourite era of a beloved class rock band, AC/DC.
“There are a lot of old friends here and a lot of new friends,” frontman East Side Steven said as he walked out onto the speakers to greet audience members with handshakes and fist bumps. This five-piece powerhouse brought life into every song they played. From Bad Boy Boogie to Sin City, East Side Steven And The Asbury Jacks chugged through every song with purpose and fire – perfect to pump up the crowd for the night and weekend to follow.
Next to take the stage at the Showboat were The Four Horsemen. Hailing from Ohio, these four Thrash Metallers are marketed as the “only album-quality Metallica tribute band”, and they certainly live up to the title. The Four Horsemen charged through Battery, Master Of Puppets, For Whom The Bell Tolls, and all the other Metallica tunes we all know and love.
The energy and interaction with the audience added a level of excitement to the musical intensity. Who doesn’t love a heavy, entertaining band playing the best of the best Metallica tunes?
As it says on the band’s website, “Be warned: They are primed and ready to bring their high-energy show to stages around the world!” The Four Horsemen brought the Metal and the beer just like Metallica. And the crowd loved it.
The night’s headlining slot brought Ozzmosis! This four-piece tribute to the prince of darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne, tore through all his iconic classic rock tunes such as I Don’t Know, Crazy Train, a blistering performance of Suicide Solution and many more.
Not only did Ozzmosis bring musical excellence, but with that, they brought giant white crosses on both sides of the stage, an authentic-appearing Ozzy, glasses, jet black wig and all. Giant arches were projected on screens behind the band, and extensively massive drum kit and even confetti and CO2 cannons.
These guys certainly know how to pay homage to one of the biggest icons of Heavy Metal.
