ALL PHOTOS:
Jason Ytuarte + Vincent Savage
Rocklahoma 2025 roared into Pryor, Oklahoma this Labor Day weekend with 76,930 fans, record-breaking energy, and enough chaos to etch itself into rock festival legend. For four days, the biggest names in rock and metal collided with unforgettable fan moments, proving once again why Rocklahoma is the Midwest’s loudest Labor Day tradition.
The lineup was stacked with heavyweights—Five Finger Death Punch, Shinedown, Marilyn Manson, Alice Cooper, Tom Morello—and that was just the top of the bill. From pit anthems to shock rock theater, every night felt like history in the making.
Even the weather joined the party. A torrential Sunday downpour didn’t kill the vibe—it supercharged it. Thousands of soaked, mud-splattered fans turned the grounds into a rave-like pit, moshing and stomping through the rain like it was scripted. That’s Rocklahoma: if the storm comes, the pit just gets heavier.
Every morning started with a goosebump-raising ritual courtesy of teenage guitar prodigy Collier Cash. Known for going viral with the Foo Fighters, Collier shredded the National Anthem with enough firepower to silence hangovers and rally the crowd under the red, white, and blue.
Marilyn Manson’s set was pure spectacle—his first major festival performance in years felt like stepping back into the reckless ’90s. Alice Cooper reminded everyone why he’s still the Godfather of Shock Rock, turning the fields into a twisted stage play complete with guillotines and serpents. Shinedown lit up the Oklahoma sky with an arena-worthy explosion of light and sound as tens of thousands sang every lyric in unison. Tom Morello delivered his trademark guitar wizardry and stunned fans when his son joined him on stage for a father-son duel that stole the show. Five Finger Death Punch closed with pure pit warfare, proving once again that few bands command chaos like they do.
But the festival wasn’t just about the headliners. Knocked Loose turned their set into viral history with a wall of death so brutal it spread across socials like wildfire. Sixteen-year-old photographer Vincent Savage became the weekend’s breakout story, capturing shots so good that Dorothy personally invited him to join her tour. He’s still in high school but already drawing comparisons to Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous.
Rocklahoma also leveled up with Rocklahoma LIVE, a backstage broadcast hosted by Chuck Armstrong of Loudwire and Kansas City radio legend Johnny Dare. With exclusive interviews from Tom Morello, Five Finger Death Punch, Dorothy, and more, it brought fans closer than ever to the heart of the festival. As Dare put it, “Rocklahoma has always been about the fans, and this took it to another level.”
And when the main stages went dark, the new DEB Stage kept the party alive with midnight mayhem. Add in the legendary campgrounds—a DIY city of fan-built bars, nonstop parties, and this year’s first-ever “Best Campground Award” crowned to Camp Good Vibes—and you’ve got the full Rocklahoma experience. It’s not just a festival. It’s a way of life.
Even backstage, the flavor was fire. Kansas City’s Stretch from Grinders kept artists fueled with smoky BBQ and baklava that became the unlikely cult favorite snack of the weekend.
Rocklahoma 2025 hit hard—77,000 fans, rain-soaked pits, riffs that rattled the fields, and memories that won’t fade anytime soon. Louder than ever, and already eyeing Labor Day 2026.
I’m Drew, the founder and editor of Front of the Stage. I have a strong love for music and photography, which started at a very young age. There’s just something I love about experiencing live music and capturing memories that will last a lifetime, and that’s how Front of the Stage came to be.
