Photos: Welcome To Rockville at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL, May 15 – 18, 2025

Photos and review by Sean Matthews

Day 1 (Arch Enemy, Three Days Grace, Shinedown, The Pretty Reckless, Halestorm, Bullet For My Valentine, Asking Alexandria)

Day 2 (Sublime, Social Distortion, Kublai Khan TX, Killswitch Engage, Jimmy Eat World, Green Day)

Day 3 (Pierce The Veil, Linkin Park, Incubus, I Prevail, Hollywood Undead, Beartooth)

Day 4 (Mudvayne, Motionless In White, Memphis May Fire, Korn, The Black Dahlia Murder)

Welcome to Rockville 2025: A Scorcher of a Festival, But a Celebration Like No Other

Welcome to Rockville was a furnace. The four-day marathon at Daytona International Speedway brought record-high temperatures but also delivered unforgettable performances, thoughtful fan experiences, and a community spirit that refused to melt under the Florida sun. Over 200,000 fans braved the heat to witness more than 150 bands tear through five stages, and thanks to the excellent management by Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP), the event remained safe, energized, and downright legendary.

From the get-go, it was clear this year’s Rockville would be different. With temperatures soaring well above 100°F every day, DWP stepped up in a big way. They added more shade, tents, and water refill stations overnight, dropped the price of bottled water, and kept crowds cool with sprinklers and fire hoses. Their attention to detail didn’t go unnoticed, with fans appreciating the commitment to safety and comfort in truly brutal conditions.

A welcome addition this year was the Sirius XM Tent, where fan-favorite hosts Caity Babs, Shannon Gunz, and Jose Mangin conducted live interviews with bands right in front of fans, offering a unique, intimate behind-the-scenes experience.

Thursday

The festival kicked off with stages spaced wide apart and overlapping schedules, making it difficult to catch every act… especially under the scorching sun. Still, the energy was high.

The Pretty Reckless delivered their usual punch of powerhouse vocals and charisma. Taylor Momsen seemed especially connected to the crowd, roaming the stage and soaking in the moment of their third Welcome To Rockville appearance.

Halestorm, introduced warmly by Jose Mangin, surprised fans with four live debuts from their upcoming album Fallen Star. Songs like “WATCH OUT!” and “Everest” hit hard, and the Octane Stage became a fan-favorite launchpad.

Asking Alexandria, still channeling their signature edge, brought a more animated performance than their Sonic Temple set, despite Danny Worsnop braving the possibility of heat stroke under his newly found layers of heavy clothing.

Three Days Grace, now fronted by both Matt Walst and Adam Gontier, paid emotional tribute to Three Doors Down (who had to cancel) with a crowd-shaking cover of “Away From the Sun.”

Bullet for My Valentine proved their lasting relevance by drawing a massive crowd to the side stages with a career-spanning set and their customary fiery visuals.

Closing the night was Shinedown, who ignited the Speedway, quite literally, with explosive energy. Pyro shooting from all angles, backstage, and even the sound board, it seems as though they’ve taken a page out of Rammstein’s playbook. Their setlist blended old and new, featured a stirring cover of “Kryptonite,” and ended on a high note with “Simple Man” alongside Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Friday

The second day was all about catching bands missed at previous festivals.

Jimmy Eat World radiated joy, visibly grateful for their place on the Rockville lineup, while Jinjer stunned with Tatiana Shmailyuk’s jaw-dropping vocal transitions and commanding presence.

Sublime brought the beach vibes to the Octane Stage. Jakob Nowell kept his father’s legacy alive with charm, swagger, and a contagious smile. He asked the crowd if he should surf a bit, and that was eventually vetoed by his team.

Kublai Khan TX packed the side stages beyond capacity, dominating with raw intensity and fan interaction. They’re clearly destined for bigger billing.

Killswitch Engage turned up the heat quite literally, with fire-heavy visuals even as temperatures hit triple digits. A setlist blending old-school bangers with new hits like “I Believe” kept the crowd fired up.

The evening closed with a bang… Green Day. Initially met with skepticism as a Rockville headliner, the punk legends threw the biggest party of the weekend. They had the crowd singing along to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” before even hitting the stage. Billie Joe, Tre, and Mike proved they haven’t aged a day, bringing energy, nostalgia, and one of the most joyful sets in festival history.

Saturday

Saturday was brutal. With heat indexes pushing 110°F, many fans (and even bands) struggled. Attendance dipped at the smaller, less shaded stages, but the music didn’t stop.

Hollywood Undead lifted spirits with rotating vocals and instrumentals, even inviting a young fan, Colton, on stage for an unforgettable moment. Their cover of “Sweet Caroline” was a sing-along highlight.

Beartooth closed their tour with emotion and fire… literally. Caleb Shomo thanked fans sincerely as fireworks lit up the sky.

Despite recently losing vocalist Brian Burkheiser, I Prevail put on a masterclass in resilience. Dylan Bowman stepped up in a big way, and their creative cover medley (featuring Deftones, Alice in Chains, and System of a Down) proved they’re entering a bold new chapter.

Incubus brought polished precision, while Pierce The Veil captured younger hearts and rocked a dark, electric set, debuting a cover of Radiohead’s “Karma Police” and bringing out Sleeping with Sirens’ Kellin Quinn for “King for a Day.”

Linkin Park closed the night, with Mike Shinoda beaming and Emily Armstrong hitting her stride vocally. Whether or not fans are sold on the new lineup, there’s no doubt Emily gives it her all. Classics like “Crawling” and “Numb” blended seamlessly with new tracks like “The Emptiness Machine,” showing that LP’s evolution is worth watching.

Sunday:

Sunday brought an unexpected schedule shift and more heat… but also some of the weekend’s best moments.

Motionless In White impressed with full makeup and pyro, despite the oppressive weather. Chris Cerulli even tossed roses to the crowd during “Eternally Yours.”

Memphis May Fire pulled a large audience, many seeing them for the first time, while The Black Dahlia Murder unleashed chaos at the Vortex Stage with endless crowd surfers.

Mudvayne gave fans both music and a show. Introduced by Jose Mangin, Chad Gray’s infamous face paint melted and peeled under the heat… and he threw pieces of it into the crowd!

Finally, Korn closed out Rockville with brooding lighting, fan-favorite classics (“Blind,” “Twist,” “Falling Away From Me”), and a ferocious crowd response. The pit boiled with emotion and heat, but no one was ready to leave.

Final Thoughts

The 14th edition of Welcome to Rockville was a triumph under fire… literally. The heat tested fans and bands alike, but the music, community, and effort from the organizers made it all worthwhile.

If you missed it, mark your calendars. For updates on the 2026 edition or upcoming DWP events, visit WelcomeToRockville.com.

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See you in the pit (but bring sunscreen next year).

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