Amy Volume 2016-07-02 Amy Volume 2016-07-02

IMO: The Party that was Amnesia Rockfest, 2016

Amnesia Rockfest 2016: wow. WOW. The (not so little) Music festival that could: DID. I am blown away at the massive improvements that were rumored to have been implemented. I got to see them and experience them in Montebello Friday, June 24th.

Pre-planning was made easy thanks to the Amnesia Rockfest app. There were loads of security, volunteers and on site staff who were always friendly and willing to help. Lines moved quickly and there were plenty of places to sit and/or rest. I saw a number of persons in wheelchairs & with walking aides in the crowd this year, too. I have a pretty crummy physical disability which can make festivals daunting. The effort put into site planning with accessibility in mind was obvious. Thank you, party planners!

I was absolutely blessed with an All Access Media pass. This was my first experience with such VIP access - I only found out towards the end that "All Access" means you can literally stand on stage while the band plays (Yah. Literally found out during blink-182's final few songs)! Next year, should I be so lucky, I will definitely take advantage of that perk for better pictures!!

Amnesia Rockfest 2016 - Friday, June 24th @ VIP "Oasis" section... Amazing! Highly recommend saving up for the Oasis package!!

Speaking of perks; the Oasis pass gave festival goers access to a POOL! On site!! While taking a refreshing dip (the first of many) I could easily hear The Used from the Budweiser stage. Didn't miss a second of the rock while keeping cool and staying energized.

Line ups for the washroom in VIP section of Budweiser stage, Amnesia Rockfest 2016: the bathroom line ups were INTENSE!!

Tips & suggestions to future concert goers: Save your pennies and splurge on a VIP package, wear comfortable shoes and sun protection (hat, cool clothes and sunglasses), bring along some cash and a positive attitude and you are GOOD 2 GO.

The beer was reasonably priced and having vendors with trays sell on foot through the crowds was GENIUS.

All staff I ran into at Rockfest this year (crew, security, vendors) were smiling, helpful and seemed like they were genuinely happy to be at a truly awesome happening.

Even the highways and roads to and from the Chateau and through Montebello were fairly "easy breezy".

Obligatory late night poutine from Frite Maison, Amnesia Rockfest 2016

NOFX on the Budweiser stage during Amnesia Rockfest 2016 - they were my favorite performers!! I also took the pontoon with Fat Mike!

Amnesia Rockfest, I don't know how you did it (Better planning? Consultation? Valuing the public's input? Extreme hard work and determination!?) - but you DID IT! This festival has significantly levelled up in my opinion. Years ago when I had experienced the "mess in Montebello", I swore I'd never EVER be back. Well, the rumors had me wondering if it COULD ever improve and curiosity (plus a solid line up) had me saying "Yes. Let's do this!" I am so so SO glad I took a chance and went. I'm already trying to plan ahead for next year - looks like the Chateau Montebello is already booked through til 2019... Now I truly understand why.

This year's lineup was my high school soundtrack; NOFX (killed it. My fave performance of the day) Sum 41, Against Me!, Billy Talent, the Used, Turbonegro and blink-182 were just a taste of the bands I watched all in the span of 10h at Rockfest.

Snapchat footage from Friday, June 24th at Amnesia Rockfest

Thank you to everyone who made Amnesia Rockfest 2016 a wonderful time. Loads of memories and a few performances crossed off my bucket list.

Feel free to tell me about your 2016 Rockfest experience. || Written from my perspective; All Access/Media pass, 30/F, physical disability.

Amy Volume 2016-06-26 Amy Volume 2016-06-26

Feelin the 10k Pain!

Could use a wheelbarrow today - Amnesia Rockfest was AWESOME (video blog to come). Walked 10k though, so I'm still pretty sore today (even though it's been two days).

Nothing like good exercise to stay healthy and mobile, but I definitely pushed my limits on Friday.

Should I do Rockfest next year, a hotel room is a MUST!

Here's a cute pic of me as a wee baby. I didn't walk to much as a kid. This was right around the time I was diagnosed with JRA (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis).

Amy Volume 2016-06-21 Amy Volume 2016-06-21

Tom DeLonge wants Threat of UFOs to be taken seriously

Blink-182 have a new album coming out July 1st. It's called California, and it is the first Blink album to NOT feature Tom DeLonge. Filling in (temporarily?) for DeLonge , alongside Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus, we have Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio.

I'm finally seeing Blink at this weekend's Amnesia Rockfest in Montebello! Kinda sad to not see Tom DeLonge with the band I grew up loving but he's busy working on his own musical projects with Angels and Airwaves and writing a novel about the threat of UFOs.

In a new interview, DeLonge says he quit Blink-182 to focus on the investigation of "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena."

We got a press release that says you decided to not tour with Blink-182 in favor of working on this. What was the decision that went into that?
TD: Well it's not so much about Blink. It's about what I'm doing with my life now. When you're an individual like me, dealing with something that's a national security issue, and you're being gifted with the opportunity to communicate something you've been passionate about your whole life — something that has the opportunity to change the world over time — being a small part of that is enormously important for my life path.
But I can't do everything. I can't tour nine months out of the year with enough time to do the enormity of what I'm setting out to do.

CLICK HERE to read Tom DeLonge's candid interview with Mic.