Alice in Chains, Papa Roach, Volbeat, Halestorm + More Invade Kansas City’s Rockfest 2013

On May 11, 2013, Kansas City opened its arms to the 21st edition of Rockfest, the biggest one-day music festival in the country. With 15 bands playing two stages over the course of nearly 12 hours, there was no shortage of pounding rock and roll for concert goers of all ages.

Put on by local rock radio powerhouse 98.9 The Rock, Rockfest is held at Liberty Memorial in Penn Valley Park in Kansas City, Missouri. There's something special about creating a festival experience in the middle of downtown Kansas City, and that helps set Rockfest apart from other similar events. The sheer size is something to be amazed at as well, with thousands of screaming fans invading Liberty Memorial for one day; there's a reason that there is no bigger one-day fest.

Whether it was Heaven's Basement opening the day on the second stage or Alice in Chains closing things out on the massive main stage with a set that consisted of brand new material as well as classic tunes, Rockfest had a little something for everyone. All That Remains, In This Moment and Killswitch Engage melted faces with their special brands of metal. Sevendust and Papa Roach brought their insanely high-energy show to Kansas City, much to the delight of everyone in attendance.

While every single band commanded the attention and energy of the huge crowd, it seemed Volbeat takes the crown for the biggest, baddest set of the day. Opening with 'A Warrior's Call,' the stage was set for the non-stop rockabilly infusion style of the Danish band. The intensity of the day was never higher than during Volbeat's crushing performance.

Local boys Red Line Chemistry proved they are destined for greatness with a set that consisted of fan favorites like 'Ultragigantor' and 'Dumb Luck,' but also included brand new tracks from their next studio album, 'Tug of War.' It's safe to say the fans in the crowd liked what they heard from the new material.

The day was rounded out with stellar sets from acts like Seether, Eye Empire, Young Guns, Aranda and David Draiman's brand new project, Device. Fans were treated to a nice surprise when Halestorm's lead singer Lzzy Hale - who just a few hours before destroyed the main stage with a killer set by her band - joined Draiman onstage for a memorable rendition of their cover of 'Close My Eyes Forever.'

Rockfest is a tradition in Kansas City and is one of the events that helps kick off the summer concert season. Unless you've been, there's no way to really describe what it's like being in a public park in the middle of an urban setting listening to some of the best rock and roll around today.