November 22, 2024
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Hard rockers visit for “Day Off”

You know the routine by now.

You live in Maine and therefore no large-scale musical festivals will come near you this summer because you’re too far north. No Warped Tour, no Tattoo the Earth, no Area: One, and no Ozzfest.

Well, Maine doesn’t have an “official” Ozzfest date, so to speak. And Ozzy won’t technically set foot in Vacationland. But in what’s becoming an annual tradition, a smattering of the Ozzman’s festival magic will venture to Portland between tour dates.

Dubbed the “Big Day Off” tour, four headlining acts and one second stage group from Ozzfest 2001 will drop in to the Cumberland County Civic Center at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6.

Making live appearances are aggro metal fiends Linkin Park, hard-core angsters Papa Roach, the nine-man circus of pain Slipknot, shock rockers Mudvayne, and troubled nu metal poster children Disturbed.

Propelled off the success of their first album, “Hybrid Theory,” Linkin Park has encountered a new element in this touring summer festival.

“Ozzfest has probably the most diverse crowds we’ve ever played for,” LP’s vocalist Chester Bennington said recently. “There’s a lot of people who don’t know who we are, but they really seem to be into what we’re doing. It’s just a whole other world trying to connect with 40,000 people.”

Thus, the return to smaller venues like Cumby allows for a little more freedom, as Bennington pointed out. Among the major perks of the Big Day Off shows, Bennington mentioned the opportunity to turn up the intensity.

Lengthy band rosters at Ozzfest have made for short performances and even shorter set changes; two setbacks that aren’t a problem on the Big Days Off.

“We’re not restricted at these shows,” Bennington said. “We jump into the crowds – that’s the kind of show we do, and that’s kind of been a problem at the festival shows.”

The Big Day Off is a chance to play for the fans, according to Bennington.

“It’s more relaxed and it’s definitely more of our crowd,” Bennington said.

Tickets for the show are $35 and are available by calling the Civic Center box office at 775-3458, Ticketmaster at 775-33331 or by visiting the nearest Ticketmaster outlet.


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