Girl Who Travels

Travel Dates: May 2026

Rock, Royalty, and Unforgettable Memories

From May 14–17, 2026, the Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, became home to 200,000 people. Crowds gathered from all over to unite for one majestic purpose: a shared love of rock music.

I was among that crowd, and I couldn’t have been happier. The sounds, the sights, and the vibes were unparalleled. There is something truly magical about the heartbeat of a crowd beating in perfect synchronization with the music, mosh pits swirling, and crowd surfers moving overhead.

With more than 140 bands performing over the weekend, there was no feasible way to see them all—especially with five stages spread across the venue. While we caught several performances in person, we watched others via live stream.

Fortunately, we had “Rock Royalty” tickets, which granted us access to perks the regular tickets didn’t. This included the Rock Royalty Lounge—a low-lit, dive-bar-style retreat where we could relax in the AC, grab a refreshing drink, and watch the mainstage shows streamed on a massive TV. We caught a few incredible sets this way, including Breaking Benjamin, Flyleaf, Megadeth, Public Enemy, and Sublime.

Out of all the live sets we caught in person, three performances truly stood out: Powerman 5000, Tool, and Shinedown.

Powerman 5000

Powerman 5000 was the first live show we saw, and it easily became one of the weekend’s absolute highlights. Despite the prominent “No Crowd Surfing” signs, this was my first time experiencing a crowd with surfers overhead. The entire performance was pure, unadulterated rock-and-roll joy. Spider One—the younger brother of Rob Zombie—fronts the act, and even though he’s rocking at 57 years young, he still knows how to put on a hell of a show. They played all of my favorites, leaving me absolutely delighted. Because the set was so enthralling and high-energy, it didn’t even occur to me to snap a photo! So, instead, here is a picture of one of the amazing art installations.

Tool

The Tool performance was nothing short of electric. As the closing night headliner, they absolutely rocked the stadium. I learned that their frontman, Maynard James Keenan, performs from the back of the stage, which was a unique setup I hadn’t experienced before. It gave the entire show an otherworldly vibe, especially when paired with the stunning visuals and laser light show. Their songs are long, but they flowed into one another like tributaries into a powerful river, building beautifully toward the final moments. They played a fantastic mix of my personal favorites and tracks I hadn’t heard before.

Shinedown

As my absolute favorite band, Shinedown was the ultimate highlight of the weekend for me. Though I’ve seen them before, this performance was incredibly special because I got to watch them with my daughter, who grew up listening to them in the car with me. It was a beautiful experience and one I will treasure forever.

The performance itself was phenomenal. They had pyrotechnics, fireworks, and frontman Brent Smith absolutely did not disappoint. They played a perfect mix of old favorites and newer tracks, and even paid a moving homage to those we’ve lost. When they played “Searchlight,” the crowd was collectively in tears. They also treated us to “Safe and Sound,” marking the first public performance of that #1 hit. I cried, I sang my heart out, I jumped, and I rocked out. It was glorious.

All in all, the festival was an amazing event. Everyone—from the security team and the rickshaw drivers to the massive crowds and the bathroom attendants—was kind, polite, exuberant, and just simply glad to be there. Thank you, Sonic Temple, for an amazing show. We’ll definitely be back again.