Getaway Rock Festival 2013 - Day 1 & 2

Over a week ago TJ and I drove to Gävle, Sweden to experience our first festival. I want to write about the trip and post it in two parts, with a lot of pictures of course. Hope you'll enjoy!

I've been to many concerts, but never a festival, so this was a new experience for me and my boyfriend. We didn't camp, we stayed at a hotel (thank God!), but we were at the festival for many hours to see our favorite acts.

We drove from Nordfjordeid to Gävle, Sweden on Wednesday. It took us 12 and a half hour to get there. We only made a few pit stops, but with music and stand-up comedy on the stereo we forgot how long we had to drive.

We checked in at the hotel, ate a late dinner and checked ut the town. Then it was off to bed, but I was to pshyked to get some real sleep. I was going to see Gamma Ray the next day! I had metal butterflies in my stomach.

Wednesday night in Gävle. TJ's in a jolly good mood :)

On Thursday we ate a good breakfast, and spent a few hours gettin' ready for the festival. What do you wear when the weather is so unstable, and you want to look as metal as possible?!?!

Festival outfit day one \m/

We ate at McDonalds and had a cup of cappuccino before we took a cab to the festival area. 

At Wayne's Coffee before the festival :)

Gamma Ray were due on stage in one and a half hour. We checked out the place, and headed for the green stage. We got front row "seats" right in the middle - oh yeah. At this point it was heavy rain, and a poncho was the only option, but it came off right before the show started. Heck, I was wearing a Gamma Ray t-shirt and a battle vest with two Gamma Ray patches, I was going to show I was a fan, rain or no rain!

Fuck the rain! We know how to rock anyway! :p

The Rayz didn't start playing before 18.15 (15 minutes later than scheduled, and they only got to play for 45 min.) But it was the best 45 minutes in power metal history! I sang along and had my fist in the air the whole time, plus fighting every bastard trying to take my place. It was so cool and awesome!

Live pictures of Gamma Ray borrowed from rockfoto.nu

After the show we went to meet and greet with Testament. A kick ass thrash metal band! TJ and I got our pictures taken with Chuck Billy, the vocalist of the band. And I got my favorite CD, "Souls of Black", signed by the whole band.

Chuck Billy from Testament and me :) I was about to lean a bit over the table for the picture, but Chuck said that I could come around and pose beside him :) What a nice and cool man! :D

My favorite Testament CD signed by all five present members :)

Chuck Billy and TJ :)

After the meet and greet we were just wandering around the green stage area waiting for Iced Earth to start playing. And then suddenly, there he was; Kai Hansen! The founder, frontman, singer and guitarist of Gamma Ray! I've never been so excited and starstruck in my whole life.

He signed a CD and I got my picture taken with him. He was so cute, cool and friendly. I have to trace back in my head what actually happened right there, becuse I sure wasn't here on earth. I was somewhere in metal heaven :)

Kai Hansen and me :D:D:D I'm so glad the picture turned out okay. It's the backround photo on my iPhone and computer, plus my facebook profile picture - I'm a BIG fan! :D

After meeting Kai, we stayed and watched Iced Earth. WOW! They were amazing! And their style, ahhh, I have to have some DIY projects to get some of those looks!

After the show we found something to eat (not easy to have a nice meal in the freakin' rain, but it was one for the books :p), and then it was Testament's turn on the stage. Man, what a show! The wicked cool backdrop, the mean lean great thrash metal and the heavyness and showmanship. Nice, nice, nice! I think I closed my eyes and got carried away of some the tunes sometimes. Testament rocks!

Live pics from Gamma Ray, Testament and Iced Earth :)

End of day one! Wet and tired back to the hotel room ready for a new metal filled day :)