Hard rock heavyweights bring full-fledged music festival to Onslow

The biggest rock music show to ever hit Onslow County has finally arrived.

The Noon to Moon music festival is making its highly awaited debut with a day-long music explosion for all ages on Sept. 4 at the new Deppe Agriculture and Music Pavilion. Gates open 10 a.m. and the show starts at noon.

Noon to Moon Festival promoters and organizers guarantee that local audiences will have an unforgettable concert in their own backyard instead of having to travel long distances. This year’s concert will feature a lineup of performances from Deftones, Five Finger Death Punch, Buckcherry, Trapt, Shiny Toy Guns, Drowning Pool, Nonpoint, 10 Years and This Will Destroy You.

“The No. 1 response that we get is that it’s finally here,” said Aaron Flahardy, promotions director for Hooligans Music Hall, which is producing the event. “This is going to save people a two-hour drive [to Walnut Creek].”

Flahardy said the featured bands have sold more than 12 million albums combined worldwide and the vast range of music will offer something for everyone: from Deftones, who have been creating rock hits for the past 22 years, to heavy metal rockers Five Finger Death Punch, who have gained a local following among military and civilian fans.

“We’re going to have people in their 30s who were fans of Deftones when they were in college,” Flahardy said. “The range of the response could be from a 10-year-old kid who is a big fan of Five Finger Death Punch or Buckcherry. I’ve heard that there are 40- and 50-year-olds that have been talking about Noon to Moon coming.”

Flahardy said that Noon to Moon will also be the same stage for the winner of Hooligans 4th annual Battle of the Bands competition, which will be held Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. The contest will give eight local bands a chance to impress judges and fans with their best live performance. Some of Noon to Moon’s headlining acts will be present to critique the performers and sign autographs for the crowd as part of the pre-festival activities.

“It will be judged by members of Five Finger Death Punch and Trapt,” she said. “The winning band opens up for the show on Saturday.”

Noon to Moon organizers are also using the event to give back to a worthy cause.

“We’ve partnered with the Museum of the Marine as our charitable contribution with this event,” Flahardy said. “They will be helping us run this event with volunteers and, in turn, we will be donating a large number of the proceeds to them.”

Like any concert venue, the festival will also have at least a dozen vendors on site selling food and beverages during the show. Flahardy said that one of the major purposes of Noon to Moon is to keep the whole family close to home to enjoy a Labor Day weekend concert loaded with back-to-back top performances.

“This is one stage and one show and you won’t miss anything during the show,” Flahardy said. “This is an all age event, we know people who are bringing their 4-year-olds.

“There will be more than enough space for everyone.”

WANT TO GO? The first Noon to Moon festival will be held Sept. 4 at Deppe Agriculture and Music Pavilion, located on 244 Deppe Road, off of U.S. 17 N just outside of Jacksonville. Gates open at 10 a.m. and the show starts at noon. For more information about Noon to Moon and ticket locations, visit noontomoon.com. The Battle of the Bands competition will take place Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. at Hooligans Music Hall. For more information, call 910-346-2086.