Picktown Palooza will salute '80s hair metal this summer

PICKERINGTON − Hair metal will reign supreme at the 2023 Picktown Palooza this summer.

The festival will run from July 13 through July 15, with several '80s and early '90s rockers taking the stage.

"We're sticking with the rock theme," Panger Production president and event organizer Chris Stein said. "That was overwhelmingly a huge hit last year and what people were clamoring for again this year. So we basically honored their wishes."

The festival will be behind Pickerington High School Central and the official address is 300 Opportunity Way.

The first night is dubbed Ladies of the '80s night, and will feature the all-female band Vixen opening at 7:30 for headliner Lita Ford. Ford will start at 9:30. Local act, The Pretty Filth, will open the evening at 5:30.

Ford is known for hits like "Kiss Me Deadly" and "Close My Eyes Forever." The latter is a duet with Ozzy Osbourne. Ford started her career with the '70s all-female band, the Runaways, which also included Joan Jett.

Vixen hits include "Cryin'" and "Edge of a Broken Heart."

Friday will feature Steelheart opening for Slaughter. The Steelheart show starts at 7:30 p.m. with Slaughter taking the stage at 9:30 p.m.. Pettibone will get the night started at 5:30 p.m.

Slaughter's hits include "Up All Night" and "Fly To The Angels"

Steelheart is known for “I’ll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)” and “She’s Gone."

At 7:30 p.m. Saturday Lynch Mob will open for Jackyl, which comes on at 9:30 p.m. The Gypsy Kyngs will open the festival's last evening at 5 p.m.

Jackly had hits with "Dirty Little Mind" and "The Lumberjack. The latter features vocalist/guitarist Jesse James Dupree brandishing a chain saw onstage. Stein said the band has requested a wooden stool be on stage to be sawed apart.

Former Dokken guitarist George Lynch formed Lynch Mob and the band includes Dokken tunes in its set.

"One thing we do all the time is we love to poll our audience because they're highly engaged," Stein said. "All of these national artists that are playing were bands that we threw out there, amongst others, as options. And these were the ones that won out in the polls, which is pretty awesome. So the people are getting what they requested."

The Picktown Palooza features more than just music, however. It also features food, rides, a 5K race and more.

Daily admission is $5 and a three-day pass for $10 is also available. All concerts are included with admission.

Visit www.picktownpalooza.org for the complete event schedule and to buy tickets.

jbarron@gannett.com

740-681-4340

Twitter: @JeffDBarron

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Picktown Palooza will salute '80s hair metal this summer