Hard rock and country highlight Schwab Festival 2019
This year’s Schwab Festival will take place on Saturday, March 23 from 2 to 10 p.m. and Sunday, March 24 from 1 to 9 p.m. in front of the BeachHead Club on Camp Schwab.
This annual festival welcomes all service members, their families and Japanese citizens to Okinawa’s northernmost Marine camp to partake in a weekend of festival food and fun with free live entertainment, game booths, Fun Land rides and bouncers and delicious food such as sizzling burgers from Bulldogs, succulent BBQ beef brisket from Hickory House All-American BBQ, pizza and zesty selections from 305 Latin Bistro.
The headliners at the festival are Grammy award-winning post-grudge/metal band Halestorm on Saturday at 8 p.m. and country singer/songwriter and guitarist Frankie Ballard on Sunday starting at 7 p.m.
Halestorm is regarded as one of the most successful female-fronted rock groups of the 21st century. Their song “Love Bites (So Do I)” earned the band a Grammy for the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance. They also have a certified gold album, The Strange Case Of… (2012), which debuted as No. 15 on the Billboard 200. The band’s latest album titled Viciouswas released last July.
Frankie Ballard’s big break came when he won Kenny Chesney’s Next Big Star 2008 competition in Michigan. After winning, Ballard went on to open for Chesney at venues in Michigan. He has since opened for Bog Segar, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift and others. Ballard’s second album, Sunshine & Whiskey, features three songs that topped Billboard’s Hot Country chart: the title track (peaked at No.5), “Young & Crazy” (No. 8) and “Helluva Life” (also peaked at No. 8).
Admission to Schwab Festival is free and open to all SOFA personnel, and U.S. and Japanese citizens. Please be prepared to show a photo ID at the gate. Also, no one will be admitted with pets, bottles, outside alcohol or coolers. And as always, we encourage everyone to drink responsibly; don’t drink and drive. Both taxi and daiko services will be available.
For more information, call 645-5828 or visit mccsokinawa.com/festivals
Schwab Festival Entertainment Schedule
Saturday, March 23, 2–10 p.m.
2:45 p.m. Eisa Crew Crown (Eisa) エイサークルークラウン (創作エイサーパフォーマンス)
3:45 p.m. Belly Dance Okinawa (Belly Dancing) ベリーダンス沖縄 (ベリーダンス)
4:45 p.m. ADCD (AC/DC Tribute Band) エーディーシーディー (AC/DC カバーバンドライブショー)
6 p.m. Main Event (Variety Music) メインイベント (バラエティーソングライブショー)
8 p.m. Halestorm (Hard Rock/Alternative) ヘイルストーム (ハードロック/オルティネイティブライブショー)
Sunday, March 24, 1–9 p.m.
1:45 p.m. Tamanchu Hiroto (Street Performer) 珠人ひろと (大道芸パフォーマンス)
2:45 p.m. DOTZ (Variety Music) ドッツ (バラエティーソングパフォーマンス)
3:45 p.m. 8 Ball (Rock) 8ボール (ロックライブショー)
5 p.m. Main Event (Variety Music) メインイベント (バラエティーソングライブショー)
7 p.m. Frankie Ballard (Country) フランキーバラッド (カントリミュージックライブショー)
For more information on upcoming events visit
- Eisa Crew Crown kick off the festival on Saturday.
Marines’ tools of trade, such as these amphibious landing vehicles, are displayed prominently during the festival.
