Brock Behlke couldn't wait to get back to the Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival.
"I only went for a day last year," the 22-year-old Mansfield resident said. "It was my first concert ever."
A Wooster graduate, Behlke planned to be there for all three days of the festival, which kicked off Friday on the grounds of the Ohio State Reformatory. He was looking forward to seeing Godsmack, Chevelle and Shinedown.
"I like the whole vibe of it," Behlke said of Inkcarceration. "It gets my head away from things, away from the world."
Behlke also planned to take part in the tattoo portion of the festival. He was getting a moth tattoo on one of his knees.
"Going through the pages, looking at what they had, it caught my eye," Behlke said.
Sara Napier was also getting a tattoo of an insect. She made the interesting choice of a cicada because it reminds her of her childhood.
"I think they're the most fascinating bug," Napier said.
Tattoos are popular part of Inkcarceration
Napier was being inked by Tiffany Sutton of Envious Ink, a local tattoo parlor, in a packed area of the old prison.
"I didn't want Tiffany to have to do another dog tattoo for me," Napier said of the choice of a cicada.
The purple insect was on her chest. Napier, who already has sleeves on both arms and tattoos on her back and stomach, said she can't recall how many tattoos she has.
But her legs are off limits.
"Those are my track legs even though I don't run anymore," Napier said. She was a state track qualifier at Crestview High School.
The gates opened at 11 a.m. Hard rock music was blaring from a couple of cars in the Orange Lot as the revelers got ready for the weekend. Sunblock and vapes were popular items.
Festivalgoers passed by a row of 20 portable toilets on the way to the grounds. Those waiting in line watched as three young women, clad in black, held signs promoting the performance of Vampires Everywhere! at 12:35 p.m.
Festivalgoers make wild fashion choices
Inkcarceration is a perfect place for people watching. Many attendees wore eye-catching clothing. One man wore almost nothing.
One young woman walked through the crowd holding a sign that read "free hugs." A number of people took her up on her offer.
A long line waited for a tour of the old prison. Nearby, Haley and Jordan Barnes were enjoying a cold drink. They made the trip from Indiana.
"I've been here before, but this is his first concert," Haley said of her 15-year-old son.
"I'm OK with anything," Jordan said when asked what bands he wanted to see. "I think all the music's really great."
Haley Barnes said last year they went to Disney World instead of Inkcarceration.
Abby Burns, of Brunswick, keeps coming back.
"The venue is very cool. It is so well laid out," she said.
As an expectant mother, she added she appreciates the hydration stations and ample shade on the grounds, adding she felt safe.
As for her favorite bands, the Brunswick resident listed the Offspring, Halestorm, Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown and Bad Wolves.
Tracy Williams and his wife, also named Tracy, were second in line Friday, arriving at 8 a.m. It was their first time at Inkcarceration.
First-time attendees anxious to see bands
They were looking forward to After the Burial. They actually were looking forward to anybody when the performance of Afterlife, first up on the Yard Stage, didn't start on time.
"We're excited, but so far there hasn't been anything going on," Mr. Williams said.
Afterlife put on a rocking show after taking the stage. Before one song, lead singer Tyler Levenson told the crowd in the infield he wanted two circles going at the same time. He later requested crowd surfers.
The Masquerade described Florida-based Afterlife in the following way: "Blending singing, screaming and rapping over a heavy, yet satisfyingly melodic landscape for a unique sound coupled with socially conscious lyrics, Afterlife are poised to influence this generation of heavy music."
Inkcarceration continues through Sunday.
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
X: @MarkCau32059251
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