Blow through the gates of the Buffalo Chip four whole days before the festival’s official rally kickoff date to nab your favorite camp spot, watch the festival spring to life and rock out to nightly concerts on the Bikini Beach Stage!
The Chip kicks off the 84th Sturgis Rally the right way with a parade of motorcycles, Drifter Cross stunt trials, the Star-Spangled Banner, The Rally Roar, the Monster Wall Smash Stunt, and entertainment from Bad Wolves and the 2024 Sturgis Battle of the Bands winner. The kickoff party is when our fuse of anticipation finally touches the powder keg.
Be One of Only 100 Riders to Join the Parade
At 5 p.m. you can line up at the CrossRoads to join hundreds of bikers* to parade through the Chip’s legendary amphitheater for the kickoff. The parade starts at 6 p.m.
Here’s How:
Tilt your head back and howl into the South Dakota sky as platinum-certified heavy metal outfit Bad Wolves deliver an evening of unapologetic hard rock on Friday, Aug. 2 during the Buffalo Chip’s Official Sturgis Rally Kickoff Party. The LA-based quintet’s unpredictable metallic intensity and impressive instrumental proficiency will shine as bright as the full moon as they perform hits such as “Killing Me Slowly,” “Remember When,” “Sober” and their haunting cover of The Cranberries’ “Zombie.”
Feel the heat as hard rockers Leaving Hope set the stage ablaze during the Buffalo Chip’s Official Sturgis Rally Kickoff Party. This Minneapolis-based five piece beat out countless other acts to win the 2024 Sturgis Battle of the Bands, and you’ll see why when they bring their unique influences together for a powerful, electrifying performance to the Best Party Anywhere. Experience their thunderous drums and bass, punchy, screaming guitars, powerful vocals and in the amphitheater on Friday, Aug. 2. Then join them for an encore performance at Bikini Beach the following night at midnight.
Bring your appetite, because Big Skillet is cookin’ up a crock full of concerts at the Chip that you’ll never be able to get enough of. Party down with great classic rock, R&B, blues, funk and modern country when this Missouri-based band gets the night started on the Wolfman Jack Stage during the Buffalo Chip's Official Sturgis Rally Kickoff Party on Friday, Aug. 2. There will be plenty of chances to come back for seconds with performances throughout the week on the Bikini Beach Stage.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) debuts in the Buffalo Chip amphitheater on Saturday, Aug. 3! Headlined by defending champ Britain Hart and challenger Taylor 'Killa Bee' Starling, BKFC-63 promises to pack punch after punch. Experience this night of raw, unfiltered action in the squared circle VIP or onstage VIP viewing areas. With a stacked undercard and the Chip's electrifying atmosphere, you and your friends are in for a knockout experience.
It’s not a Buffalo Chip rally without a major ThundHer storm rocking the Sturgis crowd to the core. ThundHerStruck, the Ultimate All Girl Tribute to AC/DC, brings an evening of high-voltage entertainment to the Buffalo Chip Amphitheater on Saturday, Aug. 3. ThundHerStruck combine the raw power of AC/DC, with a hard hitting and electrifying performance covering both the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson eras of AC/DC tunes. These Girls’ Got Rhythm and you will get Shook All Night Long with an epic performance from ThunderHerStruck prior to the evening’s main event – Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
It’ll be a Great Day to Be Alive when you and your friends are partying under the stars with Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Travis Tritt. The multi-platinum-selling country rock icon will take to the Wolfman Jack Stage on Sunday, Aug. 4, delivering decades worth of hits like “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” “Modern Day Bonnie & Clyde,” “Here’s a Quarter” as well as tracks from his new album “Country Chapel.”
On Sunday, Aug 4th country-rock fusion artist Cory Marks takes the Wolfman Jack Main Stage to showcase his own brand of raw vocals mixed with southern rock vibes. Equal parts arena rock and roots country artist, this Ontario native will rock the rally crowd with hit songs “Outlaws & Outsiders,” “Burn It Up,” “Devil’s Grin” and more during his high-energy Buffalo Chip debut prior to a performance from Travis Tritt.
Newly founded but critically acclaimed country duo War Hippies bring their authentic songwriting and electrifying performance to the Wolfman Jack Main Stage on Sunday, Aug. 4. The two man group made up of accomplished solo musicians and U.S. combat veterans Scooter Brown (U.S. Marine Corp) and and Donnie Reis (U.S. Army) will perform songs like “Hang Man,” “Killin’ It,” and “Make it Out Alive” to a freedom-loving audience ahead of the evening’s headliner Travis Tritt.
Kick up dust and knock back something stiff as rocker-turned-outlaw-country artist Aaron Lewis makes his return to the Best Party Anywhere. Lewis will fill the sweet August air with hits like “Country Boy,” “Northern Redneck” and “Am I the Only One” as the headlining artist on Monday, Aug. 5
Call in a “Metal Health” day and Bang Your Head to ’80s metal gods Quiet Riot Monday, Aug. 5. Famously described as the first heavy metal band to top the pop charts, Los Angeles quartet Quiet Riot became an overnight sensation thanks to their monster 1983 smash album “Metal Health”. Their follow-up album, “Condition Critical,” went double platinum, and the band continued to record and tour throughout their 30+ year history. Quiet Riot bring their catalog of platinum party jams to the Wolfman Jack stage prior to a performance from Aaron Lewis.
Singer-songwriter Cordell Winter makes his Buffalo Chip debut Monday, Aug. 5 ahead of performances from Quiet Riot and Aaron Lewis. Combining charismatic rock ‘n’ roll with mystic folk lyricism, Cordell Winter blends a rebellious spirit, poetic lyrics and enigmatic performances that have resonated deeply with audiences all over the nation. Winter’s stage presence and rebellious counterculture flavor transcends the digital realm, offering a genuine connection that only a live concert can provide.
#1 Most Requested 2024 Sturgis Rally Artist Faithful Chip fans have been praying for a performance from Southern-rapper-turned-country-star Jelly Roll, shooting his name to the number one slot on the list of band requests. Fill up your cup ‘til it runs over during an evening with this lyrical preacher on Tuesday, Aug. 6. when Jelly Roll brings his Backroads Baptism to the Wolfman Jack Stage.
Make sure your boots are working and your truck doesn’t break down ‘cause you don’t want to miss Dasha opening up the Wolfman Jack Stage for #1 Sturgis Rally requested artist Jelly Roll on Tuesday, Aug. 6. This rising country star gained a massive following through TikTok and Instagram with her viral track “Austin,” which she will be bringing to The Chip, along with a collection of uniquely styled country songs from her latest album “What Happens Now?”. Dasha’s performance caps off Women’s Day at the Chip—a full day of activities celebrating women in motorcycling and music.
Meet Cody Lee Meece, an eclectic singer-songwriter from Eubank, Kentucky known for his original "Raunchy Tonk" style. With influences ranging from Stevie Ray Vaughan to Waylon Jennings, Cody captivates audiences with his electrifying stage presence. Catch Cody and his band, The Poor Excuses, opening for Jelly Roll and Dasha on Tuesday, Aug. 6 on the legendary Wolfman Jack Stage. He'll also be rocking the Camp Zero Afterparty at Midnight, Saturday, Aug. 3 through Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Prepare for a rock and rap extravaganza so raucous it could raise the dead. Lose your mind to rockin’ bangers like “Bad Girlfriend,” genre-melding triple-platinum anthems like “Rx (Medicate),” ethereal ballads like “Angel,” and catchy party earworms like “Bitch Came Back,” plus offerings from their latest release “Dinosaur”. When you join the frenzied hordes of hard rock-addicted Chip fanatics in a unified head-banging mass of unbridled energy on Wednesday, Aug. 7, you’ll know it’s no theory that the Sturgis Buffalo Chip is the Best Party Anywhere.
Bedtimes be damned, Buffalo Chip party rockers will be “Up All Night” getting down to hit after hit after hit from Oklahoma City based hard rockers Hinder on Wednesday, Aug. 7. Since Hinder’s formation in 2001, the group has released a massive catalog of radio hits to their loyal fanbase including “Lips of an Angel,” “All American Nightmare,” “Get Stoned,” “Up All Night,” and so many more. Make sure nothing in your schedule hinders your opportunity to this show ahead of Theory of a Deadman.
Show up Aug. 7 before Theory of a Deadman and Hinder to find out if wire walker Blake Wallenda and motorcycle daredevil Kyle Ives join forces again to risk life and limb! One thing is sure, there will be tons of fun stunts, including our Monster Wall Smash with Unsung Zero, Regular-Sized Joe Miekle, and so much more.
Freedom is bigger than the economy. It's bigger than the news. It’s our birthright as Americans, and it’s what our military fights to preserve every day. For 34 years, The Chip has been home to Freedom Celebration, and this year’s event will feature none other than freedom-loving, fire-spitting, over-the-top, American badass Kid Rock! Crank your party up to eleven and lose your mind to the tight rhymes, magnetic party anthems, and down-home Americana crossover stylings to celebrate being BORN FREE!
If you are lookin’ to get “Lit Up”, it’s hard to find a better band to do the job than Buffalo Chip house band Buckcherry. The premier party band of the last two decades will be coming at you with the crushing chords and familiar refrains of songs like “Crazy B****”, as well as tracks from their latest album, "Vol. 10", when they take to the Wolfman Jack Stage ahead of Kid Rock on Thursday, Aug. 8.
Don’t need nothin’ but a good time this summer? It don’t get better than Bret Michaels on the Wolfman Jack Stage. This superstar rocker will bring all his killer Poison Hits–no filler–to generations of fans at the Best Party Anywhere on Friday, Aug. 9 as part of his Parti-Gras Tour. Brett Michaels has sold over 100 million records and has released a surplus of melodic mega hits throughout his career including “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” “Go That Far,” “Nothin’ But A Good Time” and many more. Don’t miss his first time rocking the Chip in over a decade!
Prepare to be hooked by a jaw-dropping, fin-tastic performance from Grammy-nominated hard rock legends Great White on Aug. 9. Over their 40-year career, this California based Rock ‘N’ Roll outfit have sold over 10 million albums worldwide, had six top 100 billboard hits and have won over countless live audiences with crushing, blues-based guitar riffs and swagger that invokes an emotional high for anyone that listens. Ride an emotional wave of sultry connections, arousing lyrics, and an all-out marathon of hard-hitting orchestrations through songs like “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” “Rock Me,” “Mista Bone” and more live at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip’s legendary Wolfman Jack stage on Friday, Aug. 9 ahead of a performance from Poison’s Bret Michaels.
You’re never gonna wanna come down after a maddening rock show from The Downboys, and luckily you won't have to. Keep your wives and girlfriends close, because these youthful, energetic rockers are bringing their own brand of electrifying performances, stolen riffs, and sexy rockin’ attitude to the Sturgis Rally crowd ahead of performances from Bret Michaels and Great White on Friday, Aug. 9. Then they'll be back with an encore performance at Bikini Beach on midnight, Saturday, Aug. 10 to close down the festival.
The Buffalo Chip is wrapping the 2024 festival with a finale like you’ve never seen before. Grab your costumes and join your friends for a night of pint-sized pandemonium with Mini Kiss, Back in Black, and Van Zeppelin. Roll up on your mini bike, play mini games, and strut your most rockin' costume for a shot at a VIP upgrade (while supplies last). Show the world you’ve got the grit to party from kickoff to the grand finale in the iron butt of rally parties. It's gonna be a little crazy, a little wild, and a whole lot of fun!
Get ready for a colossal show in the MINI-est package! On Saturday, Aug. 10, Mini Kiss will deliver their world-famous high-energy performance to close out the rally at the Chip on the legendary Wolfman Jack Stage. These four little legends will prove that big things come in small packages with a larger-than-life show you won't want to miss. Known in the Guiness Book of World Records as "The World’s Shortest Band," Mini Kiss has charmed audiences globally with their electrifying, Kiss-inspired performances.
What would happen if two of the greatest rock bands of all time got together for a Whole Lotta Love and an Eruption? Their baby would be tribute mashup Van Zeppelin, that’s what. Experience all your favorite Led Zeppelin and Van Halen songs, delivered with all the soul of the originals when Van Zeppelin takes to the Wolfman Jack Stage on Saturday, Aug. 10. Don’t miss this Unchained classic rock experience that will leave you feeling like you're on a Stairway to Heaven!
As the winner of the inaugural Sturgis Battle of the Bands in 2023, Goodfire beat out 11 incredible bands all vying for gig the Chip! Now they're back for round 2 to close down the first night of the festival at Bikini Beach! This hard rock quintet hails from Rapid City, SD and is heavily influenced by the grunge and post-grunge movements of the ‘90s and 2000s. Whether it’s their hard-hitting originals or familiar covers, Goodfire gives it 110% to any crowd wanting to let off some steam with some solid rock!
It often takes the entire year before all the variables fall into place.
But the process always starts by listening to requests from fans like you.
Planning is currently underway, and lots of you have been asking about bands and listing ones you’d ride across the country naked in a blizzard to see perform.
The following is a list of 25 bands that fans like you have put on the Chip’s radar. Are these the bands you’d go nuts to see join the Sturgis Buffalo Chip lineup?
Want to be the first to find out what Sturgis Rally concerts and entertainment will be rocking the Chip in 2025? Be sure to sign up for the Sturgis Rider® Newsletter to get the announcements before anyone else. And if there’s a band you’re dying to see, click “Request a Band” and shoot us their name in the comments section on that page!
Wish you could transport yourself to August so you could be surrounded by all your favorite Buffalo Chip bands? The Chip’s 2024 Lineup playlist on Spotify is no time machine, but it’s the next best thing. Crank it at home, in your garage, on your bike, or anywhere you’d like to start a party!
See How the Sturgis Buffalo Chip Compares to Others
Sometimes it’s good to have options. And as you can see below, only the original biker-dedicated destination that brought music and motorcycling together during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally givesyou more options than anybody else.
See for yourself why it’s the best choice for your vacation!
