Metallica bringing Orion Music + More to A.C.

Attention metal-heads: you'd better get ready to take a ride on the Atlantic City Expressway. Cali hard rock legends Metallica announced today that they will be hosting the first annual Orion Music + More festival June 23 and 24 at Bader Field in Atlantic City.

"We've had the idea of doing our own lifestyle festival with lots of diverse music and fun and games for years," Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich said in a news release. "Finally this year all the practical ducks lined up in a row, and we are beyond psyched to bring Orion to our fans, friends and the curious. After the most incredible of weeks ever in December 2011 celebrating our 30th anniversary at the Fillmore in San Francisco, CA, bringing the spirit of that week, the looseness of that week, the possibilities of that week, the fan interactive elements of that week, and the (fill in your own blank here) of that week to a festival setting is so exciting we can hardly contain ourselves."

Orion Music + More promises to feature multiple music stages and "a lifestyle element that reflects each of Metallica's band members' many personality interests."

James, Lars, Kirk and Robert will headline both nights of Orion, playing 1991's self-titled album (also known as "The Black Album") one night and 1984's thrash masterpiece "Ride the Lightning" on the other. According to the press release, Orion will be the only time the band plays these albums in North America in 2012.

The admirably eclectic album of Orion will feature over 20 acts, including Jersey natives the Gaslight Anthem and Titus Andronicus, as well as southern roots rock kings Lucero and psychedelic rock legend Roky Erickson. Also on the bill are: Arctic Monkeys, Avenged Sevenfold, Modest Mouse, Cage The Elephant, Fucked Up, Best Coast, Hot Snakes, Gary Clark Jr., the Black Angels, the Sword, Liturgy and more to be announced in the coming weeks.

The Metallica Met Club fan club pre-sale starts tomorrow and tickets will go on-sale to the public on Saturday at 10 a.m. for $150 for a two-day pass including all fees.Visit www.orionmusicandmore.com to buy tickets and for more information.