Merriweather Post Pavilion is an outdoor concert venue located within Symphony Woods, a 40-acre (160,000 m2) lot of preserved land in the heart of the planned community of Columbia, Maryland. In 2010, Merriweather was named the second best amphitheater in the United States by Billboard magazine. The venue was also ranked as the fourth best amphitheater in the United States by Rolling Stone in 2013. It was again ranked by Consequence of Sound at number 29 of all music venues in the nation out of 100 in 2016.

Kix was an American glam metal and hard rock band formed in 1976, that achieved popularity during the 1980s. Led by bassist Donnie Purnell and front man Steve Whiteman, the band's classic lineup was rounded out by guitarists Ronnie "10/10" Younkins and Brian "Damage" Forsythe and drummer Jimmy "Chocolate" Chalfant. Kix covered AC/DC, Aerosmith, April Wine, Led Zeppelin, and others before signing with Atlantic Records in 1981. Since peaking in the late 1980s, band members continued to record and tour until their disbandment in 2023.