Pointfest 2025 is here, and once again, St. Louis is the epicenter of alternative and rock music. Held at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre on Saturday, May 17, the legendary single-day festival celebrates over three decades of bringing rock’s best to the Midwest. Hosted by local powerhouse station 105.7 The Point, Pointfest continues its tradition of mixing national headliners with rising stars and hometown favorites.
This year’s main stage lineup is nothing short of electric. 311 headlines the night at 9:20 p.m., preceded by The Urge at 8:00 p.m., Toadies at 6:40 p.m., and Finger Eleven at 5:25 p.m. These alt-rock icons represent the heart of the festival, with each band bringing their own signature sound and loyal fanbase.
311, who’ve performed in over 27 countries and played more than 2,000 shows, are known for their infectious blend of rock, rap, reggae, and funk. Their massive radio hits like Down, Amber, and Beautiful Disaster continue to ignite crowds and remain staples on alt-rock playlists worldwide. With a career spanning over three decades, the band has built a fiercely loyal fanbase known as the “311 Nation,” and their live shows are legendary for their positive vibes, musical tightness, and crowd connection.
The Urge, St. Louis’ own, remains one of the most explosive live acts on the bill. With ’90s hits like Jump Right In and Brainless, and frontman Steve Ewing’s unmatched energy, their set promises a hometown throwdown. Known for their genre-blending fusion of ska, punk, and hard rock, The Urge has long been a local favorite and a Pointfest staple. Their high-octane shows are a rite of passage for St. Louis music fans, and today’s performance is no exception. Add in the fact that Steve Ewing continues to be a beloved figure in the community — not just for his music, but also for his local restaurant, Steve’s Hot Dogs — and you’ve got a set that goes beyond nostalgia. It’s a celebration of local pride, musical legacy, and the kind of electric stage presence that has kept The Urge at the top of the St. Louis scene for decades.
Toadies, best known for their iconic album Rubberneck and the smash hit Possum Kingdom, offer a grunge-era edge fused with punk ferocity that still hits hard decades later. Their raw, driving sound helped define ‘90s alternative rock, with tracks like Tyler and Away showcasing the band’s ability to balance dark lyrical themes with heavy, infectious riffs.
Their music carries a haunting intensity that’s only amplified in a live setting—frontman Vaden Todd Lewis’s snarling vocals and the band’s tight rhythm section deliver a performance that’s both nostalgic and relentlessly powerful. As veterans of countless festivals and clubs across the country, Toadies bring a sense of grit and authenticity to Pointfest, proving that their sound remains as vital today as it was when Rubberneck first lit up the charts. Expect a set that’s loud, emotional, and unapologetically bold.
Canadian rockers Finger Eleven, one of Canada’s top-selling bands, will bring their alt-metal anthems to the Pointfest stage, delivering a powerful mix of emotion and intensity. Known for their dynamic range and ability to shift from brooding ballads to hard-hitting rock grooves, the band remains a staple of early 2000s rock radio. Fan favorites like One Thing, with its haunting melody and introspective lyrics, and the chart-topping Paralyzer, a funk-infused rock smash that dominated airwaves, are sure to ignite the crowd.
With a career spanning over two decades, Finger Eleven has consistently evolved their sound while staying true to the energy and precision that made them a standout act in the post-grunge era. Their live performances are tight, engaging, and packed with crowd-pleasing moments that showcase both musicianship and charisma. For longtime fans and first-timers alike, their set promises a heavy dose of nostalgia blended with pure, unfiltered rock adrenaline.
Beyond the main stage, fans can catch performances on the Point White Stage, Point Black Stage, and Pop’s Night Club Local Stage, featuring acts like Ludo, Sick Puppies, Alien Ant Farm, Post Sex Nachos, and a host of rising regional talent, including Intruded. With four stages and over 20 bands, the atmosphere is guaranteed to be electric from the first guitar riff to the final encore.
The Barn 