Events

Inkcarceration Rocks The Ohio State Reformatory

Published

3 years ago

July 19, 2022

Kevin Willse

Some of the biggest names in rock take over The Ohio State Reformatory for Inkcarceration

July 19, 2022

Photos by Steve Thrasher

Metalheads and tattoo enthusiasts from all over the country flocked to the Ohio State Reformatory to celebrate another year of Inkcarceration Festival. The yearly music and tattoo festival brings out the best in Rock/Metal and Tattoo scenes for a 3 day festival for all ages. Attendees also got an opportunity to tour the famous penitentiary which also hosted a tattoo competition and haunted house. A rainy weekend didn’t keep fans from coming out in an attempt to break last year’s attendance record of 75,000, which they most likely shattered.

Day 1 started off with a bang as we got to see some of the biggest rockers over the last 30 years. As the day progressed fans packed the Inkcarceration grounds to see the likes of From Ashes to New, Lacuna Coil, Code Orange, Sleeping With Sirens, Daughtry and I Prevail. The bands alternated two main stages which were located side by side. The stages were separated by a giant screen so you wouldn’t miss a moment no matter where you were. The music never stopped as one stage started when the other finished their set.

The first day finished off with 3 bands that have been a main staple of the rock world for the last 30 years. Canadian rockers, Three Days Grace set things off for the headliners with all their hits from “Animal I Have Become”, “Home”, “I Hate Everything About You”, and finished off with “Riot”. Papa Roach is known for putting on a great performance, and didn’t disappoint. Lead Singer Jacoby Shaddox kept the crown jumping all set. At one point he even hopped over a guardrail on to the other stage. The band graced the crowd with all their hits from over the years, such as “Broken Home”, “Getting Away With Murder”and “Between Angels and Insects”. The did great covers of Prodigy’s “Firestarter” and Blur’s “Song 2” that got fans going nuts. Papa Roach finished things off with the song that put them on the map “Last Resort”. Korn finished off the night showcasing 30 years of their Nu Metal sound the world has come to love. Jonathan Davis kicked things off with “Falling Away From Me” and continued with a mix of music from 10 different albums. It didn’t take very long before he busted out the infamous bagpipes to play the unique hit “Shoots and Ladders”. They rocked out with their major tracks such as “Got the Life”, “Coming Undone” and “Did My Time”. Korn sent fans home happy with the song that started things off back in the early 90’s “Blind”.

Day 2 continued where day 1 left off with another 11 hours of rock. This day had a bit more of a diverse sounding lineup that brought in all kinds of rock fans. We got a heavy dose of hardcore with bands like Spiritbox and Avatar. They were then followed up with Canadian country/rock band Theory of a Deadman. The night was headlined with some heavy hitters beginning with Evanesence highlighting decades of memorable hits. Amy Lee hit all the high notes and even broke out the piano for “My Immortal”. Breaking Benjamin finished the night off with an electric performance with big hits like “I Will Not Bow” “Breath” and “Sooner or Later”. They even brought out Adam Gontier from Three Days Grace to help with “Dance With the Devin”. Breaking Benjamin finished off the night with their biggest hit “The Diary of Jane”. Lead singer Benjamin Burnley told the crowd this was the band’s favorite show that they have headlined.

Day 3 rained all day, however this did not stop the rock. The event may have started an hour late due to a thunderstorm but the nasty weather helped make for an unforgettable experience. As the grounds continued to get muddier as the day went on fans started mudslides on the hills making Inkcarceration even more rock and roll than it already was. This final day probably had the best lineup of the three as we saw bands such as 10 Years, Butcher Babies, Sick Puppies, Nothing More, and Black Veil Brides rip the stage in the name of Metal. Rapper Jelly Roll also took the stage to a great response showcasing the blend of the two genres. The night was headlined by big names starting with Seether from South Africa. They rocked the crowd starting with “Gasoline” before slowing things down with a partial acoustic version of “Broken”. Lamb of God kicked off their hardcore headline with “Memento Mori” and continued a moshed pit filled set ending with “Redneck”.

The festival came to a conclusion with megastar band Distubed. The multi platinum selling heavy metal band kicked things off in loud rock fashion with “Ten Thousand Fists”. As the rained continued down the band ran through 25 years of legendary hits such as “Stupify”, “Are You Ready” and “The Game”. Disturbed even brought out a piano and they did their famous cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Sound of Silence”. The band debuted their new single called “Hey You” to a great response from fans. After faking fans out with an encore, they finished the festival out with the song that made them popular, “Down With the Sickness”.

Mansfield is most famous for the Ohio State Reformatory.The Prison was built in 1886 and was operated until 1990. It was made famous while being host to the filming of The Shawshank Redemption. Over the last 5 years more exposure has been brought to this historic location as it now hosts the Inkcarceration Tattoo and Music Festival. Throughout the festival the reformatory was open for tours. Here you could see where they shot scenes from Shawshank Redemption as well as the different parts of the castle-like institution. The tour showed inside the cells and different offices of the staff and warden.

The Ohio State Reformatory is presumed to be haunted and has been well documented for paranormal activity. One of the rooms during the tour gives you an opportunity to experience this. The prison also plays host to a haunted house called “Blood Prison”. The haunted house tour takes you into the basement of the prison filled with startling props and scary live actors with the sole purpose of to scare you senseless. As far as haunted houses go this has been one of the best ones I have ever experienced. During Inkcarceration, there is only a limited section of the tour available. The full tour can be experienced from September 24th to October 30th.

During the festival was also a tattoo showcase inside the reformatory. Dozens of the country’s best and brightest artists were open for appointments to show off their skills. The artists were also part of a weekend long tattoo competition judging different aspects of their artform. The competition was judged each night on the stage located outside the prison.

The unstable weather couldn’t stop the festivities in Mansfield, Ohio this past weekend. The festival was filled with great music and complemented with great tattoos and paranormal pieces of Ohio history. With most likely a record setting crowd, this festival will be here to stay and we look forward to what will be in store in 2023.

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Art Hearts Fashion Took the Lead at Swim Week

Published

3 weeks ago

June 3, 2025

McKaela Lulic

From bird queens to body glitter, Art Hearts Fashion lit up Eden Roc with unapologetic flair.

June 2nd, 2025

If the ballroom at Eden Roc Miami Beach could talk, it would still be catching its breath after a weekend of bold designs, wild performances, and unapologetically fabulous fashion. Art Hearts Fashion hosted two back-to-back nights of Swim Week magic that reminded everyone why Miami is that girl when it comes to turning a runway into a full-on experience.

From house music inspired graphics and metallic fringe to upcycled couture and belly dancing drama, here’s what went down and why it worked.

Friday: Neon, Nightlife, and Not-So-Innocent Swimwear

Friday’s vibe was “don’t call us subtle.” The ballroom pulsed like an underground club-meets-art gallery, and the fashion matched the mood.

Pia Bolte kicked things off with chaos in the best way: think animal prints, bedazzled corsets, and a general sense that anything could (and maybe did) happen.
CA RIO CA, Cirone SwimLingerie, and Coyote Jocks blurred swimwear and nightlife so thoroughly that no one was sure if they were headed to the beach or the DJ booth—and that was the point.
Slay Swimwear and Papi Swim closed the night with all gas, no breaks. The prints were loud, the cuts were daring, and the confidence was contagious.

By the end of the night, the ballroom was less fashion show and more electric playground and, nobody wanted to leave.

: Papi Swim

: Pia Bolt

: Slay Swimwear

Saturday: Birds, Bells, and Beautiful Intentions

Saturday brought just as much energy, but with a little more soul. There was a clear shift toward statement-making fashion—with a few theatrical surprises thrown in for good measure.

Love for Upcycling opened with a collection made entirely from repurposed materials. Between the animal-inspired silhouettes and a model literally carrying a live parrot, it was giving eco-warrior chic and the crowd was living.
David Tupaz followed with floaty, toned down resort looks that whispered elegance..
Caroline Derpienski turned the tempo right back up with a Snake Collection that sparkled, shimmied, and swayed. It was all hips, gold, and glitter. Basically, fashion you don’t just wear, you perform.
Later acts from Joseph Auren, Henri Costa, BFyne, and Bad Pink brought metallics, fringe, futuristic cuts, and everything in between.

Each designer delivered something distinct, and yet the night felt beautifully cohesive. Everyone had a point of view, and nobody was playing it safe.

: Caroline Derpienski

: Love For Upcycling

: David Tupaz

Nestled right along the glittering coastline, the Eden Roc Miami Beach proved to be more than just a backdrop. It was a co-star. With its mix of vintage Miami glamour and modern luxury, the hotel set the perfect tone for a weekend that celebrated both bold innovation and timeless flair. Walking into the ballroom felt like stepping into a curated dreamscape: sleek lighting, high-gloss floors, and enough air-kissed hellos to fill a red carpet.

The space struck a rare balance, intimate enough to feel exclusive yet grand enough to hold the weight of real fashion moments. The ocean breeze just outside the lobby, the iconic palm-lined drive, and the buzz of camera crews and couture-wrapped guests moving between hotel suites and the show floor gave everything the feel of an extended editorial shoot. It wasn’t just where the shows happened. It was where the weekend happened.

During intermissions, guests floated through the venue, cocktails in hand, mingling beneath chandeliers and recapping standout looks like seasoned fashion editors. With mezcal in one corner and mojitos in another, the space felt alive with conversation and camera flashes. There was a sparkle in the air, a vibe that made it feel like you weren’t just attending Swim Week. You were part of something cinematic.

Let’s be real. Swim Week at Eden Roc was a full-on vibe. It wasn’t just a series of fashion shows. It was a living mood board, a love letter to individuality, and a dance party dressed in metallic fringe. From the moment the first heel hit the runway to the final twirl on Saturday night, the energy was electric. You didn’t just watch the shows. You felt them.

Each designer brought their own version of bold, from recycled fabrics and resort-wear minimalism to glitter-drenched snake goddesses and futuristic jockstraps. It was a reminder that swimwear can be art, identity, celebration, and rebellion all at once. The crowd reflected that too, creative, expressive, and fully dressed for the moment.

While the runway looks took center stage, the heart behind Art Hearts Fashion quietly grounded the entire experience. The platform isn’t just about putting beautiful people in beautiful clothing. It’s about using the power of fashion to drive change, lift voices, and give back. With partnerships like Make-A-Wish®, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and Project Cancerland, Art Hearts proves that fashion can and should do more than just look good.

What makes it all feel different is the sincerity. There’s no preachy undertone, no performance for clout, just an honest integration of purpose and creativity. From inclusive casting and emerging voices to boundary-pushing collections like Love for Upcycling, the message was clear. Impact isn’t the accessory. It’s the outfit.

If this weekend had a dress code, it would be “Come exactly as you are, but make it fabulous.” And that ethos carried into every detail, the drinks, the dancing, the applause, the backstage selfies, the whispered “who’s that designer?” conversations.

Swim Week wasn’t just fun. It was freeing.

Events

Miami Swim Week’s Kick-Off

Published

3 weeks ago

June 2, 2025

ELLE Swimwear Opened Miami Swim Week with Poolside Glam and Sunset Soundtracks.

May 28th, 2025

Leave it to ELLE Swimwear and Miami Swim Week® The Shows to throw the kind of party that sets the tone for the entire season: chic, sun-soaked and just the right amount of extra. On Tuesday night, the who’s who of fashionistas, influencers and perfectly tanned creatives gathered to celebrate the official kickoff of Miami Swim Week 2025, and let’s just say, the bar has been set high.

Tucked away on the ultra-exclusive Venetian Islands, the private waterfront villa felt more like a fashion fantasy than a party venue. Imagine stepping into a space where every palm is lit just right, the pool reflects the skyline like a high-gloss editorial, and the whole place hums with that “something fabulous is about to happen” feeling. It wasn’t just a backdrop, it was the mood.

And speaking of moods, let’s talk sushi. Sushi by Yasu was the evening’s culinary crown jewel. Each roll was a tiny masterpiece: fresh and delicate. Light enough to keep guests grazing, but satisfying enough to feel like a moment, the bites kept flowing all night, paired perfectly with champagne and curated cocktails.

The soundtrack of the night? DJ Brooke Brazelton spun a set that floated perfectly between rooftop lounge and full-body groove. Think vibey house, remixed classics, and the kind of bassline that makes strangers become dance partners. It wasn’t just background music—it moved the night along like a perfectly timed runway show. The crowd swayed, sipped and sparkled, and by midnight, the villa felt like the heartbeat of Swim Week itself.

As for the crowd, it was Miami at its best. A stunning blend of models, stylists, editors and locals who looked like they walked straight off a set. There were breezy linens, sheer mesh, bold swimwear, and sunglasses that stayed on long after the sun went down. The fashion was fearless, the conversation flowed, and every corner of the villa buzzed with excitement and ambition.

Somewhere between the third glass of prosecco and the fifth compliment on someone’s outfit, it became clear, Miami Swim Week 2025 wasn’t just starting. It had arrived. And if this kick-off party was just the beginning, we’re all in for a summer of serious style.