Area residents who have been starved for live music in years past are experiencing a boom in concerts recently. That trend continued on Monday afternoon at The Working Class as the Timmins Festival and Events Committee announced its lineup of performers for the second edition of 'Rock on the River'.
Headlining are Juno Award winning Burlington, Ont. rockers Finger Eleven, and Juno Award winning Nova Scotia rapper Classified.
Also on the bill are veteran rockers Big Wreck who released a new album in February, Thunder Bay's indie-pop sensation Coleman Hell, former front man of Three Days Grace Adam Gontier, James Bay coast rockers Midnight Shine, as well as Sudbury's Blackwood Sinners, who won TFEC's Epic Band Battle competition earlier this year.
Additional artists will be added in the coming weeks, including a 'special guest' performer.
The event will take place on Friday, July 28, and Saturday, July 29, at Participark beside the Mattagami River.
"We're really excited about the lineup. Last year we went two nights of rock, and this year we wanted to expand on that, we wanted to include everybody in Timmins that is a fan of live music," said TFEC Director of Community Relations Ryan Daly.
"We're pumped. I think the diversity in the two nights is really going to go over well. We're going to get the younger crowd with Classified and Coleman Hill on the Friday. We know rock works in Timmins, people go out for rock. We'll always have a rock night," added Director of Sponsorship Norm Dwyer.
Committee members say they have high, but well informed expectations for round two.
"I think we're going to double last year's attendance numbers, which is great," said Dwyer.
During Monday's press conference, TFEC Chair John Olaveson explained that with it being the 150th birthday of both the province and the country, it was likely one of the tougher years in some time to book upper level musical performers for summer concerts.
"It was a challenging year to get the artists we wanted to get," he said.
Last year's inaugural Rock On The River festival was a big success story by most accounts, and an impressive accomplishment for the very new non-profit organization whose mission is to bring major artists to the city each summer. All dividends from their events go back into a fund for the next event. A lot was learned in 2016 and it wasn't long after the last discarded beer cup was collected that the group's collective wheels started turning.
"As soon as last year's event was done, we started thinking about who's going to come back this year, and then it goes to who's available, and whether or not we wanted to go all ages, which we chose to do. It's a constant thing, we're always thinking ahead," said Daly.
Coleman Hell, is a native of Thunder Bay, Ontario whose single '2 Heads' was certified platinum three times by Music CanadaThe committee emphasizes that it is a staunchly socialist regime. They are very receptive to input, and apparently received plenty after last year's event.
"The big thing that we did to respond to some of the feedback was open it up to all ages. Last year, being our first year, we didn't want to deal with such a huge learning curve on how to separate crowds and the alcohol problem. That will be a big thing for us this year, obviously our attendance will be bigger because of that," said Dwyer.
TFEC opted to expand on variety this year in hopes of reaching a greater cross section of the population.
"Last year we were new, we wanted to try the two different nights, but we did it by sticking to two different rock classes. This year, we went totally different. We said 'let's do one night that isn't rock?," said Dwyer.
The city is now just a few weeks away from the opening of the eight day Stars and Thunder festival taking place at Hollinger Park. It also has a diverse lineup, but is focused primarily on country, pop, and classic rock.
TimminsToday asked if TFEC honed in on some of the genres that weren't included in the city-run fiesta.
"I think you can see from the lineup that we totally did. The Mayor has been very good to us, the City of Timmins has been good to us. He kind of told us, and I think he publicly said, that he stayed away from certain types of rock for a reason, in hoping that its what we would do, and that's what we did. I don't see why both of them can't be a success. Different levels, but both successful in their own right I hope," said Dwyer.
Tickets start at $50. VIP tickets are for those 19 and older only. Kids 10 and under get in for free with a donation to a yet to be named local charity. Tickets can be purchased now through the festival website, and at Alfie's Cigar Store on Third Avenue, Ray Perrier Music on Balsam Street, and Wicked Stuff in the Timmins Square.
Of note, kids 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult, no chairs or backpacks will be permitted in the festival grounds, and the concerts will be going ahead rain or shine, which means no refunds in the event of inclement weather.
The group is also asking for anyone interested in volunteering during Rock On The River to get in touch with the group.
