Juno award-winning bands to headline Timmins music festival
With so few music festivals happening in the country and people potentially hesitant to be among crowds, organizers of 'Rock on the River' knew they had to make their event's comeback a big one.
Thanks to extra tourism funding from the City of Timmins, Jeremy Wilson said his organizing committee was able to book some of the top rock bands in Canada.
"This is probably the biggest lineup we've had and been through some of the most challenging times we've had," said Wilson, vice-chair of the Timmins Festival and Events Committee.
The two-day event slated for Oct. 1 is filled with Juno award-winning artists, most of which are from Ontario.
Among the roster of top acts is the seven-time Juno winning band Arkells, which lead singer Max Kerman told CTVNews will be returning to the city boasting some "firsts."
"I don't think we've ever had a proper headlining show there before, so we're very excited to bring up our friends, July Talk and The Beaches, our opening (act)," said Kerman, saying playing for small-town audiences is a unique experience when compared to cities that may have several festivals a year.
"Especially when acts are coming from out of town, people in smaller towns are super appreciative of it."
Arkells is releasing its upcoming album "Blink Once" on Sept. 30 and while the bands' pre-pandemic releases typically came with a celebratory performance the same night, Kerman said his band will be saving the festivities for its outdoor performance in Timmins.
"This will be somewhat of an album release event," Kerman said. "It will be our first show after the record's come out."
Kerman and Wilson agree that people are eager for the thrill of live music festivals, with Rock on the River getting province-wide attention thanks to its distinguished acts.
Wilson said the fest's VIP tickets are sold out with general admissions still available and he hopes the event will offer much-needed relief during this stressful pandemic.
"We're really glad to get this out before winter, just to give everybody that release that they need," Wilson said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States, injuring at least three people.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.