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
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
Residents of northern Alberta First Nation told to shelter in place
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.