The full lineup for this year's Rotaryfest main stage at Clergue Park has been announced, and like previous years, it's keeping with the theme of mostly all-cover local bands and an out of town tribute band headliner. However, unlike last year, only one hard rock band is on the lineup, but it's not who you're thinking. Bon Jovi/Journey tribute band Bon Journey Canada are the headlining band at our local summer festival's main stage on Saturday, July 21st, and with half their set mainly devoted to Bon Jovi at their hair metal peak, and Journey having a couple harder edged songs, they'll definitely fit on the SMS for coverage! If you like either Bon Jovi or Journey, you'll get a kick out of Bon Journey Canada, as they handle both styles really well, so check out videos of them online to hear them in action! Bon Journey Canada headline the last day of the first stage at 10:15 PM with a full day of music before them, and though there's no hard rock bands preceding them, there's a lot of talent present, including a number of new bands compared to last year! In fact, only 7 of the over 2 dozen bands this year are returning from 2011's main stage, which is encouraging, but who else is playing at this year's FREE & ALL AGES festivities?
In descending order, the other July 21st bands will be classic rockers Fusion (returning from last year) at 9:00 PM, local rock band KT, Kyle, and The Pocket (featuring Turner Up/Full Circle alumni) at 8:00 PM, local sextet The Bebop Blues Band at 7:00 PM, pop rock quartet Cherry Crush (featuring Skeyes of Seven's Jonny Amendola) at 6:00 PM, local cover rockers Coverfly at 5:00 PM, returning ten-piece R&B band The Reptiles at 4:00 PM, Pop Idols tributes of Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Beyonce, and Rihanna at 2:00 PM, and Mike Case's Junior All Star Bands (junior country & junior rock) at 1:00 PM. Sounds like an entertaining day of local music that should appeal to all ages and groups, and Bon Journey should pique many hair metal and 1980s rock fans' interest! Of the opening bands, Fusion will likely have the closest to heavier material, but don't sleep on any of these bands, and I'm curious to see what talent lies in Mike Case's junior bands, especially the rock one. Remember, the Saturday, July 21st entertainment is FREE & ALL AGES, and the times are above, so keep these bands in mind! That said, how about the other two days of the main stage?
Well, there's no hard rock on either night, which indicates that That's Chester aren't back this year, but here's the Thursday and Friday performers for reference. The Friday, July 20th schedule is headlined by four returning country bands from last year, including local country veterans Mustang Heart at 10:00 PM, as preceded in descending order by fellow country bands Thin Ice (featuring Garage Inc.'s Josh Donofrio), Spyder's Web, and Bone Yard (featuring members of That's Chester.) The rest of the lineup includes newer local country band Summer Thunder, psychedelic retro rockers The Trippy Hippies, fellow locals Asylum Country (featuring Hollow's Terry Eaton), local big band Brass Taxx, a pair of historical music acts from out of town (The Plymouth Fife & Drum Corps & the comedy trio The Zoom Daddys), and new alternative rock trio The Pesto Shirts (featuring Sense of Truth's Steve Myers) opening the Friday festivities at 11:30 AM. Very country-heavy on Friday, but there's lots of talent present, and probably the most familiar lineup compared to last year! For reference, The Trippy Hippies probably have the most heavier material.
The Thursday, July 19th lineup, which has generally had the "Jazz in the Park" theme in recent years, is a bit more diverse this year, with local blues quartet Five Below Zero headlining at 10:25 PM, and preceded by nine-piece jazz band James Case & The Aces, classic rockers Midlife Crisis (probably the closest to hard rock on Thursday), returning jazz quintet The Bob Jenkins Band, and 1960s cover band Route 66 opening at 6:00 PM. Also of note: Every day of the Rotaryfest main stage will have a War of 1812 "historical moment" at 5:50 PM, though what that entails isn't clear yet. Click here and check the above links for all of the complete details on this year's Rotaryfest main stage! Sounds like a lot of very talented music is in store for fans at this year's Rotaryfest, so don't miss out if there's anything up your alley! It'd be nice to get some more heavier bands, but Bon Journey will help fill that void, and there's a little something for everyone split between the three days, so stay tuned for more on this year's main stage, especially concerning the Saturday lineup! One more note on Rotaryfest: Remember that Second Stage band Paul D & The Double Down that we knew nothing on? I believe they're more or less a successor to The Southern Fried Band, so now we know! My source is this link.
Finally for this all-festival post, remember last year when the Searchmont Ski Resort (45 minutes northeast of the Soo) had the first annual Searchmont Music Festival last September? Well, it's back this year on September 8th, and while it's bigger with more events and family entertainment, there's no metal this time around. Last year, the lineup included The Bear Hunters and Tym Morrison, but this year, the closest to metal is bands with metal musician alumni. I'll note that the headlining acts at this year's Searchmont Music Festival include the aforementioned Asylum Country and local country act The Dirty River Band, with the lineup also including Rotaryfest participants The Trippy Hippies, The Reptiles, Cody McMillan, Kelly McGillivray, Joseph Kargiannakis, and Ed Young, among many other performers. It looks like the organizers have worked out a lot of the kinks and upped the ante for this to be another successful installment for all ages, so if you dig any of the above bands, or a more folk/country inspired lineup of bands, check the above links for more details! (Am I the only one who finds it a bit disappointing that there's no metal bands at either Hempfest or the Searchmont Festival this year?)That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and a preview of Monday's 3 Inches of Blood show tomorrow! Thanks everyone!
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