John Olaveson likes to joke that Rock on the River started with $600. It was all thanks to a beer fridge.
Now in its third year, the two-day festival is taking over Participark this weekend with its biggest concerts yet. The headliners for the shows are Walk off the Earth on July 27 and Billy Talent July 28.
Rock on the River started taking shape years ago when a frustrated Olaveson took to social media. Today he’s the chair of Timmins Festivals and Events Committee, the non-profit group that organizes the concerts.
“I expressed my displeasure of how the music scene in Timmins was as far as major acts, the Tragically Hip going to KL and Hedley was going to Smooth Rock Falls,” he recalled.
After holding a meeting and getting good support from people, he said the struggle was raising capital for the committee.
At the time, the Rotary Club was selling raffle tickets for a beer fridge.
“They offered us the gig to sell the beer tickets for them at the kayak challenge and they’d give us a certain percentage of the beer fridge ticket sales. We raised like $600 through that, but I always joke around with the committee and everyone saying we started off with $600…and it’s funny how it’s turned into bands like Billy Talent and Walk off the Earth,” he said.
It’s taken a lot of work to get here.
Before TFEC, Olaveson had helped organize small gigs at local taverns and halls.
“Nothing on this scale, it was a bit of a learning curve,” he explained. “A big accomplishment on me and Jeremy (Wilson, TFEC’s co-chair) is finding the right people to become part of the board.”
To raise money, the group holds two big fundraisers and has people working at the Bingo hall throughout the year.
“It’s a grind,” he said. “We’re very budget conscious, and I’m like the grinder where I have to go out and try to get things at the best price. We can’t afford to lose money, we don’t have deep pockets. I’m always negotiating trying to get the best deal.”
All the work pays off when so many people support the events.
The group’s inaugural Beer Fest in the spring, for example, brought in more than 800 people.
It also puts them in a position to grow Rock on the River.
“For us to have Billy Talent our third year, that just goes to show you the hard work that we’ve been doing and being able to take an act this size this early in our lifespan,” he said.
To allow for the acts, this year the festival is boasting its biggest stage yet.
The Northern Roots Side Stage, which highlights local and regional acts between the main performers, is also coming out from under the tent.
“It will be out in front of everyone right beside the main stage, so that’s something new, that’s something exciting,” said Olaveson.
Performers on the side stage Friday are: Cabiners, Vintage Slang, and Kickback Tracii.
Saturday’s performers are: Ladies Night Out, Fortunate Losers, In My Coma, and Laforge.
The family-friendly event will also feature a busker, cotton candy for the kids and superheroes will be out meeting the fans. Local food vendors will be set up as well.
The schedule for the main stage is:
Friday
Claude and Simon, 5:45 p.m.
Logan Staats, 7 p.m.
Scott Helman, 8:15 p.m.
Walk off the Earth, 9:45 p.m.
After Party with DJ Acro
Saturday
All the Wasted Years, 5:15 p.m.
The Motorleague, 6:30 p.m.
Bleeker, 7:45 p.m.
Death From Above, 9 p.m.
Billy Talent, 10:45 p.m.
General admission tickets are still available, although VIP tickets are sold out.
Tickets are $60 plus HST for Friday’s show, and $65 plus HST for Saturday. A weekend pass is $120 plus HST.
You can buy them online here.
