The goal wasnB次元官网网址檛 to create a stadium concert, but to create an event that felt like an intimate weekend retreat with a number of big-name artists.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 the dream that sparked Rock the Shores, a weekend-long festival in Colwood, returning for its fourth year on July 18 and 19.
Since its inception in 2012, Rock the Shores, produced by Atomique Productions Ltd., has been transforming the lower fields of the Juan De Fuca Recreation Centre into a concert venue with such headliners as The Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts, Tom Cochrane, Billy Talent, and Our Lady Peace. The festival has grown each year from a one-day concert to a three-day event. But noticeably this year, the third day is absent from the line-up.
B次元官网网址淭wo days are easier for people to commit to and digest,B次元官网网址� said Nick Blasko, festival director. B次元官网网址淭hree days is a big commitment.B次元官网网址�
The main reason for shifting back to a two-day festival was talent availability, he said. B次元官网网址淲e wanted to have the best possible line-up we could get.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 a problem many promoters are having, with the surge in popularity and changing dynamics of summer music festivals over the past 20 years. Heightened demand is causing big names to get offers to play all over the world, Blasko said, adding they didnB次元官网网址檛 want to stretch their line-up if they didnB次元官网网址檛 have the big names to fill it.
This yearB次元官网网址檚 line-up includes daily headliners The Black Keys and JaneB次元官网网址檚 Addiction, and such acts as Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The Sheepdogs, TV on the Radio, Father John Misty and MetchosinB次元官网网址檚 Jesse Roper.
The festival has a new layout, built around new liquor laws and to optimize green space. Last year saw the festival forgo the designated beer garden area and instead create an open site for those wishing to partake in a few libations B次元官网网址� they wore wristbands identifying them as 19 or over.
B次元官网网址淲e were the first large-scale music festival to be granted an open site liquor license,B次元官网网址� Blasko said, noting that last year they were the pilot for the region.
This year organizers wanted to take full advantage of the green space in the open site, he said. Portable washrooms will be placed on the perimeters and food stations will be located on the concrete areas. A few other changes are planned for the festival entrances and the VIP area, Blasko said, to help improve the flow and atmosphere.
Roper B次元官网网址� the B次元官网网址減ride of the West Shore,B次元官网网址� as Blasko calls him B次元官网网址� is returning for a second year, playing on Sunday.
B次元官网网址淭he response was great,B次元官网网址� Roper, 33, said about his first Rock the Shores appearance; B次元官网网址減eople were ready to rock.B次元官网网址�
He returned to live in Metchosin in February and is quite excited to be back where he grew up. The blues and rock guitarist is also energized about sharing a stage with such big names like those headlining the festival. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to freak out up there,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the Stanley Cup of music for me.B次元官网网址�
Also in his mind is the Western Canadian Music Awards nomination for blues album of the year. While heB次元官网网址檚 trying not to think about that too much and get his hopes up, he admires the other artists he is up against for the award.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com
