Fannon spearheads return of Rock Our Town

It started in 2013 as an online radio station devoted solely to Niagara music. But when Rock Our Town founder Keith Bellamy died unexpectedly last October, the music went silent.

Fearing the website’s vast collection of local songs and videos were lost, former Niagara radio host and avid local music buff Jim Fannon stepped in, purchasing the site and its library from former program director Katy Bilowus.

The new Rock Our Town launched last month, again devoted 24/7 to Niagara artists.

“(Keith) had so many files and recordings and videos, and with my local connection to the music scene, I didn’t want that stuff to just go away,” says Fannon.

The challenge now is to do what Rock Our Town couldn’t the first time: Expand and monetize. Even before his death, Bellamy quietly closed the site down because, as Fannon explains, there was no sponsorship and more money was going out than coming in. He wants to see the revised version become a partnership with the bands and local venues themselves, while maintaining its indie spirit.

Fannon hopes to see local shows livestreamed on the site, along with lengthy interviews much like he did with his other recent online endeavour, Sessions on the River.

“The idea is, I don’t want any commercials in the music feed,” he says. “I’m not going to have ads surrounding that portion of the website. I want that to continue to be free, always.

“But there is room for revenues as far as what’s up in Niagara, who’s playing where and when, how much.”

The playlist could also expand to include Canadian indie bands, but Fannon’s love of the local scene will always take precedence.

“If I can figure out a way to bring the musicians in as financial partners — in other words, they’re going to get a bit of the money we generate — that would be awesome.”

Bands and artists can upload their music to Rock Our Town at www.rockourtown.ca/uploadyour-song.

An official launch party for the site will be held in late August, with a venue and lineup of artists yet to be announced.

MIKE FARKAS SPECIAL TO THE NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW Former Niagara radio host Jim Fannon has brought local music website Rock Our Town back from the brink. The site plays exclusively Niagara bands and artists.