Rock fans flock to Laketown festival
Up to 4,000 people expected for event’s second edition this weekend
What: Laketown Rock featuring Collective Soul, Colin James, Big Wreck, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Kim Mitchell and more
Where: Laketown Ranch Music and Recreation Park, 8811 Youbou Rd., Lake Cowichan When: Friday through Sunday
Tickets: $55-$79 daily; $149 for a weekend pass
Moving from one long weekend to another has made a big difference for Laketown Rock, the largest classic rock festival on Vancouver Island.
Sales are up considerably for the festival’s second edition, which starts Friday at the Laketown Ranch Music and Recreation Park in Lake Cowichan.
Organizers with Duncan’s Wideglide Entertainment expect between 3,000 and 4,000 rock fans on the site this weekend, a significant uptick in attendance from last year’s debut. With a dose of good weekend weather, sales numbers at the 172-acre site could rise significantly, according to venue manager Mike Hann.
“Part of what is happening now with this site is that people know there is a ton of room for all the events. We see a strong walk-up [clientele].”
The three-day event debuted last year to about 2,000 fans on the Victoria Day weekend in May, with sets from the Sam Roberts Band, Loverboy, Glass Tiger, Honeymoon Suite and Trooper. Cool weather had an impact on ticket sales during the inaugural edition — Laketown Rock is designed for camping on the property — so Wideglide decided to move the festival further down the calendar to Canada Day weekend, in hopes of ensuring more reliable weather.
With further help from new partners Live Nation, they also upped their programming.
Collective Soul, Colin James, Big Wreck, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Kim Mitchell, Sass Jordan, Barney Bentall and more will appear on during the three-day run.
“We’re excited for this weekend,” Hann said. “The crowd that is coming and the engagement that we’ve had so far is amazing. There’s a good contingent of true music fans coming out because this collection of artists gives you that nostalgic feeling.”
B.C.-based rock is on tap Friday with sets by Colin James, Barney Bentall and the Odds, while big-selling arena rockers Collective Soul and Big Wreck will headline on Saturday.
Classic rock from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s — in the form of Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Kim Mitchell and Sass Jordan — closes out the Sunday edition. Hann expects adventurous fans will find surprises on each day of programming, no matter what their preference.
“People are coming for certain bands, but other songs they hear throughout the weekend are going to bring back feelings, whether they are expecting it or not. That’s an exciting thing. You’re going to see surprised people all weekend saying: ‘I didn’t know these guys sang that song!’ This line-up is packed full of that.”
Music is not the only appealing aspect of Laketown Rock. The site has several upscale amenities — including showers and flush toilets — that provide an extra level of comfort to those staying through the weekend, Hann said.
Festivalgoers don’t have to camp, either: Shuttle buses in Duncan, Lake Cowichan, and Youbou will carry revellers who want to leave their vehicles at home to and from the event each day.
The key for the organizers is to fix on-site situations as soon as possible, Hann said.
“If the same people are coming to various Laketown Ranch events during the summer, they will see changes made in the gaps between events.
“The work is never stopping around here. We are continually debriefing after events, and looking at what we can do better in order to enhance the customer experience for people.”