The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Rockin’ on the River caps off season
Rockin’ on the River held its final concert on Sept. 2, capping off a momentous 2017 season which saw 21 concerts at Black River Landing beginning on May 26.
The final concert featured Invincible, a tribute to Pat Benetar and headliners Hairball, who perform in homage to stadium rock acts such as KISS, Alice Cooper and Queen among others.
In his introductory remarks, promoter Bob Earley thanked concertgoers for their support and enthusiastically announced Rockin’ on the River would return in 2018.
“I want to thank you on behalf of my family and everything that you’ve done for us. And want you to know that we donated back $45,000 to nonprofits just in Lorain and we’re real proud of that,” Earley said. “The other announcement I will make because there have been a lot of questions in the newspapers and from you folks. We will definitely be back next year.”
Throughout the season each concert provided an opportunity to support area nonprofit organizations. The featured nonprofit for the final concert was the Lorain Growth Association.
Moving forward into 2018 Earley said in an interview with The Morning Journal that Rockin’ on the River will add a VIP section to give more options to concertgoers in addition to making a few tweaks to the lineup based on the response of fans.
For Lorain Port Authority Executive Director Tom Brown, this year’s concert series was the best yet and is helping re-imagine Lorain’s waterfront and what is possible with the great audiences and performers.
“I think it shows what a beautiful waterfront we have and it showcases our economic potential,” Brown said. “It is just getting people to come to Lorain and getting rid of old stereotypes about what the city used to be.”
Out of 21 concerts in 2017, the weather was cooperative for all but one, and Earley said in June the Pink Floyd tribute band Wish You Were Here was the biggest Rockin’ on the River show ever.
The series was honored by Lake Erie Living magazine for the second year in a row as the best live music venue, underscoring the regional appeal of the shows across Northeast Ohio.
After 21 concerts Earley said he is happy to be taking a break but was thrilled to be a part of Lorain’s downtown revitalization.
“It just ended too quickly that’s all. Twenty -one shows and we did well to make some money and we were supported,” he said.