Concert series begins May 25

Rockin’ on the River announces lineup

The Rockin’ on the River concert series greeted the first day of spring with a summer music schedule and renewed optimism for Lorain.

On March 20, weekly concert series promoter Bob Earley joined Lorain Port Authority board President Brad Mullins and Executive Director Tom Brown to announce the lineup for the summer shows.

It is time to move beyond the days of “defending” Lorain, Earley said to several dozen officials and residents gathered for a news conference about the schedule.

When he came to the city four years ago, “everybody was always defending Lorain, you know, if people get here, they see it,” Earley said.

“No disrespect, but we’re getting beyond that right now,” he said. “I think people already do know about Lorain.”

This is the fourth summer for concerts at the Port’s Black River Landing waterfront festival site.

Admission will remain $5 for most of the shows. There will be 19 shows with 10 new headlining bands and 10 new opening bands.

Dirty Deeds Xtreme AC/ DC Tribute will open the season May 25, with opener The Michael Weber Show.

There will be back-toback shows June 29 and 30, July 6 and 7, July 13 and 14, Aug. 3 and 4, Aug. 23 and 24, and Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

For the 2018 season announcement, Earley greeted special guest, businesswoman Radhika Reddy of Cleveland-based Ariel Ventures LLC.

Reddy has created Ariel on Broadway LLC, a company to redevelop the Broadway Building, 301 Broadway, which sits within view of Black River Landing.

The rejuvenation plan calls for a new hotel, conference space and retail space in the building.

Rockin’ on the River helped the city, but Reddy is “brilliant” and has built a business with a professional team “who don’t make mistakes.”

“And how many of you, even two, three, four years ago, would say, no one’s coming in there; no one’s coming in there; she is,” Earley said, prompting a round of applause.

He noted summer weeks

of the show lead to hotel rooms booked in the communities around Lorain.

It was Reddy’s first news conference with Earley and the Port staff.

Reddy said she visited the former Lorain National Bank, but has never been to a Rockin’ on the River concert.

She said she “absolutely” will visit this summer.

“This is a big deal,” Reddy said. “We hope he continues year after year. We like him.”

Earley credited Page and Kurt Hernon, owners of Speak of the Devil tavern at 201 W. Fifth St., for investing in downtown Lorain.

It seemed unlikely that an upscale bar could open there — but now you can’t get in the place because it is packed with people, Earley said.

“You guys are starting to experience what my wife and I saw … four years ago,” Earley said. “And I think you should be so proud.”