RoverFest returning to Lorain

Concert at Black River Landing to feature performances from 6 acts

RoverFest, the summer party of Cleveland radio personality Shane “Rover” French, will return to Lorain for summer 2018.

RoverFest X is July 21, at Black River Landing, the Lorain’s Port Authority’s waterfront festival site.

Rover announced the show May 17 on Rover’s Morning Glory, his morning show on WMMS-FM 100.7.

This year’s performers are Red Sun Rising, All That Remains, Big Boi from Outkast, Lil Jon, Machine Gun Kelly and Shinedown.

Comedian Bert Kreischer is guest host.

Tickets are $49 and will go on sale May 24 for the general public; RMG Plus subscribers can buy the tickets a day earlier with a 10 percent discount.

Rover promised the 10th RoverFest event will be “the biggest party of the year.” Gates will open at 1 p.m. “It’s a big party; you’ve got to check this out,” Rover told one

listener before the announcement.

He recounted the first RoverFest, which did not have any bands, and with his co-hosts recalled meeting one listener from Chicago who said she got pregnant the night of RoverFest.

“Oh, do you party, when you come to RoverFest,” he said. “It is a good time, that is for sure.”

Lorain Port Authority Executive Director Tom Brown said he is excited for the summer event to return.

“We are excited to host again and look forward to helping create a safe and secure event,” Brown said. “We look forward to our local businesses being able to attract the many visitors to Lorain.”

In 2014, there was much public debate about the effects of RoverFest in Lorain, said Mayor Chase Ritenauer.

RoverFest events have been loud but safe, with little if any of the drunken rioting and brawls that some residents feared.

Since 2014, Lorain has attracted the Rockin’ on the River summer weekly concert series and has added merchants to downtown, he said. RoverFest was a key component in making downtown Lorain a viable center for entertainment, Ritenauer said.

“We’re happy to welcome them back to Lorain,” Ritenauer said.

The humor of Rover’s Morning Glory and the music of RoverFest are not everybody’s cup of tea, Ritenauer said. Even so, the 2018 event has the best and largest lineup of performers and will bring thousands upon thousands of people to Lorain, he said.

“It all starts with people, it all starts with getting people downtown,” Ritenauer said.

Rover commented on Black River Landing as well.

“It’s a great location,” he said. “It’s big enough for RoverFest, which is an important consideration.

“It’s a great place for RoverFest.”

Rover noted the band All That Remains recently covered the song “The Thunder Rolls” by Garth Brooks.

He said he used to hate country music.

“Who could hate that song, though?” Rover asked.

Lil Jon gave “an all-time favorite RoverFest performance” at the first RoverFest at Black River Landing in 2014.

“This lineup is — it’s unbelievable,” one caller said.

“My mind is blown,” said a caller who said he would postpone a trip to the Bahamas to attend RoverFest.

“I am so excited I am getting to go this year,” said a caller who hoped to attend a RoverFest when she moved back to the area, but could not because there was no show in 2017.

“This is an unbelievable lineup,” said another caller.