Series posts best year yet

Rockin’ on the River concert season so far is loud, dry, founder says

More than halfway through the 2018 season of Rockin’ on the River, the music is good, the fans are excited and, somehow, the rain almost always stays away.

The summertime weekly concert series arrived in Lorain in 2015.

This summer is the fourth season at the Lorain Port Authority’s Black River Landing waterfront festival site.

With 10 of 19 shows completed, Bob Earley, who began the concert series in Cuyahoga Falls years ago, is optimistic about summer 2018.

“The year’s been by far our best year,” Earley said.

Most nights, an exact

headcount is difficult, although Wish You Were Here, a Pink Floyd tribute, posted attendance of 7,200 for its June 30 show.

Most of the shows have $5 tickets. The concert series records admission at the door, but that tally does not include food workers, volunteers pouring beer, children age 12 and younger who get in free and VIP passholders who bring guests, Earley said.

In four seasons, Rockin’ on the River has logged a few rainy nights — but only a few, and 2018 has been

dry.

“It has been real hot, but we’ve had 10 shows without a drop of you know what,” Earley said. “We’ve been really lucky.”

Lorain Port Authority Executive Director Tom Brown agreed.

“We’ve been really lucky with the weather,” Brown said. “We’ve had great crowds, we’ve had great shows.”

Showtime

On July 14, part of the flash of rock ’n’ roll involved Earley and a worker

driving around in a golf cart hauling a replacement section of metal barrier that needed to be set up.

Earley predicted the night would be a good one, maybe a great one.

Some people may arrive later due to the heat, or maybe a few will stay away because of so many back-to-back shows in a row, he said.

Earley has become known in Lorain for his outgoing, outspoken demeanor.

But when asked about the greatest challenge to

staging the weekly shows, Earley searched for words.

Honestly, he said there aren’t any negatives.

“Tom Brown, the Port’s phenomenal, just phenomenal,” Earley said. “The city, I can’t say anything but great things about.”

Lorain police go above and beyond good work providing security, Earley said.

But there’s always something to deal with.

This year, rumors persist that Rockin’ on the River moved its handicap access parking further away from

the stage area, but that is not true, Earley said.

There are three areas at the north end of Black River Landing for concertgoers arriving in cars with handicap license plates or placards, he said.

This year, there also is additional handicap-access parking on the paved lot on the southern half of Black River Landing, Earley said.

That area is further away from the stage, but anyone who parks there can ride a golf cart into the venue, he said.