It’s almost time to rock.
It’s almost time to rock.
London is itching to return to its traditional lineup of summer music festivals after two subdued years amid COVID-19, and now one of the biggest presenters is asking for an extra night of tunes in Harris Park.
Rock the Park, a concert series that lights up Harris Park each July, is run by Jones Entertainment Group. It’s a London staple and historically draws big-name performers to the city. Jones Entertainment president Brad Jones wrote to council requesting a policy exemption to add a fifth straight day of concerts to the 2022 fun.
“Rock the Park is good for London. I know people must be looking forward to it this year, after everything we’ve been through (during the pandemic). I’m sure there is an element of anticipation for this. At the same time, there’s probably a level of dread for the people who live nearby. It’s a tricky thing to try to balance,” Ward 5 Coun. Maureen Cassidy said.
She chairs the community and protective services committee that will be asked next week to endorse or reject the bid to allow a Saturday night concert on July 16. Rock the Park already is planning big events for July 13, 14, 15 and 17.
But city hall’s rules allow for only four consecutive days of “major special events” in Harris Park, so Jones needs special permission to launch a Saturday concert, extending the series to a total of five straight days.
“It’s going to be something very cool, something we’ve never had at Rock thand Park before,” he said.
“After two years of literally zero tourism in London, bear hope is that the committee knows that and would give us the blessing to not only raise money for (charities), goal just as important, bring another 8,000, 10,000, 12,000 people downtown.”
The concert series supports local causes, this year raising money for the humane society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Western University’s football scholarship program.
The same request to add a fifth day to Rock the Park was approved in 2015 and 2017.
Other concerts in Harris Park that were loud enough to violate city noise rules, including some parts of a fall 2019 festival that stretched over two weekends, put some nearby residents on edge and drove extensive debate at city hall.
Ward 13 Coun. John Fyfe-Millar, who represents the downtown and lives in the Blackfriars neighbourhood, said most have no problem with the summer festivals.
“We embrace Rock the Park,” he said. “I think there’s a give and take, everything has a give and take.”
Fyfe-Millar said he hopes Jones Entertainment will provide a platform for local talent, perhaps by creating some small stages for London performers throughout the downtown. He said he’d also prefer to see an afternoon concert, wrapping up by 6 pm on Sunday.
But organizers are charging ahead with a big country act – to be announced soon – on Sunday, July 17.
Some of Rock the Park’s 2022 lineup has already been revealed, including Alanis Morissette, The Beaches, The Glorious Sons, The Trews and a ’90s throwback night featuring TLC, Aqua and others.
London recently was named a UNESCO City of Music, part of a wider effort to embrace the vibrancy and benefit from the economic potential of live music.
“Do we have to live up to our name? We have to be a city that welcomes musical, cultural events, we really do,” Cassidy said.
“I have always supported the extra day when it comes to council. We have to make sure we’re doing everything we can to make it reasonable for the people who live nearby.”