Finger 11, Classified, among headlining acts at RoTR

TFEC’s Rock on the River will leave you “Paralyzed” by excitement with their recently announced headliners.

The Timmins Festivals and Events Committee have announced Canadian Chart-toppers “Finger Eleven” will play the Saturday night of the festival, along with Canadian rock mainstays “Big Wreck.”

One night earlier, hip-hop icon “Classified” will class up the stage at Participark, with alternative hit-maker “Coleman Hell” playing before him.

TFEC Co-Chair Jeremy Wilson says they wanted to get a variety of genres and appeal to the masses.

“We didn’t just want to pigeonhole ourselves into rock and only rock,” he said, “Music is universal, I think everybody can appreciate everything.  We really wanted to appeal to the families and everybody in some way or another, that’s why we’re so diverse this year.”

It’s expected to be a great summer, overall for music lovers in Timmins with Stars and Thunder around the corner.  Wilson says while the lineup for S&T did play some part in their decision-making, the bigger factor was Canada’s 150th Birthday celebrations overall.

“I know other festivals that are having trouble booking because everybody’s booked,” Wilson adds.

“It’s a very tough year because people are in demand, prices are higher than normal and time is money, so everybody’s booked so it was tough to solidify who we wanted and we’re lucky to solidify such a solid lineup.”

Wilson says he’s always been a fan of Finger Eleven, noting Big Wreck as “amazing musicians.”  As for Classified, Wilson says the more he listens to him, the more outstanding he thinks the rap artist is.

“He’s won so many awards, and for good reason.”

Also anticipated at the festival is Adam Gontier—the former singer/songwriter of Three Days Grace and currently of Saint Asonia—who will play an intimate acoustic set.

Wilson says Gontier is the “black horse” of the whole weekend.

“We’re basically getting a Three Days Grace/Saint Asonia acoustic set, so this is going to be amazing,” he adds.

Overall, the Co-Chair adds the lineup is a big step up from last year, when Monster Truck, The Glorious Sons and Pop Evil played the inaugural event.

“And we were very satisfied with last year (too),” he said, “So we’re happy to be moving forward and up and hopefully (it’s) just bigger and better every year.”

It was noted by T-FEC that Three Days Grace was one of the most requested bands in a survey conducted earlier this year.

There will be an Aboriginal feel to the festival too, as Midnight Shine will take part and TFEC’s Epic Band Battle winners Blackwood Sinners from Sudbury will play.

On top of all that, a special guest artist for the Friday night will be announced in July.

The all-ages event runs Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29th.

Tickets can be purchased at Ray Perrier Music, Alfie’s Cigar Store, Wicked Stuff or online at TimminsFestivals.com.

VIP tickets are available for $150 for the whole weekend, and $100 per day.  Those are available to anyone 19+.

Tickets are $80 for both days and $50 per night (Early bird tickets can be purchased online and offer a $5.00 discount.)

Children 10 and under get in free, with a donation to a local charity.  The charity has yet to be announced.

Visit TimminsFestivals.com