Magic Dirt are headlining River Rocks Rehab

The greatest event to grace Geelong’s rock scene is back for its eleventh year. River Rocks is the self-funded festival that’s featured some dream bands over the years, initially born out of the lack of bands bypassing Geelong and how the local music scene had seemingly dropped away.
Hosted by the Barwon Club Hotel, last year saw punters being surrounded by the best music possible including USA’s Supersuckers and Dead Milkmen, Cosmic Psychos, Tumbleweed, Hits and Warped, among many others in celebration of a milestone 10 years.
This year the celebrations will be headed up by Rose Tattoo, the Hard Ons and Six ft Hick, alongside Hits, I Spit On Your Gravy, Front End Loader, The Chats, Harmony, Pillow, Senor No from Spain, Meatbeaters, Totally Unicorn. Hobo Magic. Grindhouse, Dr. Colossus, plus heaps more!
Yet again nailing a lineup that sold out in less than a week, the crew at The Barwon Club are bringing back their second instalment of River Rocks Rehab, a second day introduced last year due to the momentous occasion of a tenth anniversary, and in order to keep the peace on the streets.
“We never planned to do it. River Rocks just sold out so quickly year that a lot of our friends and regulars missed out on tickets, so in order to stop them from beating us within an inch of our lives, we decided to act before things got out of hand,” B.C’s Al O’Neill laughs.
“Making the festival over two days has been mentioned in the past but it will surely test a few of us out,” Nibbsy (AKA Neale Cox) adds. “The bands have supported it which is great and I think that’s one of the things I’m most looking forward to watching all the awesome acts on this year’s line-up across two days.”
River Rocks Rehab will be more than just a consolation prize for those who missed out, and will include a mix of bands from the night before as well as some new ones with one very special addition this year.
It is with great pleasure and furious excitement to announce, after being on a 10 year hiatus, Magic Dirt will be joining RRR for this little soiree in what will be their maiden voyage. It is fitting that this new chapter in the Dirt’s story starts in Geelong, the birthplace of the band and founding members, including Dean Turner, whose musical legacy and memory will be celebrated and honoured. Magic Dirt are champing at the bit to get back to the B.C., a place that is drenched in the blood, sweat and beers of many an epic Magic Dirt show.
What’s more, they’ll be joined by the legendary Cosmic Psychos who will be the first ones hitting the stage on Sunday morning. These guys are Victorian punk rock band that have been together since the early 90’s and are pretty much locals down at the B.C. Dropping their 11th studio album Loudmouth Soup earlier this year, these guys consistently show us how bloody good Aussie punk rock is.

Joining the two aforementioned legends, four piece outfit Jelly Mammoth will be presenting their fast, raw riffs, with fun on-stage antics with the aim to create as much live chaos as possible, and generate a large intense sound, while Sunshine Coast legends The Chats, who have been busy performing alongside Cosmic Psychos, Boing Boing and DZ Deathrays, are sure to be a powerhouse. With more than three million views of the instant classic/Centrelink-inspired ‘Smoko’, the power of The Chats cannot be denied!
There’s a slew of other great bands hitting the stage as well including HITS, Totally Unicorn, Hobo Magic, Grindhouse, Meatbeaters and Shanty Tramp.
As the little sibling festival to River Rocks, we wouldn’t think of a better way to cure those Sunday blues, especially with a Bloody Mary and a BBQ breakfast cooked by none other than The Meatbeaters in what could be the next greatest tradition since cracking beers at 7am on Xmas morning.
Yes it’s on a Sunday, but the best thing about RRR is that is all wraps up at a reasonable hour for you clowns who need to get the train home…
Both days will be well worth the time, as all festivals are, and a memorable occasion partying with the River Rocks community that has been created.
You asked for it, you got it… this is the greatest recovery session of all time.
River Rocks Rehab goes down on Sunday November 18. Tix available via Oztix.com.au