River Rocks is heading back to the Barwon Club on November 18 and 19, keeping punk and hard rock flowing through G-town.
The greatest event to grace Geelong’s rock scene is back for its 15th year this November, announcing an absolutely ripping lineup to celebrate.
That’s right you little rockers, we’re talking about River Rocks – 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.
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Hosted by the Barwon Club Hotel and presented by B.Bookings, Moon Dog Brewery and Popcultcha, the mini-fest is back once again and will be headed by the likes of C.O.F.F.I.N, Cable Ties, The New Christs, Pat Todd (USA), The Meanies, The Cavemen (NZ), Brat Farrar, Meatbeaters, Moody Beaches, Billiam and the Split Bills, Private Wives, Grindhouse, The Maggie Pills, Sandy Dish, Spunk, Font, The Tashmints and Mulshlucka. Phoarrrr. What a lineup!
Doors open up at midday on Saturday, November 18.
Since its inception in 2008 thanks to two local legends – Buzz [Jason Bee] and Nibbsy [Neale Cox], River Rocks festival has gone from a drunken dream around a fire and a MySpace page, to a sell-out event worthy of your best mate’s birthday party, inspired by the hey-day of the Geelong ’90s rock scene where you could see bands like Bored!, Cosmic Psychos, The Hard Ons in one week at The BC.
“Truthfully, River Rocks was born out of the lack of bands we felt were bypassing Geelong and how the local music scene had dropped away,” Nibbsy confesses, “we thought it would be an awesome idea to see how many bands we could get for an all day/night rock festival.”
Highlights from over the years include Ox from the Poppin Mommas taking a 9-inch grinder to the lighting bar and spraying the room with sparks, Dave Thomas from Bored! getting up and playing ‘Little Suze’ with Warped, having BORED! reforming for the first RR in 2008, and The Ruiner just being The Ruiner… And we’re thinking this year could be worthy of adding some special memories to that list.
While initially just a one-day fest, the team introduced River Rock Rehab for their 10th year and it’s been a permanent fixture of the event ever since. More than just a consolation prize for those who missed out on tickets to River Rocks, River Rocks Rehab includes a mix of bands from the night before as well as some new ones, and usually a BBQ breakfast and Bloody Mary’s for all the hungover folk attending for day two. The lineup is yet to be announced but keep your eyes peeled! It will all go down the day after, on Sunday, November 19.
Lock it in. River Rocks on Saturday, November 18 and River Rocks Rehab on Sunday, November 19 2023.
Get tickets here. Tickets WILL sell out. We warned ya.
