The Rockwood Rocks Music Festival joined the Rockwood Farmers’ Market for a pre-season taster on June 3.
The musical showcase featured six local artists, including singer/songwriter Ian Reid, young songstress Anika Berringer and jazz pianist Kevin Mak.
Rockwood Nursery School kids and Bianca Chambers and friends also took to the stage, shaking and tapping along to children’s songs.
Organized by friends and neighbours Chris Barlow, Rosslyn Bentley and Marion Willms following last year’s Sounds of Support concert in aid of refugee sponsorship, the Rockwood Rocks Music Festival aims to create a local platform for musical talent.
“We realize how hard it is for small-scale musicians and those starting out to get in front of an audience,” Bentley said. “We believe music connects us all and provides ways of creating community that small towns like Rockwood truly foster.”
Supported by sponsors Alma Street Animal Hospital, Bondyn, Saunders Bakery, Waterloo Biofilers and Dr. Thadshika Parthipan, and partnering with the Rockwood Farmers Market, event organizers are hoping the festival grows into an annual not-for-profit event.
“We’d love to build our event to be a mini-Hillside experience,” Willms said. “We know it takes patience and commitment but we are sure the community will embrace this ongoing opportunity.”
Sunday vendors from the Rockwood Farmers Market rounded out the day’s experience, and Greek food from Dora of Tithorea and a barbecue from Foodland made sure no one was hungry.
