The July Mountain Wildfire south of Merritt on Aug 15, 2021 (left) and the flooded streets of Merritt on Nov. 15, 2021. (Photos via TranBC and Big Power Films)
Organizers of the Rockin’ River Fest in Merritt are planning to host a fire and flood relief benefit concert in the new year.
Speaking on NL Newsday, Festival President Kenny Hess says the goal is to help with recovery efforts in Merritt after this summer’s wildfire season as well as flooding on the Coldwater and Nicola rivers this fall.
“It’s a Merritt based operation [but] it looks like its going to move into the Vancouver-area just because of proximity and trying to get people out,” he said. “We’re going to name the effort Hell and High Water and along with the concert, we’re going to record it and then do a live telethon that will be available online.”
Potential venues for this concert are the Clarke Theatre in Mission or The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver. The telethon, Hess said, will feature the whole concert as well as snippets from artists that weren’t able to make the live show.
“Right now we are just debating on whether we do it all country or whether we do it multi-genre,” Hess added. “I know that multi-genre would really bring in a lot more radio exposure and that. We’re taking a look at all of our options.”
Hess also told NL News that he has got a projected date for the concert in early January as well as a lineup of artists, but he wasn’t ready to announce it just yet. That announcement is expected to come after Christmas, he said.
“I promise you I will reach out right away when we are ready to go live with it,” Hess added. “I promise it will be a wonderful thing.”
All of the proceeds from this benefit concert will go to the Rotary Club in Merritt.
– With files from Brett Mineer
