The founder of the Rockin’ River Music Festival in Merritt says he’s quite certain last year’s show was its last.
Kenny Hess, who handed over control of the event to Live Nation last year, says he fully agrees with the promoter’s decision to scrub this year’s event and suggests Rockin’ River’s days are almost certainly numbered.
“It is so sad because it is a wonderful site. I don’t think there is a better site in the world and the people who were supportive were incredibly supportive,” he said. “I mean Kamloops – half of Kamloops – came to it.”
Hess notes the festival has been hit with a series of problems through the years, including the floods in Nov. 2021, which destroyed part of the festival’s campground.
But the biggest factor for the likely demise of Rockin’ River, Hess says, is the cost of booking A-List artists, who he notes are now commanding over a million dollars to perform.
“Most of them think that it is $40,000 to $50,000 per artist, and none of those artists are under a million dollars,” Hess added.
“I’m gonna say the same thing my dad said to me every time, ‘this is gonna hurt me more than it’s gonna hurt you,’ and it really is. My soul is hurt over this.”
However, Hess did note that he hopes to perhaps – someday – put together another festival in Merritt, but on a smaller scale.
Speaking Friday afternoon, Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz says the cancellation of the Rockin’ River Fest this year is disappointing for both fans and local businesses in his community.
“I think they had the most amount of people last year, so I couldn’t give you a financial number but it is substantial,” Goetz said. “All the businesses benefit by it, sometimes its called ‘Merritt’s second Christmas’ is what they call it.”
Goetz added that news of the cancellation didn’t come as a complete shock to him.
“There hadn’t been any notification on artists that may be performing in 2023, there was no announcement of ticket sales and I mean we are into basically almost February, so you start to wonder if its going to happen or if it’s not,” he said, noting he’s hoping to see the return of the festival one day.
The Rockin’ River Festival normally runs over the course of four days in Merritt over the August long-weekend. It returned last summer after having been cancelled the previous two years due to the pandemic.
Reached for comment about the cancellation and the future of the festival, a Live Nation spokesperson said the “statement posted on the Rockin River social channels and website are the only comment at this time.”
-With Files From Abby Zieverink & Victor Kaisar
