River Rock

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River Rock is an annual music festival organized by Sean Camp. We've been a few times and like it. Not too big, not too crowded, not too far and if the weather is right it's a good outing right here in St Marys.

Sean has had this event in his yard for the last three years or so on the River Road north of St Marys but this year he's got support (or at least approval) from the town of St Marys to have the event in Lion's Park in a large green space by the old rail way bridge along Rice Lake (the river and dam in town). It's in town, with some local talent as well as some impressive bands from around Ontario and it's a lovely weekend. So of course we go.

There are some impressive bands. Two that blew me away were "Dead Flowers" and the "Lemon Bucket Orkestra".

Dead Flowers is a cover band that does Rolling Stones tunes. Sean tells me he didn't want to bring a cover band but these guys are really good. And they are. They play tunes from what I would call the "Golden Age" of the Rolling Stones -- my youth.

For a bit of the Pogues meets the Balkans frenzy the Lemon Bucket Orkestra, from Toronto, bring a good measure of crazy infectious tunes (cf. Gogol Bordello) to the closing night. We didn't stay until the end, Sean tells me they got the entire audience involved.

The event wasn't well attended, really unfortunate. But those who were there had a good time. We hope Sean can continue organizing this event in years to come.