Rock the Park returns on Saturday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 July 2017 at 8:40 am
File photo by Tom Rivers: The band Zero performs at the Rock the Park music festival at Bullard Park on July 25, 2015. Zack Burgess, center, is the lead singer and Dylan DeSmit, left, is on lead guitar and vocals, and Brad Maxon on bass. Dan Ryan plays the drums. A state grant includes money for an amphitheater/performance stage for the park.

File photo by Tom Rivers: The band Zero performs at the Rock the Park music festival at Bullard Park on July 25, 2015. Zack Burgess, center, is the lead singer and Dylan DeSmit, left, is on lead guitar and vocals, and Brad Maxon on bass. Dan Ryan plays the drums. The band will perform from 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. on Saturday.

ALBION – The Rock the Park music festival returns for the fourth time this Saturday at Bullard Park. Five bands will perform from 4 to 11 p.m.

The concerts are benefit to help pay towards the local share for a new amphitheater for the park.

Albion last December was awarded a $499,605 state grant for Bullard improvements with the village providing $166,370 with in kind-services or funding.

The overall $665,975 project includes a spray park, amphitheater/performance stage, a walking/hiking trail with signage, infrastructure (water and sewer) for the spray park, a utility building, and parking lot and lighting improvements.

The village and contractors expected to start construction on the improvements next year.

Rock the Park started in 2014 to raise funds to upgrade playground equipment at the park. It was a project spearheaded by the Albion Lions Club.

Rock the Park met its initial goal of helping with the playground improvements. Ron Albertson, a Lions Club member and Rock the Park organizer, is pleased to see the bigger park upgrades in the near future.

He sees the amphitheater as a key for drawing more people to Albion for concerts and events.

“We could turn Albion into a Lewiston,” Albertson said. “We could draw bigger acts at Bullard Park. We’re going to have a beautiful amphitheater in a beautiful park in a beautiful town.”

The fourth Rock the Park has a $5 suggested donation for the concerts. There will also be beer, non-alcoholic drinks and food available. The classic car show that meets by the canal on Saturdays also will head to Bullard around 6 p.m. this Saturday.

The band lineup includes Koko and the Moon Crickets from 4 to 5 p.m.; 
Justin Crossett Band
 from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.; Rock Creek Mansion
 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.; Zero
 from 7:45 to 8:45 p.m.; and Mister Revelator from 9 to 11 p.m.

Mister Revelator is a “rocking blues band” from New Jersey and includes Joe Benedetti. His father, Jim Benedetti, played in the first Rock the Park in 2014.

Albertson said he is encouraged by all of the recent entertainment options in Albion.

“The Strawberry Festival was the best ever,” he said. “Now we have the new car shows and the concerts by the canal. Instead of saying there is nothing to do around here, some of us are making something to do.”

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