Rock the Park returns today with 9 different musical acts at Bullard Park
Photo by Tom Rivers: Mike Warren, guitarist and singer for Zero, sings “TNT” by AC/DC during an open mic on June 19, 2021, the first event at the new amphitheater at Bullard Park. Zero is one of seven bands performing today at Rock the Park, with two other acoustical acts.
ALBION – Rock the Park is back today with 12 hours of music of Bullard Park. The Albion Summer Festival will include the 7th Rock the Park.
It will include seven bands, two acoustical acts, a large beer tent, food and craft vendors, and also basketball and cornhole tournaments.
“It’s another opportunity for the community to get together and have a good time,” said John Grillo, the Albion summer recreation director and member of the Rock the Park Committee.
Rock the Park started as a chance to bring several bands together to perform a Bullard, while raising funds to upgrades the park.
Organizers have met many of those initial goals of helping to bring new playground equipment, a splash pad and amphitheater to the site. There will be a ribbon-cutting today at about 3 p.m. for a new walking trail around the park in memory of Judy Christopher and Wayne Burlison.
Grillo believes the best is yet to come for Bullard. A new scoreboard for the youth football program will soon be installed. This time next year there should be two new basketball courts and a 9-hole disc golf course at the park. Grillo is pushing for a new lodge at Bullard that would be available to the community.
“I think there is more potential here,” said Zack Burgess, one of the Rock the Park organizers and a member of the band, Zero.
He expects a big crowd throughout the day for today’s event. Parking is free. There is a $5 admission charge to get in the beer tent and a fenced-in area.
There are other activities for kids for free, and the new playground and splash pad are next to the amphitheater.
Burgess said the concerts today are like a family reunion for many of the local bands. He is happy to have the Dave Viterna Group in the lineup for the first time for Rock the Park. The event will be capped by Nerds Gone Wild, another new band to Rock the Park. They play many popular party songs from the 1980s.
The lineup of events includes:
- 11 a.m. – Festival opens with food and craft vendors, a kids carnival, the start of a basketball tournament and the first musical performer, the Remediators on the acoustic stage.
- noon – Mark Fantasia on the acoustic stage
- 1 p.m. – Corn hole tournament starts
- 2 p.m. – Beer tent opens with Vette performing on the main stage
- 3 p.m. – Eclipse on the main stage
- 4 p.m. – Zero on the main stage; craft vendors close
- 5 p.m. – Shotgun Pauly on the main stage
- 6 p.m. – Dave Viterna Group on main stage
- 7 p.m. – The Who Dats on main stage; food vendors close
- 8:30 p.m. – Nerds Gone Wild on main stage
- 11 p.m. – Festival closes
Organizers of Rock the Park are dedicating the event today in memory of Jonathan Doherty, who passed away at age 38 on May 5. Jonathan was on the committee for many years and was a big promoter of the event. He also introduced the band Zero and sang a song with the band, including a memorable rendition of “Achy Breaky Heart.” Jonathan set up recycle bins at the event with the proceeds donated to The Arc. The bottles collected today will be donated to The Arc GLOW.
