The second annual, one-day festival and friendly competition on Tuesday along the Rogue River benefits ShelterBox, with three West Michigan bands gracing the stage. Schedule and details at Local Spins.
Back in Rockford on Tuesday: Rotary Rocks will feature three bands. (Photo/Anna Sink)
SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOS OF THE FEATURED BANDS
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Last summer, up-and-coming world music trio Whorled ran away with the win in Rockford’s first-ever Rotary Rocks festival and competition that raised more than $3,700 for ShelterBox, a disaster-relief nonprofit organization.
On Tuesday night, Rotary Rocks returns to the Garden Club Park along the Rogue River in Rockford with three West Michigan bands — Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions, Low Phase and Roosevelt Diggs — duking it out in friendly fashion to see who can raise the most money for the cause.
Sponsored and organized by the Rotary Club of Rockford, the second annual, one-day festival kicks off at 6 p.m., with fans “voting” for their favorite band by donating money to ShelterBox, a Rotary-supported agency formed in 2000 that helps those across the globe who’ve lost their homes and belongings to wars or natural disasters.
“Sponsors have covered all the expenses of the event, so whatever is raised at the event will be doubled by a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant Foundation and donated to ShelterBox,” said Rotarian and event organizer Todd Olson.
“There will be a QR code to access the website at the event. Participants at the event will donate through the website for the band of their choice, or all three bands if they choose.”
Each band will play an hour-long set and the group that raises the most money by the time things wrap up on Tuesday will win studio time at Rockford’s Planet Sunday studios, a performance slot at the 2024 Hoxeyville Music Festival, a Local Spins advertising package and a music business development class hosted by Crooked Tree Creative.
Indie-rock’s Low Phase just released a new EP, “Star Dog,” while rock’s Jack Droppers and Americana’s Roosevelt Diggs both plan to release new studio albums later this year.
Fans can vote online for their favorite band by donating at juke.band.com here.
Olson noted that ShelterBox aims “to serve people at a critical time when they need it the most” so they can rebuild their lives after calamity. That includes providing them with totes containing a myriad of basic essentials, from tents to water filters to solar lights.
Rotary International maintains 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and boasts 1.4 million members worldwide.
VIDEO: Low Phase, “Carousel”
VIDEO: Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions, “Pasadena”
VIDEO: Roosevelt Diggs, “Everything As It Was”
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