Desirée Decoste
Beaver Staff
Voodoo Rockfest is set to return for its fourth year, a little earlier than usual.
This year the event will take place on Aug. 9 and 10 at the Napanee Fairgrounds (170 York St.) with some of the proceeds going to the ADHD Support Group Kingston and some of the proceeds from the first ever three pitch ball tournament going to the Parents for Children’s Mental Health.
The last three years the Rockfest has taken place in September.
“I moved the event hopefully for some better weather,” Joe Matthews, festival coordinator told the Beaver. “In the past we have had decent weather but it’s been really cool at night and I felt like that was kinda the deterrent for some people to commit to camping.”
The family friendly event has limited camping with 40-50 per cent already sold out. Two nights camping is included with the purchase a weekend ticket at $65. A single day, advanced ticket is $20 for Friday and $30 for Saturday. All tickets are $5 more at the gate and kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult.
Tickets are available online and in the following locations: Napanee – Loaf N’ Ale, Kingston – Inkwell Tattoo and Riverhead Brewing, Belleville – The Brake Room, Picton – Prince Eddy’s Brewing Co., Shannonville – Free Flow 49 Quik Stop and Free Flow Fast Freddy’s.
“I don’t check how many tickets I’ve sold,” Matthews expressed. “I’m a one man operation and there’s no point in checking into that stuff you’ll drive yourself nuts.”
The festival will have their biggest kids zone area on Saturday with an inflatable maze, cotton candy, basketball, arcade games, bean bag toss, inflatable soccer dart board and more.
In addition to the festival they are hosting the first ever Voodoo Rock N’ Ball 3 pitch tournament.
“Since I launched Voodoo it’s been my idea to try and do a tournament” stated Matthews. “I hadn’t been able to find someone to help me do that and this is the first year I found someone I trust to run a ball tournament that’s tied with my name.”
The Rockfest has a line up of artists from Quebec City to Sudbury who are on the verge of breaking to the next level. Some of the bands include Days of Thieves, Rough Gentlemen, Muse Tribute Uprising, Sweet Talk Jackie, Goldwing, Motley Crue Tribute Theatre of Pain and many more.
“There is nothing more gratifying to me to see the bands I have booked in the past that have gone on to building great careers,” said Matthews. “That’s the entire point of the festival, get more people in front of these bands for people who think ‘there’s no good rock music anymore’, there’s tons of great rock music. you’re just not going to hear it on your traditional media.”
Anyone interested in being a volunteer for the festival can email voodoorockfest@gmail.com with the subject line ‘volunteer’ as gate workers, security, grounds helpers, parking assistants and many more roles will need to be filled.
Vendor inquiries can email voodoorockfest@gmail.com with the subject line ‘vendor inquiries’, however they will only be accepting vendors they feel will be a successful fit for the event.
For more information visit musicfly.ca/kingston/festival/voodoo-rockfest/.