So, we need to talk about Rock Fest, Oscoda

Johnny should have been more question-oriented when the first Rock Fest came to Furtaw Field in 2019. Oh yes he should have. Like many he was just happy Oscoda was getting another big day, with rock music no less. No social media outlet based in Oscoda did more to promote it every week when it came up than the Oscoda City Desk. Eight song Music Series' featuring all the performers. Stories and Twitter promotion were all over. 

Not this year or going forward.

When the Rock Fest moved this year from the perfect location to show off Oscoda having a big day, Furtaw Field to a small patch of land over near Veteran's Memorial Park, which made no logistical or PR sense, Johnny started asking those questions he should have asked before. As it turns out, the ENTIRE gate receipts for Rockfest goes to Vet's Park, guided by a handful of supporters building unneeded memorials to the 1970's and 80's. While the situation of War Dogs was sad, why is Oscoda shortchanging other needs for this? Robert Tasior tries to make a failing case:

“The park honors our veterans,” Tasior said. “All of our proceeds actually go to that park. This year, we’re raising money to build a War Dog Memorial. Even though our base closed in 1993, we still have a 2.5-mile-long runway that’s used for cargo and operations, and our military presence has never gone away. 

First off, Johnny is gonna go ahead and guess that tax money is used to set up and take down and police Rock Fest. Yet, all the money being spent goes to a niche crowd and an even bigger niche memorial. Bothersome. How many people sans a couple days a year does anyone see actually walking through and looking at the monuments? Exactly. The Rock Fest money is not being applied wisely at all. It's being done for the benefit of a few "Military in Oscoda dead-enders" who seem to have forgotten the military left giving Oscoda the middle finger and a town poisoned. Sure, let's build monuments to them. FYI, according to Tasior this war doggy wall monument will run upwards of $100,000 so how many Rock Fests will it take to pay off, again, a niche memorial in a part of town many people don't even travel by? Glad 4 or 5 people have decided all this. 

Let's not promote Oscoda by using Furtaw Field either, Why let people know Oscoda even has such events as they drive by on US-23. Rock Fest money should be being used to save Furtaw Field, not shortchange it. Maybe the money could be used, you know, for the actual betterment of the town. 

It's at best now a public concert to provide private funds for something nobody here voted on or beyond a handful of people can prove anyone wants. So, while Johnny will probably mention the bands playing going forward he's not going to go all in on something with an end goal that makes zero sense in 2022. Not how his blogs or Twitter have ever worked. He's not for sale.

So, Rock Fest this Friday and Saturday, not at Furtaw Field. Woot!

Damn the Covid, Rockfest is back!

After a year away due to the Covid19 pandemic, Oscoda's Rockfest will make its triumphant return after the original Rockfest in August of 2019. Furtaw Field will of course host the event, August 14 this year and if you'll take a look at this handy promotional poster, you'll see all the great bands coming to town.

What a hot event and Johnny is so glad it's back. Here's to building on the success of the 2019 show.

Let's make Bert Tribbler the face of the Oscoda Rock Fest

Rock Show! Rock Show! Rock Show! ROCK SHOW!

Would you like some more rock with your coffee?

Well great then because that's what's gonna happen. 'High' from Damned By Dawn should get us through until lunch. In listening to all the bands we've posted so far it's pretty clear this is going to be a quality show. 77º and sunny. Welcome to Oscoda in summer.

Another one of the bands performing at the Oscoda Rock Fest tomorrow!

It's Silverspork and 'Murmur' and of course these clips today from our guests for Bunyan Rock don't count against tonight's Music Series.

Here After Six, performing Saturday at Oscoda Rock Fest, take a bow!

Another one of the excellent bands lined up for some Bunyan Rock on Saturday. Let's give a listen to 'Letter to Heaven'

The rest of the week we'll be featuring bands playing the Oscoda Rock Fest Saturday

And right on time, here is a song, 'The Edge' from Polychromic. Saturday is going to have some great rock and roll bands, you can hear this and tell. How nice will this sound outside in the sunny and 77º temps?

Late night open thread

Did we mention Bunyan Rock will be serving alcohol? It just gets better and better. A little rain the next couple days will make for soft green grass on Furtaw Field, not picky dry grass. It's the little things.

Here's a song from one of Saturday's bands, We, the Infamous and 'Midnight Flight'

Time for Oscoda, After Dark

Oscoda has banned Yacht Rock for BUNYAN ROCK!

Yacht Rockers need not apply!

Oscoda is hosting the FIRST Oscoda Rock Fest, featuring NINE bands (Grounded, Siren, Everyday Ghost, Silverspork, Damned by Dawn, Polychromic, Assault the Silence, Here After Six and We, The Infamous) all playing their own songs, how refreshing, not a cover band in sight. Also, these aren't just throw in bands, oh no, these bands know how to rock -- “A lot of these bands, they are seasoned bands. They have opened for major touring bands like Godsmack and Alice Cooper, shared the stage with Saliva just tons of top notch national touring bands, so these are not secondary bands,” said Rock Fest Committee Head Bob Tasior. “These guys are seasoned professionals and the show is just going to be phenomenal because it’s going to grow from the first band all the way to the last.”

Furtaw Field is the place, this Saturday from 1-10:30pm. Need extra motivation? You could easily walk to Lake Huron and cool off AND Saturday in Oscoda will be 78º and partly sunny. Get in on the ground floor people, this event will only get bigger each and every year Johnny thinks. Good bands in a great setting in an awesome town. Tickets are only $10. That's a lot of rock and roll for $10.

Be there, aloha!