Riverfest serves up three generations of rock

By FRANK SCHULTZ ( Contact )   Thursday, April 10, 2008
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Podcast Episode


WCLO's Steve Benton reports on some of the entertainment for this year's Beloit Riverfest

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— The Riverfest music festival will feature the 1960s harmonies of The Beach Boys and the post-grunge 21st century rock of Seether, a sure recipe for getting both young people and their grandparents to Riverside Park.

The Riverfest lineup also includes bands familiar to the parents of those young people: REO Speedwagon, Molly Hatchet and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

Riverfest is July 10-13. Tickets go on sale Monday, April 28, at the Riverfest office, 520 E. Grand Ave., or online at www.beloitriverfest.com.

Seether’s hard rock opens Riverfest on Thursday, July 10. Seether’s 2005 album, “Karma and Effect” went platinum, and its latest effort, “Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces, is making waves on the charts.

REO Speedwagon returns to Riverfest on Friday, July 11. Fans will remember hits “Keep on Loving You” and “Can’t Fight this Feeling.”

Southern rockers Molly Hatchet and ’80s rockers Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are scheduled for Saturday, July 12.

Molly Hatchet’s “Flirtin’ With Disaster” is among its hits that drive blues, rock and gospel into a southern groove.

Jett broke new ground for women in rock ‘n’ roll and might be remembered best for the anthem, “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

The smooth surfing sounds of the Beach Boys are scheduled for Sunday, July 13.

This version of the Beach Boys features two members of the band that most people remember: Mike Love, an original member and the lead singer, and bass player Bruce Johnston, who joined the band in 1965.







reader COMMENTS (33)
Irish_Mafia78
Apr 12, 2008 at 5:56 p.m.
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bjordan: Have you ever BEEN to Riverfest? Aside from the acts on the mainstage there are groups playing on the side stages...you may find a local act doing something you like. Plus, if you're really jonesing for rap you can always find some thumping in the midway. LOL those carnies like to think they can party like a rockstar.

younggirl
Apr 12, 2008 at 3:53 p.m.
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bjordan-Who's to say young people don't like Rock or Country?? Speak for yourself. I along with all of my friends like one or the other, if not, both. So Riverfest will be getting good attendence as I see it. If you don't want to go, don't. And another thing, I don't know how many times I've gone to Riverfest and there has been rap and hip hop on other stages besides the bigger ones. They may not be the "main attraction" but they are there.

gazettefan
Apr 12, 2008 at 12:41 p.m.
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The reason you won't see mimes at Riverfest is because the authorities can't guarantee their safety.

gazettefan
Apr 12, 2008 at 12:08 p.m.
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One of only a few chances per year where we can enjoy delicacies like deep fried lard and chocolate covered pig eyes.

SarahB
Apr 12, 2008 at 11:58 a.m.
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Hey, whatever 536: What's the big happening for big ol' Clinton this summer?

whatever536
Apr 12, 2008 at 11:33 a.m.
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Sounds like another fun filled Beloit Riverfest! Over-priced, and full of the "Whose's who's of Beloit" thinking that they are the most important people in the world again! The place makes me sick!

gazettefan
Apr 12, 2008 at 6:55 a.m.
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When they had the Doobie Brothers there, they didn't have the guy sings like Aunt Bee.

SarahB
Apr 12, 2008 at 5:57 a.m.
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Good news for all of us: Bjordan and MajorMojo opt out of appearances at Riverfest! YES!! Now I will attend for sure.

Smiles
Apr 12, 2008 at 1:46 a.m.
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Whose to know if your soul will fade at all
The one you sold to fool the world
You lose your self-esteem along the way
Good god, you're coming up with reasons
Good god, you're dragging it out
Good god, it's the changing of the seasons
It feels so great, so follow me down

Fake it if your out of direction
Fake it if you don't belong
Fake it if you feel like infection
Whoa, your such a ***** hypocrite

You should know that the lies won't hide your flaws
No sense in hiding all of yours
You gave up on your dreams along the way
Good god, you're coming up with reasons
Good god, you're dragging it out
Good god, it's the changing of the seasons
It feels so great, so follow me down and just...

Fake it if your out of direction
Fake it if you don't belong
Fake it if you feel like infection
Whoa, your such a ***** hypocrite

I can fake with the best of anyone
I can fake with the best of them all
I can fake it with the best of anyone
I can fake it all

Whose to know if your soul will fade at all
The one you sold to fool the world
You lose your self-esteem along the way
Good god, you're coming up with reasons
Good god, you're dragging it out
Good god, it's the changing of the seasons
It feels so great, so follow me down and just...

Fake it if your out of direction
Fake it if you don't belong
Fake it if you feel like infection

!!!!!!!!!!!!AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!

Smiles
Apr 12, 2008 at 1:42 a.m.
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omg are you serious? SEETHER!!!! i've never been to river fest but i will be for sure going this year! im not old enought to say much more than i've heard so of the names of the other acts. but who cares i can atleast find one that i'm way excited about!!!!!! yippy i cant wait

deltafox5674
Apr 11, 2008 at 10:56 p.m.
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Its nice to see a diverse selection of rock being offered. Good job Riverfest!

mymaro
Apr 11, 2008 at 8:32 p.m.
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i lived in beloit for a few years and then moved back to janesville. wish i wouldnt have done that. seems theres more crime in janesville now then beloit. maybe ill move back to beloit.

and why in the world would riverfest get any rap acts? all they spew is ghetto garbage, and then people get all in their feelings thinking theyre big and bad and start shooting each other. keep the acts catered to the civilized and mature audience riverfest.

rooster
Apr 11, 2008 at 8 p.m.
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riverfest? how about river swamped.

StaceyU2
Apr 11, 2008 at 3:51 p.m.
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Maybe some of us Don't like that Crap they call music Nowadys, Fifty cents??, Maybe all he can afford, Chingy??, What heck kind of name is that??, Atleast the musicians that are playing Riverfest have music (in mind) that we can Understand,, Not "Find that Booty and rock her world" junk ! ! !, These songs have meaning, and alot of Class, So if you don't want to listen to these bands, STAY HOME>>> I am sure the people from "Riverfest" won't miss YOUR revenue from the gate..

ms_sassy_wi
Apr 11, 2008 at 1:51 p.m.
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right on, directory. and for those of you complaining...please stay home and wallow in your self-imposed misery. these complainers say their communities don't offer anything for people "to do". then it's "not the RIGHT thing to do". stop complaining and get on a board or volunteer to be on a search committee or something if you are so appalled by our community happenings. (are you the same people who don't vote and then complain about who got elected, too?)

paisleysdaddy
Apr 11, 2008 at 1:47 p.m.
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bjordan, maybe you should start listening to better music instead of that rap crap you call music. Seether is a major label band and will bring in a lot better and respectable crowd than trying to get 50 Cent in here.

I also agree with Jester, majormojo should stay in Janesville anyway. Beloit is a growing community. If I remember correctly, isn't Janesville trying to follow in their footsteps cleaning up the river area? I was born and raised in Beloit. Moved to Janesville for 5 years, then I went back. I'll choose the good citizens of Beloit over the large amount of stuck up people in Janesville any day.

directory
Apr 11, 2008 at 10:21 a.m.
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Demographics, this is all about demographics.
People who remember these bands have money. They do not have little children to support, houses and cars are paid for, they can buy plenty of beer, they will not cause a riot, they will enjoy being reminded of their youth which will make them happy, which will get them to spend more money. They will bring their adult kids and grandkids along and have a good safe family day.

bjordan
Apr 11, 2008 at 9:47 a.m.
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Wow once again, the Riverfest is here and it has the same genre of acts...country and rock. Nothing for the young people...no R&B, no nothing. Whats up with this area? Half the Riverfest attendees are young. Which means that half the money the Riverfest makes is from the young people. So you would think that they'd have at least one well known R&B or rap act set up...but they don't. Instead they got a carnival....Whoopy-Do. The Riverfest used to be ok...but now its like the worse event on earth. They only cater to certain people. I bet if young people boycotted this years Riverfest,the Riverfest would loose money....and guess what the next headline would read..."RIVERFEST IN NEED OF MONEY OR 2009 RIVERFEST MAY BE CANCELED." The Riverfest depends on young people and everyone else to attend. So if that's the case, they should give us something to watch also. Other than the Beach Boys, the other acts for this this year I never even heard of. The Riverfest is pathetic and I can't believe people still attend it.

jester
Apr 11, 2008 at 9:38 a.m.
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I'm not originally from Beloit/Janesville either but have lived in both. Majormojo - People in Beloit are very friendly and are constantly working towards making this city better than it is. We won the 2007 "America In Bloom" National competition. Can't be too bad of a place if judges are choosing our city over others in the United States. It's probably best you don't come down as your negative attitude will only bring others down. You can keep that mindset up there and share with your Janesville friends.

Kleej
Apr 11, 2008 at 9:17 a.m.
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Molly Hatchet played on a side stage at Riverfest about 12 years ago! Now they're on the main stage??!! They were washed up back then. To each his own. Riverfest is the best at bringing in all the "has beens". I think I saw REO playing at Goody's Bar in Beloit last weekend!!

chelleandlou
Apr 11, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
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WOW I might just have to go to Riverfest for a change.

jvldude
Apr 10, 2008 at 6:57 p.m.
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I hope I can take my boat out by then, at least i wont have to worry about the river being low

rooster
Apr 10, 2008 at 6:21 p.m.
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hope the weather improves by then.

gazettefan
Apr 10, 2008 at 3:19 p.m.
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What about Bob Dylan? He just won the Pulitzer Prize.

Maybe he'll write a song about our troubles.

coffeeman
Apr 10, 2008 at 3:11 p.m.
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Make that Majormojo not moto. Sorry

coffeeman
Apr 10, 2008 at 3:10 p.m.
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Funny how I heard the same complaints about the line up at the Rock County Fair. Seems we can't please anybody anymore. And Majormoto, I lived in Janesville for 11 years and Beloit for over 15. Back in Janesville now and wish I was back in Beloit. It goes both ways. And I never grew up around here, so my opinion is unbiased.

MajorMojo
Apr 10, 2008 at 2:47 p.m.
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hire whoever you want, I still wouldn't travel to Beloit if it was the last city on earth!

ms_sassy_wi
Apr 10, 2008 at 12:57 p.m.
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come on. everyone just has to complain, don't they?! I think it's a great line-up. We're in "never heard of" Wisconsin. I think people of all ages will be entertained. If not, sit at home and stare at your computer screen and complain that there is "nothing to do around here".

NVgrf
Apr 10, 2008 at 12:07 p.m.
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How do they get the walkers on stage? Must build a ramp.

Hockeyjockey
Apr 10, 2008 at 12:04 p.m.
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Can 65-year-old singers still be called "Boys"?

Long_Time_Gone
Apr 10, 2008 at 12:01 p.m.
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Where's Cheap Trick?!?

Acer
Apr 10, 2008 at 11:57 a.m.
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Aren't we all?

NVgrf
Apr 10, 2008 at 11:36 a.m.
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Saw REO at the EJ Dalton Youth Center in Beloit as a kid. Dang.....they're old!!

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