Plans are being finalized and bands are booked for the third annual summer concert known as “Riverfest” scheduled for July 20 at the Irvin N. Anderson Amphitheater on the Rainy River waterfront.
This year, tribute band Arch Allies (Journey, Styx and REO Speedwagon), which during the past two events shared the amphitheater stage with rock bands Loverboy and 38 Special, will headline the summer festival. In addition, tribute bands A Hard Days Night (The Beatles), Free Bird (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Spindrift (Rush) are scheduled to perform during the rock-and-roll filled day.
Under new leadership by the International Falls Rotary Club and Backus Community Center, organizers for this year’s Riverfest said they are hopeful it will mimic the success of the previous two events.
“We’re going to give a go at it,” said Ward Merrill, executive director at Backus. “We encourage people to give (the event) a try. I think everyone will enjoy it.”
In January, the International Falls Economic Development Authority, which with assistance from the city, has produced Riverfest since 2011, felt it was time for another body to take on the roll of planning the event.
Mayor Bob Anderson told The Journal last week he didn’t feel a concert of such magnitude was the city’s responsibility.
“I don’t know of any city that puts on concerts of that size,” he said. “I’m pleased Rotary and Backus (officials) have stepped up to continue this event in our community...We certainly hope they will be successful in this endeavor.”
Anderson offered the city’s support for the July 20 event and said because the amphitheater is on city-owned property, city employees will be involved in ensuring “everything goes off well and safely.”
With any new project, the organizers acknowledge there is a level of risk associated with the challenge.
Rotary President Jenell Feller admitted the entire undertaking has her “a little freaked out.”
“We’ve got a tight budget, and we’re going to make this event happen on a wing and a prayer and a lot of hard work,” she said.
On the same note, Feller said it was her goal to have a large, local project for the Rotary Club.
“I didn’t necessarily have such an extensive project in mind,” she said with a laugh. “We hope if we build it, people will come.”
In the past, Riverfest has been scheduled around the community’s Fourth of July celebration. Merrill explained the steering group believed the event could be sufficient on its own and made the decision to move the date for later in the summer. He said by doing this, Borderland will have something more for which to look forward.
“This year, July 4 is a Thursday,” Merrill said. “We thought (Riverfest) would be a better event without being tied into other festivities.”
Both Feller and Merrill said the partnering groups didn’t want to see the event “let go” and say while the effort is rushed, there are “great ideas” swirling around to push the event forward.
“Having Backus and Rotary working together on this is especially beneficial because all the funds will go back into the community in some way,” Feller said. “It will benefit those of us who live and work here 365 days of the year. That is why hosting this was so appealing.”
Merrill said there might be some apprehension from the public about the lack of a “great, big headline band,” but he reminded everyone that Backus and Rotary are non-profit organizations.
“We don’t have a huge amount of reserve funds to put into this,” he said. “But, both groups involved are committing to this event for the next three years and are hopeful it will only continue to grow.”
Feller said she knows the date is competing with Moondance Jam, the rock and classic rock festival held in Walker, Minn., during the same weekend, but said Riverfest is “for the rest of us.”
“People will have a great Saturday in our great city,” she said. “We’ve ordered exceptional weather, and everybody can afford to come. Moondance started just like this – a party and a beautiful place. That is what we’re going to do.”
The $20 tickets for the event will be available soon, Merrill said.
He added that the steering group also is seeking volunteers for multiple roles between now and the day of the concert. Anyone interested can contact James Bujold at riverfest.vol@gmail.com.
“We will only be successful if we have volunteers,” Feller said. “And luckily, both Backus and Rotary have a lot of goodwill and friendships with many members of this community. I think all of us will make this nothing but a great event.”
