Rock the Shores 2018 – event review

Rock the Shores 2018 – popular on a hot weekend

Sunday, July 15 ~ COLWOOD. Concert event review, by Mary P Brooke

The rock band Bahamas teased the crowd and organizers that ‘Rock the Shores’ might have been better named ‘Rock the Forest’ (because they couldn’t see the ocean from the stage and venue behind West Shore Parks & Recreation in central Colwood). But even with that, Sunday evening at the weekend-long Rock the Shores event was a rockin’ good time for music festival goers of all ages.

That diversity of people attending the three-day festival July 13 to 15 could have possibly been the highest achievement of the event put on by Victoria-based Atomique Productions.

Atomique built a suitable pop-up venue and people did come. Games and sprinklers for the kids, deck chair seating for older folks, VIP section under shade, a variety of food and games for everyone, water refilling stations, lots of bins for recycling and garbage, and ample parking that was well organized — Atomique set themselves up right for success. That included a wide selection of musical genres throughout the weekend, and scheduling their biggest-name act for the last performance on Sunday evening.

Following the popular Toronto-based Bahamas, Brian Wilson and his backup band of 10 musicians and vocalists took the stage for 8:30 pm. It was still a warm night — about 25°C as the icon of Beach Boys fame got rolling. A mostly younger adult crowd pressed up to the stage area, swinging to the beat and enjoying the music. Older folks in the crowd and the lawn chairs probably better connected with the memories of the California-band that produced such greats as California Girls, Good Vibrations, and Surfer Girl.

Brian Wilson had come off back surgery only three weeks ago, and needed help getting to the white grand piano at center stage. But as a consummate pro, he fluidly delivered the old hits as well as new, giving shout-outs to various key members of the band.

One of the challenges of the lower-field venue behind West Shore rec centre was that long walk back up the hill for some of the older folks, or families with young kids. Maybe some golf cart transportation next year would be beneficial for more folks.

Many people had arrived on bicycles, that could be parked securely under the watchful eye of Mountain Equipment Coop personnel. There was venue security and a few members of West Shore RCMP on hand to round out site security amidst the thousands of people on site.

Overall, the event was pretty tame compared to legends of musical festivals of days gone by. But there was still a bit of beer/pop tossing over unsuspecting people in the crowd. Beach balls got tossed around. Kids on parents’ shoulders, friends dancing and hugging, old folks reminiscing together — a nice time for all.

You know you’ve experienced good quality rock music when the loud bass absorbed up at the front of the stage is in synch with your body rhythms, not jarring. And, when everyone in the crowd seemed to relax and have a really good time.

It looks good on Colwood and West Shore Parks & Rec for having a facility able to support an activity with such broad scope.

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