Ok, maybe not Ferris but how about Rockfest?!?! We are asking for your help and support to keep Rockfest at Liberty Memorial. I’m sure you’ve heard all the “controversy” about the grass from Rockfest ‘10, well here’s your chance to speak out and be heard! The Parks Department is asking for public input before they vote on letting us bring Rockfest back to the Memorial (where, quite frankly, it bleongs in my opinion!!). Tomorrow (July 8th) from 5:30p-7p they will be holding a town hall meeting in the World War I Museum at the base of Liberty Memorial. Please show your support by attending this meeting (and afterwards check out the museum itself if you haven’t already…it is bad ass!!!!)

If you can’t make the meeting for whatever reason, the Parks Department will accept your comments thru e-mail which you can link to right here on the 98/9 The Rock website.

Remember, this is not a “protest” style town hall or anything. In fact, I believe the Parks Department really does want to work with us in keeping a Kansas City tradition going but they’re looking to see what public opinion is. So, be respectful but make your voice heard!! It only takes a couple of minutes to save a tradition!!!

See you at Rockfest ‘11!
R

I got this e-mail from someone out at Rockfest.  You silly bastards are always coming up with new ways to make Rockfest more and more fun every year!!!  Check out this video…..

First of all, thank you so much to everyone who came out to Rockfest this year even though the weather didn’t quite want to cooperate (although I think you actually enjoyed that more!!!) A HUGE thanks as always to the folks at Liberty Memorial for opening their grounds and allowing us to have the show there. If you have never been to the museum at the base of the memorial, make it a point to go check it out…it is spectacular!!!

I’m sure you’ve heard the flack that Park and Recreation Commissioner Aggie Stackhaus has said about the conditions of the grounds following the event but, as promised, here is the statement released by Mayor Funkhouser:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 18, 2010

Parks are for people, and on a rainy Saturday, Penn Valley Park was used by 55,000 Kansas City area residents and out-of-town visitors.

I think we should celebrate that kind of success, not condemn it. Keeping people out of our parks makes no sense to me.

My office has received a substantial number of calls and emails regarding Parks and Recreation Commissioner Aggie Stackhaus’ comments about last weekend’s Rockfest event. Most of the residents who have contacted us are disappointed in Commissioner Stackhaus’ comments about the participant’s manners, and her statement that the event should not return to Penn Valley Park.

Rockfest is a Kansas City spring institution. Like The Brookside Art Fair and the Zona Rosa Easter Parade, it is something that a significant segment of our residents look forward to every year. Community events give us a sense of place. They give us a reason to call Kansas City home.

I fully support Rockfest as one of those events. I support the young men and women who see Rockfest as an anchor for their community. Kansas City needs more fun and entertaining events.

Crowded parks, mixed with an all-day rain, are bound to cause serious landscaping issues no matter what the event. Those issues went even further due to the exuberance of the crowd. But outside of having some fun in the mud, the crowd is reported to have been very peaceful.

The bottom line is that grass will grow again. But residents driven away by overzealous comments may not return.

It is my understanding that AEG-Live has the responsibility to fix the issues caused last weekend, and that they already are moving in that direction and plan to have new seed or sod down soon. I will make sure that the city holds them to that commitment.

I, for one, hope that Rockfest continues to grace the Liberty Memorial and Penn Valley Park for years to come. And to show my support, I have joined the Facebook Petition to Keep Rockfest at Liberty Memorial.

Mayor Funkhouser, we thank you for your support!!

I tell you, this is a beautiful combination for the Harley/car giveaway! I know, I know, I always say its a beautiful combination…but it always is!! Now, here’s a quick tip to help you try to win yourself a key (well, a couple tips, actually). First, there is more than one way to win a key…being number 9 on-air is obviously one way, but you can also sign up when we are out and about around town with both rides. Not only do you get to see them both up close and in person, but your odds are pretty good when you drop your name in the box that we have with us.

Tip number two is specifically for the on-air key. As you know, you listen for the cue to call and caller #9 picks up the key. You can text the word “key” to 34426 to an idea of when we are going to give the keys away BUT, keep in mind these are an approximate time. A lot of times people will call in right at that specific time and get mad when we’re not giving away the key right then and there. You still have to listen for the actual sounder that tells you when yto call. Odds are, if your phone is ringing through before we play that sounder, you’re too early and you probably won’t win the key. So, pay close attention for that sounder to fire and then get on that phone and win yourself a key!!! We’re still pretty early in the key giveaway process so there will be PLENTY of chances to pick one up still.

Good luck to all of you!!!

R

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy it is right around the corner!!! This is going to be a party! Its a little earlier this year, so maybe it won’t be as hot as it has been but its still going to br a scorcher on stage! I get a lot of questions in the studio about tickets and what not so I’ll tell you now that there ARE still tickets available, but not many! Don’t forget, Rockaholics bought 40,000 tickets during the pre-sale so don’t miss your chance to pick some up and join us May 15th.

Another question I get is whether or not there are hotel packages available like there were in previous years. The answer to that is YES!! These are a great idea if you can do it. Think about it…12 solid hours out at Rockfest, $5 beers, what could be better than to not have to worry about driving alllll the way home. Stumble over to hotel sleep it off and go home the next day.

Either way, Rockfest is going to be off the hook!! Complete details are right here on our website so you came to the right place!

See ya out there!!!
R

It is official and it is ON!!! Johnny had all the details this morning….ROCKFEST 2010 IS COMING!!! Saturday May 15th, Liberty Memorial…it IS the largest one day music festival in America thanks to you! 15 bands, 2 stages:

Godsmack
Three Days Grace
Seether
Papa Roach
Drowning Pool
Rev Theory
Halestorm
Five Finger Death Punch
Airbourne
Janus
The Veer Union
Burn Halo
Adelita’s Way
Shaman’s Harvest
Taddy Porter

As always concessions will be $5 or less!! Tickets go on sale THIS Wednesday at 10am thru Friday at midnight for Rockaholics for $25! DON’T WAIT!!! Last year’s the show sold out in a week and they’re going to fast again!! The day will come when Rockaholics buy ALL the tickets during the pre-sale and this could be the year!!!

See you at Rockfest 2010!!!
R

THIS monday, March 15th, is the day we’ve been waiting for! Johnny Dare will have all the details concerning……(drumroll)…………ROCKFEST 2010!!!!! Make sure to listen to the morning show this monday as Johnny will have ALL the details…when, where, who, ticket prices, ticket on-sale date AND the Rockaholic pre-sale details (hint, hint, make sure you’re a registered Rockaholic but I’m sure you already know why). Its going to be a great day, a great party and one that you won’t want to miss (are there really any that you do want to miss?…I didn’t think so).

Summer begins with Rockfest 2010 and the details are close!!!

R

That time of the year to fill out your brackets and find some way to catch the games at your place of business without the boss finding out. Already, people are talking smack but the reality is this….its anyone’s title to win. Just look at what happened back in 1988 (I’m sure you know by now I’m a big KU fan). The Jayhawks weren’t even ranked that year and no one gave them a chance to go past the first or second round let alone the whole thing, but the Cinderella story took place and Danny and the Miracles took home the trophy. I do think KU has a great chance to bring home another title this year but they are going to have to fight through some incredible teams and incredible games to get there. So good luck to all the teams that make the dance. I look forward to watching some amazing basketball….even the games which my team isn’t playing in. MARCH MADNESS BABY AND ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!!!!!!

I recently heard that a large group of singers, rappers and other celebs have gathered together to remake “We Are the World” in response to the recent eathquake in Haiti. As I’m sure you already know, the original is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and co-produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian. As of 2009, it has sold more than 20 million units and raised over $63 million for humanitarian aid in Africa and the US. “We Are the World” has demonstrated that diverse musicians can productively work together, and has further influenced the movement within pop music to create songs that address humane concerns.

While I applaud the effort to help people and nations around the globe, when I heard of this idea to remake the song, only one thought came into my mind…….all of these major “artists” in one place and nobody could write a new song??? Seriously??

Just a thought

Hello!

Hope you don’t mind me throwing in a shameless plug here but if you’re looking for a great rock show on Saturday Feb 13th (yes fellas, that would be the day before Valentine’s Day…consider yourself warned and reminded) come on out to the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre at the Uptown Theater! Thrust will be there along with my band, Load Point Pull. Troglodyte, Changing Faith and Forever Grey round out the bill and it’ll be a killer night…plus, its an ALL AGES show!! Tickets are $12 ($10 if you ask the bands REALLLLY nicely) and you can get them from any member of any of the bands, through Ticketmaster or at the door.

Hope to see you there!!

Cheers!