Sarnia-Lambton’s Live Drive In Concert “Rocking the Runway”, will take place on October 23 and 24, 2020 at the Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport.
Headliners for the concert include: Big Wreck and The Reklaws, as the concert is presented by Bluewater Borderfest Music Festival and Blackburn Radio’s COOL 106.3 & CHOK 103.9.
On Friday, October 23 the weekend will get started with Sarnia’s own Scott Manery and the Barnburners, and Canadian Country Music superstars The Reklaws, fresh off their 2020 Duo/Group of the year and Fans Choice Award wins at last weeks CMAO awards.
Raised on their family farm in rural Ontario, Jenna and Stuart Walker signed their first major record deal with Universal Music in 2017.
Their second single “Long Live the Night” kicked off what would become a massive 2018.
Beyond rapidly achieving platinum-certification, the single was the most-streamed domestic song of all Canadian country artists released in 2018 and wound up winning the 2019 CCMA for top-selling Canadian single of the year.
And if that’s not enough, “Long Live the Night” was selected as the 2018 and 2019 theme song for the Canadian Football League’s (“CFL”) Thursday Night Football production.
The momentum continued to build with the release of their debut EP, “Feels Like That”, which won the 2019 CCMA for Album of the Year.
The title single, “Feels Like That” was the duo’s first #1 at Canadian Country Radio and is certified Gold in Canada.
2019 saw Jenna and Stuart complete their first national tour, alongside Dean Brody and Dallas Smith, and earn their first JUNO nomination for “Country Album of The Year”.
This past year, The Reklaws released their first full-length album, “Freshman Year” which contained their third Gold Single, “I Do Too”.
Nominated for Group of the Year at the 2020 Junos, the first time a country act has received such an honour in over 20 years and already with more than 70 million global streams, Plus for 2020 The Reklaws teamed up with Hockey Canada to feature their hit “Roots” which became the song of the IIHF World Junior Tournament for Canada.
On Saturday, October 24, rock night with kick off with Sarnia’s own Rodney James & The Riot opening for one of Canada’s favourite rock bands Big Wreck.
Big Wreck was formed in Boston in the mid 90’s by Toronto-native (guitars / vocals) Ian Thornley and Americans Brian Doherty (guitars), Forrest Williams (drums) and Dave Henning (bass), students at the Berklee College of Music.
Their 1997 debut album, In Loving Memory, is certified double platinum in Canada and featured the chart topping singles “Blown Wide Open,” “That Song” and “The Oaf”.
In 2002, the band broke up following the release of their sophomore album, The Pleasure and The Greed, after which Ian Thornley formed the band Thornley who also enjoyed rock radio success with several singles.
In 2010, Brian Doherty filled in on guitar at a Thornley show and shortly thereafter, he and Ian started working on new material that would be, once again, christened Big Wreck.
Their first single as a reunited Big Wreck, “Albatross,” became the band’s first #1 single at Rock radio in Canada.
Since then, they have released three new Big Wreck albums (Albatross – 2012; Ghosts – 2014; Grace Street – 2017).
In the winter of 2018 Big Wreck began recording their sixth studio album with producer Eric Ratz.
It was during the recording that Doherty was diagnosed with cancer which tragically took his life this past spring after the new album was completed.
Big Wreck’s latest album will be released later this year followed by extensive touring.
The release of the album was preceded by the Top 5 Rock Radio hit “Locomotive.”
Tickets range from $35 to $45 and went on sale to the general public on Friday October 8, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. on www.ticketscene.ca
Only 200 vehicles each night will be able to enjoy the live concert each night, so get your tickets early, organizers say.
Concertgoers will be able to drive onto the tarmac at the airports arrival area, park their vehicle and enjoy the live concert and live event from the safety of their own vehicle, while following all COVID-19 heath and safety protocols and the rules and regulations of the event.
Tickets will be sold per person, with a minimum of two tickets per vehicle.
Each vehicle can hold as many people as seatbelts are available from your social circle, however all concertgoers will be required to have a ticket and take a digital COVID screening test on their phone prior to arrival.
‘Rocking the Runway’, will also be recognizing some of our essential workers. There will be two large 20 x 20 screens on either side of the live stage showcasing a photo gallery including the names and faces of essential workers in our community who continue to make sacrifices to keep us all safe and healthy.
The organizing committee is asking everyone who knows of an essential worker that should be recognized can submit their pictures and information before October 16 to BluewaterBorderFest@gmail.com.
The Kinsmen Club of Sarnia will also be on site selling drive-in style food and drinks and raising money for the local food banks.
Donation bins will also be available at the entrance to drop off non-perishable food items to support the Inn this fall and winter.
For more information visit www.rockingtherunway.ca
