On the Waterfront (festival)

For other uses, see On the Waterfront (disambiguation).

On the Waterfront
An entrance into the festival.
Genre	Rock, Alternative rock, Rap, Punk rock, Country music
Dates	Labor Day weekend
Location(s)	Rockford, Illinois, United States
Years active	1985-2012
Founders	City of Rockford
Website	http://www.onthewaterfront.com

On the Waterfront was an annual outdoor music festival held in downtown Rockford, Illinois on Labor Day weekend. The festival featured local and national performers in various genres including rock, country, alternative rock, hip hop, and punk rock, as well as food vendors and craft booths.

History

On the Waterfront was founded in 1983, during an economic downturn in Rockford, when city officials approved $15,000 in financing for a celebration of the city's 150th anniversary.^[1]

The annual On the Waterfront Festival went on to become Illinois’ largest music festival, covering nearly 30 city blocks with over 100 performers across seven music venues.^[2][1] The festival included special events, attractions, and venues, as well as over fifty food booths.

The last On the Waterfront festival was held in 2012, ending its 29-year run with a downsized version of the event. Only 51,000 three-day passes were sold in 2012, compared to nearly 80,000 at the festival's peak.^[3] After several years of deficits, the festival had accumulated more than $340,000 in debt, and city organizers cited rising costs of security and talent as reasons for the event's cancellation.^[2][3]

On the Waterfront lineups by year

2012

• Theory Of A Deadman, The Offspring, Billy Currington, Phil Vassar, The Last Vegas, DJ Papo Fizz Mc

2011

• Stone Temple Pilots, Buckcherry, P.O.D., Papa Roach, Puddle Of Mudd, Firehouse (band)

2010

• "Weird Al" Yankovic, Billy Idol, Hinder, Allison Iraheta & Adam Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Trombone Shorty, Candye Kane, Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials

2009^[4]

• Jason Aldean, Jake Owen, The Nadas, Brother (Australian band), Barenaked Ladies, The Last Vegas, Framing Hanley, Red, Dot Dot Dot, Smash Mouth, Randy Bachman, The Charlie Daniels Band

2008^[5]

• Styx, Puddle of Mudd, Finger Eleven, Blue Öyster Cult, Los Lonely Boys, Whiskey Falls, Shooter Jennings

2007

• Daughtry, The Black Crowes, Shinedown, The New Cars, The Chi-Lites, 12 Stones, Kansas, Sara Evans, Little Big Town, 38 Special, Keith Anderson, Jason Michael Carroll, Blake Shelton, Blue County, The Wreckers, Cowboy Crush and Jason Aldean

2006

• Pat Benatar, Buddy Guy, Cheap Trick, Ted Nugent, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Richard Elliot, John Lee Hooker, Jr., Buckwheat Zydeco, Reggie Sears

2005

• Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, John Waite, Bad English, Julie Roberts, Sonny Landreth, Robert Cray and Lonnie Brooks and the Brooks Family Band

2004

• Tesla, The Allman Brothers Band, The Charlie Daniels Band, Tab Benoit, Cowboy Mouth

References

1. Garrigan, Mike (2022-09-05). "Remembering On The Waterfront: ten years later". 23WIFR. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
2. Braun, Georgette. "Register Star Exclusive: On the Waterfront festival ends its run". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
3. "10 years later: What happened to Rockford's On the Waterfront festival?". MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. 2022-09-03. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
4. Braun, Georgette. "Country star to headline On the Waterfront". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
5. Braun, Georgette. "On the Waterfront acts, prices unveiled". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved 2024-05-10.

42°15′34″N 89°03′52″W