First event of its kind kicks off in London this weekend!
A fresh take on fan convention kicks off in London with the inaugural Rock’n’Con, set to take place at the London Music Hall over the weekend of June 8 to 10th. Rock’n’Con is proudly presented by London Guitars.
Dee Snider about being a part of the first ever event ‘This is unique..this one convention is combining actual rocking with actual ‘conning’ (attending conventions) ..there will be really iconic people there. This is going to be a really unique moment and unique experience.’ Dee added ‘Really looking forward to Rock’n’Con. Here we get to meet the people that enjoy our music, enjoy our shows and you literally get to shake hands with them and talk to them for a minute and it’s a cool thing for the artists as well as the fans.’
For many years, fans of comic books, sci-fi and pop culture have had entire weekends dedicated to the celebration of their favourite characters and creators. Now, the team behind the ever-growing London Comic Con have envisioned an outlet for music fans to have that same all-encompassing experience to celebrate the many elements that make people such dedicated fans of their favourite music.
Attendees who enter the convention floor, open both Saturday and Sunday, can expect live content curated specifically for the music fanatic and presented by those deep in the grooves of the music industry. On hand for these discussions, all included with admission, will be Eric Alper – the ‘go-to’ guy for music correspondence in Canada with over 1 million fans and followers on social media and a rich history of working with the likes of Bob Geldoff, Slash and Snoop Dogg to name a few.
Also during the weekend expect to find Michael Barclay, Best selling author of ‘The Never-Ending Present: The Story of Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip’ as he engages fans with a live reading and answers audience questions. Martin Popoff will present over the course of the event, also hosting an in-depth discussion on the evolution of heavy metal, discussing the merits of arguably the most beloved – and maligned – genre of music in history. Martin is an author of dozens of music history books, contributing writer to many hard rock publications and unofficially the man who on record has reviewed more albums than anyone in the world.
With the inclusion of Celebrity Guests at Rock’N’Con take centre stage at the show, it provides fans the rare opportunity to be within reach of their favourite rockers to exchange salutations, ask questions, and add an autograph on their prized record which can be acquired at the guest’s signing booth. A professional photographer is also on hand for those who wish to get a studio quality photo with the celebrity guests.
In attendance will be iconic singer Dee Snider, KISS co-founder Peter Criss, guitar Queen Lita Ford, members of the almighty GWAR, as well as appearances from Canadian rock hero Danko Jones and thrash metal legends Razor. The Celebrity rock stars will be meeting with fans face to face over the weekend and will be participating in live Q&A sessions where fans can hear intimate stories about their kickin’ careers.
Attendees will also see the next generation of rock legends as teenage music prodigy and Stratford native Owen Davey will be performing live during the convention on Sunday. Owen has made waves online with his music videos that showcase him covering songs by bands like Rush and Metallica. In the videos, Owen plays every instrument with a professional mix and the polish of a veteran rocker. His videos have caught the attention of those in the music industry and he has become the youngest person ever to be sponsored by a guitar company. Just recently, the world renowned band Tool loved Owen’s video of their songs so much that they posted it on their official social media pages.
Also represented at the convention will be the hottest up and coming rock bands including Diemonds, Hiroshima Hearts, Legal Kill, Legendary Klopek and indie label Forest City Records. Do yourself a favour and stop by their table to meet them and score a copy of their album that you crank up and rock out to when you get home.
The Jack Richardson Music Hall of Fame will also be open during all convention hours to Rock’n’Con attendees. A special tribute to KISS has been curated at the Hall of Fame for Rock’n’Con weekend which features items from Nick Panaseiko Sr.personal collection of KISS’ historic journey into London at the start what would become the legacy of KISS.
And like at any convention there will be unique vendors selling their goods for that appeal to the rock’n’roll mentality. Expect to find everything from new and used vinyl, band merchandise, kickin’ kids and adult clothing both from merchants and designers, vintage guitars and musician accessories, music collectibles, band posters and artwork, tattoo artists, indie record labels and even rock-themed pinball machines.
The convention weekend is punctuated with two fantastic night time concerts.
On Friday fans can catch two of London’s newest hot bands, Legal Kill and Hiroshima Hearts, opening for Ontario punk rock legends the Legendary Klopeks. The Klopeks are regarded as having the wildest stage show of any punk band in the late 2000s and now- for one time only- they are reuniting to perform for what could be their final performance – only at Rock’n’Con!
Saturday evening at Rum Runners, the Night of Legends concert will feature Rock’n’Con guests Dee Snider and Lita Ford performing hit songs with a house band comprised of some of London own legendary musicians for a once in a lifetime concert experience. The evening will also feature performances by Morgan Lander, a Londoner and singer of mega popular metal band Kittie, and Priya Panda, singer of Toronto rock mainstays Diemonds. Also performing a full set are Canadian thrash metal legends Razor, who over their 30+ year career have played the world over. London’s own Bob (Bobnoxious) Reid fronts Razor with original guitarist Dave Carlo, original bass player Mike Campagnolo, and drummer Rider Johnson.
This is the weekend to rock them all!
Show Dates: June 8 & 10, 2018
Friday Concert: Doors at 8pm, show starts at 8:45pm
Saturday Concert: Doors at 8pm, Show starts at 8:45pm
Convention: Saturday-11am-7pm, Sunday-11am-5pm
Venue: London Music Hall – 185 Queens Ave, London, ON N6A 1G7
Tickets are on sale for Rock ‘n’ Con starting at just $28 for a day pass. Ticket will be $30 at the door.
For tickets visit www.rockncon.com or visit London Music Hall box office during operating hours.
VIP Concert Packages are sold out.
