Montebello rock fest pledges to clean up act with changes
Amnesia Rockfest called 'chaotic' mess last year with problems of overcrowding, littering
Organizers of the Amnesia RockFest — a music festival held in Montebello, Que. — have pledged to prevent the “chaotic” mess that plagued last year’s event.
The festival will be held for the ninth time on June 20 and 21.
Amnesia RockFest has announced the Festival d’été de Quebec will take over the production and logistics of the event through its company 3-E (event-experience-emotion).
The festival, which attracts thousands of people with a lineup of heavy metal and punk-rock bands, also hired a field co-ordinator who has experience at Ottawa’s Bluesfest, Folkfest and Race Weekend.
Other key changes announced Wednesday include:
- Mailing bracelets, equipped with a chip, to patrons ahead of time.
- Extending the grounds.
- Improving sanitation (toilets, water, garbage cans, cleaning).
- Having two entrances/exits instead of one.
- Restructuring parking lots and shuttle system.
Last year’s performers included Alice Cooper, Rise Against, Marilyn Manson, The Offspring and Deftones, but the festival also featured complaints of long lines, overcrowding and littering.
One person even started an online petition immediately after last year’s festival, which gathered more than 400 signatures and called on organizers to improve the event.
This year’s event has unveiled just one band so far: NOFX, a California punk-rock band. The lineup will be announced at the end of winter, which is also when tickets will go on sale, the festival announced.