Two Langley groups will be rockin’ it at Merritt Rockin’ River Fest next week, vowing to unveil some “wicked” new tunes and party hard with all music lovers travelling to the B.C. Interior for the four-day festival.
The Gillespie sisters, Robyn & Ryleigh, will be helping get participants in the mood when they take to the main stage late Friday afternoon.
And Me & Mae, featuring band founder and lead singer Shawn Meehan of Walnut Grove, take their turn on Saturday, sandwiched in for a 45-minute set between country superstars High Valley and Sam Hunt.
Meehan promises some “new songs and a few surprises,” when his Langley-based country band hits the stage, noting this is their first time playing in Merritt, but their second time at Rockin’ River.
Admittedly, Meehan said he and his group won’t be in Merritt for the entire weekend. They’ve been invited to kick it with fellow Langleyite Dallas Smith on Vancouver Island Friday night, and jumped at the chance.
They open for Smith at Sun Fest in the Cowichan Valley Friday night before hitting the road and heading to Merritt.
“It’s an honour to be part of this great country music community in B.C.,” Meehan said.
Me & Mae has been working on new music and hopes to give folks a little taste at Merritt.
They’ve also been playing several other shows in Western Canada this summer and are working on plans to head south in 2017.
Likewise, Robyn & Ryleigh are hoping to head State-side soon. They’re wanting to go back to Nashville to do some more writing.
In the meantime, they’ll be travelling to Alberta for a few shows – including Calgary’s Country Thunder – then heading off to Ontario in September for the Canadian Country Music Awards. And, in between all that, they’ll be in Osoyoos to film a music video for their upcoming single Rock Star at the new Area 27 Formula One ractrack opening there this fall.
“We have some really fun, exciting things coming up,” Ryleigh said.
Among many of their other songs, Robyn & Ryleigh are expecting to perform the soon-to-be-released single during their Merritt set at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 29.
“You know it’s just super exciting,” Ryleigh said.
“We are so happy to be able to play our music on the same stage as some amazing artists that we have looked up to for years. There are so many talented musicians booked for this year, we are very grateful to be a part of it. Rockin River Fest gets bigger and better every year!”
The Merritt Rockin’ River Fest is held over four days (July 28 to 31) and features three stages and more than 20 artists performing throughout the event.
For tickets to the festival, visit: rockinriverfest.com/tickets.
For more information about the talent contest, visit: roadtoriverfest.com.
