Ely’s fifth annual Rock the Park includes a bit of nostalgia.
The concert at Whiteside Park has quickly become a staple of the summer in its brief history. This year’s event is slated for Friday, July 3.
Three musical acts have been signed for the event, including one that will bring back memories of Ely’s band and bar scene decades ago.
The Whiskey River Band, known for its performances at the former Cranberry’s on Sheridan Street, is set to perform at 6:30 p.m., and serves as the middle act between Honkytonks and Hangovers, and Aftershock.
While organizers are touting all three acts, the Whiskey River Band may bring back the most memories for seasoned Elyites.
“This band has been a crowd favorite for decades,” said Rob Wilmunen of the Ely Events Group. “Whiskey River Band was pretty much the house band at Cranberry’s in Ely, which is the Boathouse now, in the 70s and 80s. This band is still successfully performing today all over the upper Midwest and will bring lots of joy and memories to the Ely area.”
The Whiskey River Band’s history is a storied one, including tours of 19 states, packing ballrooms with stops at the famed Palomino Club in Los Angeles and City Limits in New York City.
They released albums in 1978 and 1980 and appeared with the Charlie Daniels Band, Oak Ridge Boys, Tanya Tucker and Hank Williams Jr., among others.
The idea to reform Whiskey River was sparked when a few surviving members were asked to do reunion shows and shared the stage with the lines of Paulette Carlson, Sara Evans and Dierks Bentley.
The lineup includes alumni Dave Waggoner, Norm Steffen and Danny Naslund along with new members.
Steffen recalled the band’s late-1970s stops in Ely, saying “we performed all over the Northland, but it was always Cranberry’s in Ely.”
Before the Whiskey River Band takes the stage, those at Rock the Park will be entertained by Honkytonks and Hangovers, which is making an encore Rock the Park appearance.
“Willy Martin and his band played Rock the Park in 2024 as part of our All-Class reunion events,” said Wilmunen. “We have gotten numerous requests to get them back. The premier hard-core country band of northeastern Minnesota will get the park goers toe tapping and singing right away at 4 p.m.”
Closing out the evening, starting at 9 p.m., will be the band Aftershock.
“This crowd favorite band brings high energy and fun - playing your favorite 80s rock, 90s pop and country,” said Wilmunen. “Aftershock has a large following in the Duluth area and we welcome all Aftershock fans to the Ely area.”
Rock the Park continues the tradition of “Family, Friends and Fun” and is another of a series of happenings put on by the Ely Events Group.
Working with Zup’s, YoungLife, Ely Fireman’s Relief Fund and area food vendors, the Ely Events Group is coordinating another fun weekend celebrating the Fourth of July weekend in town.
Ely’s annual Fourth of July parade follows the next day, Saturday, July 4, at 1 p.m.
Started in 2022 by the fledgling Ely Events Group, in part to mimic ‘street dance’ celebrations that take place elsewhere on the Iron Range, Rock the Park has quickly expanded and taken on a life of its own.
Both the 2022 and 2023 events included two musical acts, while 2024 brought expansion in a pair of ways. Not only was the concert expanded to include three performers, Rock the Park was held twice that year because of the Ely High School All-Class Reunion.
