LITTLE CURRENT—Craig and Kelly (KT) Timmermans have announced they are reluctantly cancelling the two signature Island music festivals they founded due to personal health issues. Manitoulin Country Fest (MCF) and Rockin’ the Rock (RTR) have been cancelled “permanently.”
Ms. Timmermans spoke to The Expositor on Sunday, prior to the issuing of a press release on Monday.
“We are devastated,” said Ms. Timmermans, but she noted that a recent health scare has forced the couple to re-evaluate priorities. “You only get one chance at life,” she said, “our health needs to be first and foremost.”
The couple did not make the decision to close the events lightly, nonetheless.
“We worked extensively with a team to take the events over but that didn’t work out,” said Ms. Timmermans. “We simply don’t have anyone who could take over the events and after much careful consideration, this was really our only option.”
Ms. Timmermans explained that the group they were working with could not find a pathway to dealing with the logistical challenges of overseeing an event located so far from their home base. “It is very disappointing as we would love to see the legacy of these important summer festivals continue on Manitoulin,” said the festival’s co-founder. “We understand the benefits these events had for the Island business community as well as music fans.”
“We cannot even begin to express our level of thanks for our staff and our friends, our incredible volunteers, Manitoulin Transport, Denise at Little Current’s Anchor Inn and the corporate sponsors who supported us over the years, the artists who made the journey to come here and, of course, our patrons,” said Ms. Timmermans.
“We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Mantha, Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes and the provincial and federal governments who supported our events over the years,” she said. “We only hope both the provincial and federal governments will realize the importance of supporting events in Northern Ontario.”
“MCF started in 2007 at Low Island Park in Little Current as a one-day event,” said Ms. Timmermans. MCF eventually moved to its permanent home on Flat Rock Entertainment Centre in 2012 as a three-day event where it would go on to draw thousands of people into Little Current and Manitoulin daily, she recalled. “Over the years, some of the artists gracing the stage included Paul Brandt, Terri Clark, George Canyon, Dallas Smith, Blue Rodeo, Tom Cochrane, High Valley, Brett Kissel, Billy Ray Cyrus, Kelli Pickler, Lonestar, Joe Nichols, Lee Brice, Tanya Tucker, Dwight Yoakum, Clay Walker and so many more.”
“RTR was launched in 2018 as a two-day classic rock concert and also attracted thousands of dedicated rock fans to Little Current and the Island,” continued Ms. Timmermans. “Some of the amazing talent taking the stage included Honeymoon Suite, Haywire, Saga, Big Wreck, Streetheart, and Hall of Fame inductees, Trooper, just to name a few.”
“We set out in 2007 to see incredible talent on Manitoulin and we can safely say, we did that,” said Ms. Timmermans. “We had a great 17-year run.”
Ticket refunds can be obtained directly through Eventbrite at eventbrite.ca. For refunds on camping, those with permits are requested to email info@manitoulincountryfest.com by June 1, 2024. Refunds for camping will be processed by e-transfer directly. The organizers request patrons’ patience as it is anticipated it will be a very busy time processing refunds. The organizers request no phone calls—emails only.
