Rockfest, once hyped as the biggest rock music festival in Canada, is emerging from bankruptcy this summer with a new name.
Montebello Rock is scheduled for June 14 and 15 at the same site on the shore of the Ottawa River. Founder Alex Martel said this week he is reducing the number of tickets sold in hopes of bringing the festival back to its roots.
Although the line-up won’t be announced until March, early-bird passes priced at $69 go on sale Thursday at noon. The festival promises 30 bands on two stages.
Last June, saddled with $5 million in debt, Rockfest filed for insolvency protection. In December, it filed for bankruptcy.
Martel was just 17 when he founded Rockfest in 2005. Last year’s edition featured acts like Weezer, Five Finger Death Punch, Stone Temple Pilots and Prophets of Rage.