Start.ca Rocks the Park, formerly known as Hawk Rocks the Park, is an annual music concert held at Harris Park in London, Ontario, Canada. From 2004 to 2008 it was primarily a classic rock concert sponsored by radio station "103.9 The Hawk". In 2010, the three-day concert was sponsored by three radio stations: 98.1 Free FM, FM96 and country music station BX93. For the first 12 years, the purpose of the event was to raise money for "Bethany's Hope Foundation" for MLD Research, which raised over $2.2 million. Since 2016, Rock the Park has teamed up with the following charities: Big Brothers Big Sisters of London and Area, Make-A-Wish Southwestern Ontario and Children's Health Foundation, while also supporting Western Mustangs Football. 2019 they rebranded the name to Start.ca Rocks the Park with their partnership with Start.ca
Rock the Park I
The first Rock the Park was held July 22–24 in 2004. Its main function was to raise money for Bethany's Hope Foundation and it raised more than $110,000. It featured several musical groups: Thursday, July 22
The second edition of Rock the Park was held over four days during July 21–24, 2005. Due to the success of the first concert, this second one was expanded to four days, during which over 40,000 Rock fans attended. It featured: Thursday, July 21
One of the announced bands was supposed to be Boston. The announcement was postponed after the death of Brad Delp. Subsequently, all of Boston's plans for touring, including Hawk Rocks the Park, were cancelled.
Hawk Rocks the Park 5
Rock the Park 5 ran from July 23 to July 26, 2008. Wednesday, July 23
Rock the Park 2009 was held July 23–25, 2009. This marked the first time Rock the Park was not fully put on by The Hawk. Instead it was put on by two other major London radio stations as well. July 23 was presented by FM96, July 24 by BX93, and July 25 by The Hawk. Thursday, July 23
Rock the Park 2010 was held from July 22–24, 2010. It was presented by Bob FM. Approximately $1 million was raised for the Bethany's Hope Foundation. Thursday, July 22
The 2011 edition of Rock the Park took place over three days in July 2011. That year's sponsors included FM 96, 103.1 Fresh FM, 103.9 Greatest Hits FM and AM980, among others. Thursday, July 21
Rock the Park XI took place July 24–26, 2014. A new event, the Gone Country Music Festival, sponsored by radio station BX93, was held at Harris Park on Wednesday, July 23, 2014. Wednesday July 23, 2014 – Gone Country Music Festival
Rock the Park XII took place July 14–18, 2015. Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Train
Gin Blossoms
Fastball
The Rembrandts
Matt Nathanson
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 – Gone Country
Keith Urban
Dallas Smith
Jess Moskaluke
Maddie and Tae
Thursday, July 16, 2015 – Gone Country
Lee Brice
Thomas Rhett
Joe Nichols
Chad Brownlee
Friday, July 17, 2015
Arkells
Mother Mother
Tokyo Police Club
Brave Shores
Born Ruffians
Young Empires
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Billy Talent
Rise Against
Killswitch Engage
Gaslight Anthem
Heart Attack Kids
Rock the Park 2016
Rock the Park 2016 took place July 13–16, 2016 Wednesday, July 13, 2016 – Gone Country
Jake Owen
Dallas Smith
High Valley
Old Dominion
Thursday, July 14, 2016 – Gone Country
Brad Paisley
Tim Hicks
Autumn Hill
River Town Saints
Friday, July 15, 2016
Flo Rida
Nelly
Classified
Ria Mae
Saturday, July 16, 2016
City and Colour
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Awolnation
The Zolas
Ivory Hours
Rock the Park 2017
Rock the Park 2017 took place July 12–16, 2017. On April 10, 2017 it was announced that another night, Sunday, July 16, was added to the festival. Wednesday, July 12, 2017 – BX93’s Gone Country Presents:
Friday, July 12, 2019: 97.5 Virgin Radio Presents:
Snoop Dogg
Shaggy
Ma$e
Ginuwine
Tone Loc
Saturday, July 13, 2019: 97.5 Virgin Radio Presents: On Monday July 8, 2019, due to travel situations, the set order was changed. As a result, the headline act, Pitbull, opened the show, followed by T-Pain and finally Flo Rida.
Pitbull
Flo Rida
T-Pain
Start.ca Rocks the Park 2020
Start.ca Rocks the Park 2020 was to have taken place July 15–18, 2020. On April 27, 2020, festival organizers announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival had been postponed for one year until 2021. Due to scheduling conflicts, various artists could not be reconfirmed for two of the postponed dates. As a result, the artists who were to perform on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 and Saturday, July 18th, 2020 had been cancelled. Wednesday, July 15, 2020 – FM96 and 103.1 Fresh FM Present: CANCELLED
Jack Johnson
Vance Joy
TBA
Andy Shauf
Thursday, July 16, 2020 – FM96 Presents: POSTPONED To Thursday July 15, 2021
