Rock-A-Palooza is going to be one very loud five-year anniversary show and that is music to the ears of promoter Phil Heels.
The Foxx Lounge will be rocking tonight with the annual Rock-A-Palooza, which is having it’s fifth show and promoter Heels is hoping everyone comes out for the party.
“Rock-A-Palooza is an annual celebration show of 53rd and 3rd and is always very fan friendly and for the people,” said Heels. “Usually it is five or more bands in different genres, though they are all rock and it is $5 a show. For the price of a coffee or two you get to check out artists or bands who are playing for the love of music.”
The show this Saturday is a mix of country, folk, acoustic, pop punk rock and rockabilly which Heels says if you are not familiar with rockabilly just picture sped up '50s music.
Heels may be celebrating five years at the head of 53rd and 3rd Promotions, but he’s been involved with the scene longer than that.
“The first thing I ever promoted was in 1996 and it was a rave for company here in Barrie,” said Heels. “I was sitting at Second Cup in Toronto at Queen and John and a guy came up and asked if I wanted to help promote a show; no pay, of course, but lots of free incentives.
"I always found it funny that I left my hometown to go to the big city of Toronto and got involved with a passion of mine through a chance meeting with someone who owned a business back here in Barrie," he added.
After doing the promotions gig for three years and admittedly getting caught up in a downward spiral from being in that scene, Heels headed home to Barrie and stayed out of events for a while but helped with different local charities. His love for the music scene brought him back to the music industry when he helped promote local shows that were headlined by Method Man and Raekwon until someone asked him why he wasn’t promoting his own shows.
“It was a real eye-opener and I realized that I could absolutely do that and I really wanted to do that,” said Heels. “Since then I’ve been promoting from Newmarket, Alliston, Orillia, Toronto and about eight venues here in Barrie so it is definitely working and I love it, though it can be stressful until the shows are done.”
The 53rd and 3rd company also lends a hand to promoting Theatre By The Bay with poster distribution and social-media assistance and the local theatre company has sold out their last few shows easily.
Heels has always had a love for the punk rock scene and always will no matter what shows he is helping with and that is evident in the name of his company.
The name 53rd and 3rd comes from a Ramones song where Dee Dee allegedly was a male hustler, as it was a spot known for male prostitution,” said Heels. “I knew I wanted a Ramones reference because I love the Ramones and the idea of the song is about hustling on the streets. Now, obviously the difference is I’m hustling shows and getting posters out and all, but again I just love the Ramones so it worked.”
The fifth annual Rock-A-Palooza takes place Saturday, Nov. 3 at The Foxx Lounge at 16 Dunlop St. E. The show starts at 9 p.m. and a $5 cover charge will allow you to see all five acts from Tori Hathaway, Nothing Serious, The DropUps, The Noolands and Evil Elvis.
