KISS founder Gene Simmons to host Grand Forks classic rock festival

The Titans of Rock music festival begins with its first festival in Grand Forks this summer.

Rock icon Gene Simmons, co-founder of KISS, recently announced his partnership with Canadian-based rock festival producer Chuck Variabioff to create the Titans of Rock classic rock festival series.

A release by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association says the first festival in the series happens in Grand Forks on Aug. 6 to 8, 2020, with a preliminary lineup that includes legendary rock artists from Canada and the U.S.

Tickets are $150 per day or $300 for the weekend, with several VIP packages available.

The action takes place at James Donaldson Park in Grand Forks.

The festival, formerly known as the CannaFest Music Festival, has featured such entertainers as Gene Simmons Band, Whitesnake, Bret Michaels, Vince Neil, Burton Cummings, Randy Bachman, Loverboy, Tom Cochrane, April Wine and others.

This year's lineup has yet to be announced.

“I have been working on the Titans of Rock concept for many years,” Simmons says. “Our goal is to provide classic rock fans with a one-of-a-kind, immersive three-day experience featuring legendary names in a venue where they can celebrate their love of rock with other fans.”

Simmons says the Titans of Rock festival will offer fans “something they can’t find anywhere else.”

Simmons plans to personally host the first festival in Grand Forks, where RV parking, camping and other accommodations will be available, along with a broad range of vendors providing food, drinks and retail products.

A percentage of proceeds will be donated to local charities, and a collectible car will be auctioned off to raise funds for affordable housing in the Thompson and Cariboo-Chilcotin regions.

More information and an opportunity to purchase tickets can be found at the Titans of Rock website.

– This story was updated at 1 p.m. Feb. 25 to correct information regarding this year's festival line up.

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