Shorter, smaller, muddier: Pared-down rock festival returns to Montebello

The annual rock festival that descended on Montebello, Que., on the weekend was shorter, smaller and a good deal muddier than in years past, garnering mixed reviews from concertgoers and residents alike.

The two day, 25-act Montebello Rock even the name has been abridged replacesMontebello Rockfest, whose promoter declared bankruptcy last year.

• Montebello Rockfest declares bankruptcy

This year'sheadliners,MXPX and Black Flag, were lower-profile than in years past, when acts such as blink182, Iggy Pop and the Wu-Tang Clan attracted big crowds tothe sleepy western Quebec community.

Rain on both Friday and Saturday turned the site north of the village into a mud pit.

Rain or shine, Montebello Rock still a hit for some

5 years ago

Duration 0:35

Despite terrible weather, some Montebello Rock concertgoers say they'll be back next year.

"I tried to be prepared, I brought changes of clothes and it was not enough," Marc Brodeur, who was taking in his fourth Montebello festival, told Radio-Canada in French.

"We were all disgusting. There was almost a foot of mud in some places."

Alex Martel, who founded Rockfest and worked to restructure it, said it was the worst weather in the event's 14-year history, but wouldn't let that dampen his optimism for the festival's future.

"I feel like it's the beginning of something," he said Sunday.

Some local businesses complained about having fewer customers this year.

"I was expecting maybe 50 per cent of last year's traffic, [I got] maybe 10 to 20 per cent of it," saidChristian Thriault, owner of the Valentine food truck.

In previous years, there had also been complaints from the communityof about 1,000 regardingthe crowds, noise and mess Rockfestbrought to the village, so some preferred the pared-down version.

"It was better because the main street wasn't blocked, so we could still have our regular customers and tourists," saidAlain Larivire of Les Brasseurs de Montebellopub and brewery.

Everyone who spoke to Radio-Canada on Sunday said they hoped the festival would return.

Martel said he wants to look at the finances before confirming that, but said he believes Montebello Rock will be back.