Rock Lotto returning for second gig

Havre Daily News staff

After a highly popular and successful trial run at last year’s Festival Days, Montana State University-Northern’s radio station, KNMC, is hosting its second Rock Lotto, with the drawing to create bands just around the corner.

Dave Martens Jr., who acts as associate producer of the event with fellow KNMC disc jockey Rick Linie, said the drawing will be held at next week’s Sounds on the Square Wednesday, with the performances Saturday, Sept. 16, during Festival Days.

KNMC rock lotto is an event in which local musicians put their name in a hat and are randomly placed into bands for a one-ime only performance — although some bands from last year’s event have done some more performances together since, including Stevie Nixon that now is actively performing.

In Rock Lotto, musicians typically sign up for one category: vocals, guitar, bass, drums, keyboards or “other.” Once the bands have been assembled, a subsequent drawing is held in order to assign songs for each of the bands to learn. Bands typically have five to six weeks to learn their songs and rehearse for their performance.  

The signup sheet is available down at the Bear Paw Meats store until next Wednesday.

Martens said the event was a huge success last year, with some 400 to 500 people attending and 20 musicians signing up and creating four bands for the lotto.

The event is sponsored by KNMC, with Vic’s Place catering the cash bar and the organizers still working on finding some food vendors, Martens said.