When motorcycles descend upon the city of Hollister this weekend, the town will be ready – a contrast to the first gathering years ago when bikers caught the area by surprise and, according to folklore, left beer bottles and chaos in their wake.
Changes this year include expanding the rally from two days to three and cutting the event’s official Miss Hollister competition.
“This is a music festival – music and motorcycle stuff – so we’re really emphasizing filling the stages full of bands, ” said Rally Director Mark Cresswell.
The rally-sanctioned Miss Hollister competition was cut from the program this year after the city authorized a third day of rally events to take place at the Veterans Memorial Building on Friday, July 4, the same day that veterans groups planned to use the hall for patriotic activities.
“We did that (competition) last year when it was inside the veterans hall but we haven’t got time to do it on the stage this year,” Cresswell said.
As part of the compromise between the groups, the rally will use the front courtyard and some of the building’s interior, while veterans will use the annex and kitchen area.
The event’s three outdoor stages will host more than 30 bands. The lineup includes tribute bands such as Liquid Sky, which replicates the sound of Jimi Hendrix, and Hammerdown, which mimics the music of Judas Priest. The list of entertainers includes at least three female tribute bands: The Hormones, which recreate the punk rock sound of the Ramones; Cruella, which celebrate the heavy metal music of the Motley Crue; and The Killer Queens, which sing in the style of the British rock band, Queen.
Last year’s event attracted crowds of tens of thousands of visitors. Cresswell can’t guarantee the same numbers for this event, but he’s preparing for them.
“We’ll be ready for them if they do come back. We’ll pretty much have more of the same as last year – lots of vendors, lots of bands, more food,” he said. “The whole event is a good time so we’ll have more of a good time.”
For more information, check the Hollister Motorcycle Rally’s official website: thehollisterrally.com.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday July 4
Playing on the 7th Street Stage
11 a.m. TBA*
12:30 p.m. Bandorama
2:20 p.m. ONOFF
4 p.m. Liquid Sky – Jimi Hendrix tribute
5:30 p.m. Rocklyn
7 p.m. Chicano All Stars Band
Playing on the 4th Street Stage
11 a.m. FORA
12:30 p.m. The S.J Sindicate
1:15 p.m. Hammerdown – Judas Priest tribute
2:15 p.m. Bros Yates
5 p.m. Red Glare
6:30 p.m. Full Throttle Band
Playing on the East Street Stage
11 a.m. TBA*
12:30 p.m. Rippin
2 p.m. Swamphammer
3:30 p.m. dog House Band
5 p.m. John Michael Band
Other activities:
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Rally vendors, food court and outside bars are open
9:15 p.m. Fireworks at Maze Middle School
Saturday July 5
Playing on the 7th Street Stage
11 a.m. The Hormones – Female Ramones tribute
12:40 p.m. Touch’d Too Much – AC/DC tribute
2:20 p.m. Steel Horse – Bon Jovi tribute
4 p.m. Jett Black – Joan Jett tribute
5:40 p.m. Cruella – Female Motley Crue tribute
7:20 p.m. Urgent – Foreigner tribute
Playing on the 4th Street Stage
11 a.m. Vital Sign
12:30 p.m. Jake Nielsen’s Triple Threat
2 p.m. Restrayned
3.30 p.m. Wicked Fools
5 p.m. Full Throttle Band
6:30 p.m. Gypsy Flight
Playing on the East Street Stage
11 a.m. Zed
12:30 p.m. Freight Train
2 p.m. Gillbiliies
3:30 p.m. TBA*
5 p.m. Moondance
6.30 p.m. Direct Divide
Other activities:
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Registration for the Top Hatters Motorcycle Club 67th Annual Poker Run. Participants pay $20 for a run pin and a tri-tip meal at a destination about 50 miles away.
Sunday July 6
Playing on the 7th Street Stage
12:30 p.m. The Killer Queens
Playing on the 4th Street Stage
11 a.m. Cadillac Jack
2 p.m. Gundacker Project
Playing on the East Street Stage
11 a.m. Randy Hansen
12:30 p.m. The Lightfighters
2 p.m. Never Dull Band
Other activities:
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rally vendors, food court and outside bars are open
*The names of these bands were not available by press time.
