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| Rock Boat | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Indie rock,jam bands,pop music,Americana,bluegrass,country,folk,alternative rock |
| Dates | Various |
| Locations | Various;Norwegian Cruise Line;Carnival Cruise Lines |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Website | rockboat |
The Rock Boat is an annualrock music-themed "floatingmusic festival at sea" aboard acruise ship. It takes place in different locations each cruise, with several dozen bands performing in each cruise.[1]
The Rock Boat concept was born in 2001 with a joint venture fromGainesville, Floridaalternative rock bandSister Hazel andAtlanta,Georgia travel company Sixthman in a partial charter aboard theCarnival Jubilee. Sister Hazel was joined by the bandDexter Freebish and approximately 400 of their fans. The bands performed once on the ship, which sailed fromTampa, Florida toCozumel, Mexico.
The concept has grown to become an annual event. Destinations have included locations such as Mexico,Nassau, Bahamas, Jamaica, andTurks and Caicos. The event is always hosted by Sister Hazel and includes musicians from all over the nation.[1] Past performers include:Tonic,Red Wanting Blue,Carbon Leaf,Gaelic Storm,Collective Soul,Cowboy Mouth,Pat McGee Band,Zac Brown Band,Michael Tolcher,Vertical Horizon,David Ryan Harris,Ingram Hill,Better Than Ezra,Marc Broussard,Wideawake,Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers,NEEDTOBREATHE,Matt Nathanson, and many more. There are generally four or five performing stages constructed on the venue, and performances are scheduled from noon until 3 AM.[1] However, many bands have been known to continue performing well beyond their scheduled set times and often collaborate on stage with other artists until dawn.
The cruise has been described by Ken Block (lead singer and guitarist for Sister Hazel) as "Spring Break for people with jobs".
Ship:Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: January 29, 2026(for 7 days)
Ports: Leaving fromMiami, Florida toSint Maarten andSan Juan, Puerto Rico
Performing Artists:[2]
Artists who were announced but withdrew for any reason:
* stowaway artists
† soundcheck artist winners
‡ collaboration between the Meaghan Farrell and Megan Slankard
Ship:Norwegian Cruise Line Gem
Sail Date: January 26, 2025
Ports: Leaving fromMiami, Florida toHarvest Caye, Belize andRoatán, Honduras
Performing Artists:[2]
* stowaway artists
† soundcheck artist winners
Ship:Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: January 30, 2024
Ports: Leaving fromMiami, Florida toKey West, Florida andCosta Maya, Mexico
(Original Destinations:Great Stirrup Cay,Bahamas andCosta Maya, Mexico)
Performing Artists:[2]
* stowaway artists
† soundcheck artist winners
Ship:Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: January 23, 2023
Ports: Leaving fromMiami, Florida toPuerto Plata, Dominican Republic andNassau, Bahamas
Performing Artists:[2]
* stowaway artists
† soundcheck artist winners
Ship:Norwegian Cruise Line Gem
Sail Date: November 7, 2021
Ports: Leaving fromMiami,Florida toGreat Stirrup Cay,Bahamas andOcho Rios, Jamaica
(Original sailing was postponed due to Covid-19)
(Original Sail Date: January 27, 2021)
(Original Destinations:Ocho Rios, Jamaica andGeorgetown, Grand Cayman)
Performing Artists:[2]
Artists who were announced but withdrew for any reason:
* stowaway artists
† soundcheck artist winners
Ship:Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: January 24, 2020
Ports: Leaving fromMiami, Florida toHarvest Caye, Belize andRoatán, Honduras
Performing Artists:[2]
* stowaway artists
† The Kin departed early due to family bereavement
‡ on board with Amy Gerhartz but did one solo show
$ soundcheck artist winners
Ship:Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: February 1, 2019
Ports: Leaving fromTampa, Florida toKey West andNassau, Bahamas
Performing Artists:[2]
* stowaway artists
† dropped out due to illness
‡ soundcheck artist winners
Ship:Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: January 30, 2018
Ports: Leaving fromNew Orleans, Louisiana toProgreso, Mexico andCozumel, Mexico
Performing Artists:[2]
* stowaway artists
† soundcheck artist winners
Ship:Norwegian Cruise Line Jade
Sail Date: February 10, 2017
Ports: Leaving fromTampa, Florida toHarvest Caye, Belize andCosta Maya, Mexico
Performing Artists:[2]
* married couple, dropped out due to pregnancy
** replaced Andy Grammer - but also dropped out due to pregnancy
† on board with Amy Gerhartz but did one solo show
‡ last minute replacement for Walk off the Earth
$ soundcheck artist winners
Ship:Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: January 26, 2016
Ports: Leaving fromMiami, Florida toCosta Maya, Mexico andGrand Cayman
Performing Artists:[2]
† soundcheck artist winners
Ship:Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: January 24, 2015
Ports: Leaving fromMiami, Florida toCozumel, Mexico
Performing Artists:[2]
†soundcheck artist winners
Ship:Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: February 22, 2014
Ports: Leaving fromMiami, Florida toGreat Stirrup Cay,Bahamas
Performing Artists:[2]
† not officially in the lineup but did one solo show
Ship:Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: February 24, 2013
Ports: Leaving fromMiami, Florida toGreat Stirrup Cay,Bahamas
Performing Artists:[2]
Ship:Carnival Elation
Sail Date: March 1, 2012
Ports: Leaving fromNew Orleans, Louisiana toCozumel, Mexico
Performing Artists:[2]
Ship:Carnival Inspiration
Sail Date: January 6, 2011
Ports: Leaving fromTampa, Florida toCosta Maya, Mexico (port unknown prior to sailing)
Performing Artists:
Ship:Carnival Inspiration
Sail Date: January 7, 2010
Ports: Leaving fromTampa, Florida toCozumel, Mexico
Performing Artists:
Ship:Carnival Destiny
Sail Date: January 17, 2009
Ports: Leaving fromMiami,Florida toNassau, Bahamas andHalf Moon Cay
Performing Artists:
Ship:Carnival Imagination
Sail Date: January 19, 2008
Ports: Leaving fromMiami,Florida toOcho Rios, Jamaica andGeorgetown, Grand Cayman
Performing Artists:
* Un-announced artists who played at least one show
Ship: Carnival Legend
Sail Date: January 11, 2007
Ports: Leaving fromFort Lauderdale, Florida toGrand Turk,Turks and Caicos
Performing Artists:
Ship:Carnival Elation
Sail Date: January 14, 2006
Ports: Leaving fromGalveston, Texas toPlaya del Carmen and Progresso, Mexico
Performing Artists:
Canceled due toHurricane Katrina*
Ship:Carnival Sensation
Scheduled Performers:
* Guests and artists were invited to Atlanta during the weekend they were supposed to be on the cruise. Around 500 guests and most of the scheduled bands attended the shows, dubbed "Rock For Relief", raising $55,000 for Hurricane Katrina Relief.
Ship:Carnival Imagination
Sail Date: October 7, 2004
Ports: Leaving fromMiami,Florida toCozumel, Mexico
Performing Artists:
Ship:Carnival Sensation
Sail Date: August 28, 2003
Ports: Leaving fromTampa, Florida toCozumel, Mexico
Performing Artists:
Ship:Carnival Sensation
Sail Date: August 29, 2002
Ports: Leaving fromTampa, Florida toKey West, Florida andNassau, Bahamas
Performing Artists:
Ship:Carnival Jubilee
Sail Date: August 30, 2001
Ports: Leaving fromTampa, Florida toKey West, Florida andCozumel, Mexico
Performing Artists: