The Rock Boat is an annual rock music-themed "floating music festival at sea" aboard a cruise ship. It takes place in different locations each cruise, with several dozen bands performing in each cruise.
History and description
The Rock Boat concept was born in 2001 with a joint venture from Gainesville, Florida alternative rock band Sister Hazel and Atlanta, Georgia travel company Sixthman in a partial charter aboard the Carnival Jubilee. Sister Hazel was joined by the band Dexter Freebish and approximately 400 of their fans. The bands performed once on the ship, which sailed from Tampa, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico.
The concept has grown to become an annual event. Destinations have included locations such as Mexico, Nassau, Bahamas, Jamaica, and Turks and Caicos. The event is always hosted by Sister Hazel and includes musicians from all over the nation. 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, and many more. There are generally four or five performing stages constructed on the venue, and performances are scheduled from noon until 3 AM. 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."
Event details
The Rock Boat XXIII
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: January 30th, 2024
Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas and Costa Maya, Mexico Announced Artists:
Allen Mack Myers Moore
The Alternate Routes
Bowling For Soup
Brian Fechino
Brother Maven†
The Commonheart
DNA
Drivin' n Cryin'
The Moon City Masters
Fever Dolls
Gable Price and Friends
Gaelic Storm
Hotel Fiction
Jon Foreman of Switchfoot
J.R. Moore
KT Tunstall
Lit
Me Like Bees†
The New Respects
Patty Pershayla & The Mayhaps†
Red Wanting Blue
Sister Hazel
The Struts
Susto
Young the Giant
† soundcheck artist winners
The Rock Boat XXII
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: January 23, 2023
Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and Nassau, Bahamas Performing Artists:
American Authors
The Astronomers†
The Beaches
Brian Fechino
Carbon Leaf
Dan Rodriguez*
Driveway
Floorbird†
Green Light Morning†
The Heavy Hours
Hero The Band
Kristy Lee
Lady Bri
Lit
Magic Giant
Meaghan Farrell*
Megan Slankard
Mo Lowda & The Humble
Mom Rock
Needtobreathe
Neon Trees
Red Wanting Blue
Sister Hazel
Southern Avenue
Van Bellman
The Talbott Brothers
Terminus Horns (floating artist) Trousdale Welshly Arms Yam Haus Zach Person
* stowaway artists
† soundcheck artist winners
The Rock Boat XXI
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Gem
Sail Date: November 7, 2021
Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas and Ocho Rios, Jamaica (Original sailing was postponed due to Covid-19) (Original Sail Date: January 27, 2021) (Original Destinations: Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Georgetown, Grand Cayman) Performing Artists:
The Alternate Routes
American Authors
Andrew Leahey & The Homestead
Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness
Animal Years
Billy Pilgrim
The Blue Stones
Bowling For Soup
Brian Fechino
The Collection
Dark Water
Elevado *
Jon Tyler Wiley & His Virginia Choir *
Joshua & the Holy Rollers
Kristian Bush
Mayday Parade
Meaghan Farrell
Micky James
Mom Rock
The New Respects
Nick Fradiani
Night Without Cars
Phillip-Michael Scales†
Red Wanting Blue
Sister Hazel
Swimming With Bears
Switchfoot
The Trews
Vertical Horizon
Wildermiss†
Will Hoge
Artists who were announced but withdrew for any reason: