Rock the Boat Concert goes country on Oct. 17

BY Ariana Shah

After 300 boats and hundreds of Canyon Lakers turned out and enjoyed the inaugural Rock the Boat Concert last month, the Canyon Lake POA is bringing it back. This time, the Oct. 17 concert will feature well-traveled local country artists The Kanan Road Band and keyboardist Harlan Spector.

Like the Makayla Phillips and Kenny Marquez Band concert in September, the Holiday Harbor stage will be turned toward the water and away from an empty amphitheater there. The audience will be entirely in the water. There is no charge for attending.

This event series is the brainstormed COVID-19 rendition of the ‘’Concerts at the Lodge’’ organized by Doug Schultz and the Canyon Lake POA.

This event will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with concert goers enjoying the event on their boats, kayaks or other vessels. At 5:00 p.m., the main lake will slow down to 5 mph. The amphitheater and surrounding area will be closed for access and use.

Harlan Spector will open the Rock the Boat Concert at Holiday Harbor. Harlan has accompanied famous artists and is known for his amazing work on the keyboard. Photo courtesy of Harlan Spector

Riverside County Sheriff and Community Patrol will be in place to enforce access control in the closed areas. Residents must continue to practice all physical distancing and face-covering guidelines that are in place.

“The POA asked me to produce a second Rock the Boat free boat-in concert based on the previous concert’s overwhelming success and the numerous member requests for more,” Doug said. “I decided to do a country music concert this time because of the large number of country music fans who live in Canyon Lake”

The Kanan Road Band is a popular local band made up of a trio of brothers and their two friends. They play their own sound, something they call “California Country,” which is a mix of classic and modern country, Doug said. Kanan Road consistently delivers unforgettable, contagious high-energy and in-your-face live performances filled with heartfelt precision.

Kanan Road has opened concerts and have shared the stage with some of country’s best-known artists, including Trace Adkins, Lonestar, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Dan Band, Love & Theft, Chase Bryant, Gloriana, The Band Perry, Scotty McCreery, Joe Nichols, Easton Corbin, Josh Gracin, Blue Oyster Cult and Molly Hatchet. The band’s venues have included The House of Blues, The Temecula Balloon & Wine Festival, The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Canyon Club in Agoura as well as wineries, fairs and private events.

The group has released an album and its music is available on all streaming platforms.

The opening act will be Harlan Spector, a Los Angeles-based keyboard player best known as a Hammond organist with extraordinary ability on the organ bass pedals. He plays all styles of music including rock, blues, funk, soul, country, jazz and classical.

Harlan began playing the keyboard professionally at 13 and did a national tour at 17 years of age. After earning a BA in Music at Illinois State University, he began touring all over most of the country. The touring took place in a wide variety of venues and led to increased popularity.

He eventually settled in Chicago to play in blues and heavy rock bands before moving to Los Angeles in the 1980s where he started working and recording with national acts. Harlan has recorded and performed with such acclaimed artists as Elvin Bishop, Redbone, Buffalo Springfield and others.

Harlan is now in the band The Allstars with Hall of Famer Don Peake. The band is currently in the process of recording an upcoming album.

Harlan’s most recent album, “Beachcruisin,” is available on Hitchcock Media Records, Amazon Music, iTunes and CD Baby.

“We decided to start one hour sooner since the days are getting shorter and the temperature is getting cooler,” Doug said. “This concert will feature the same quality sound and lights as the previous show with the addition of moving lights on stage to enhance the production value of the show.”

Doug is the head Canyon Lake POA producer for concerts and is credited for pulling off many of the extravagant concerts held in Canyon Lake. His work as a professional concert manager and event producer spans over 38 years and has worked for many prominent radio companies.