The festival is set to go ahead for another year following $5000 in funding from Corangamite Shire as part of its new events and festivals grant program, as well as $7000 in-kind for venue hire and other shire services. 

The inaugural event held last year featured classic cars, live music, a Miss Rock the Clock contest and dancing lessons drawing on the period from the 1920s up to the 1960s.

Organisers said the maiden event was a major success but the best was yet to come, with 12 bands confirmed for the 2018 festival and a full program to run on the Sunday too. 

Event coordinator Angela Preiss, who joined the committee this year, said musical director Peter Daffy had done another wonderful job securing quality bands from across Australia. 

“We’re very proud to announce A Band Called Twang is coming from Queensland. They’re very well-known, are extremely talented and always put on a great show,” she said.

“A number of bands are back for their second year, including the The Rechords, The Rockin’ Tones and Johnny Cash tribute band Mick Coates and the Allnightlongers.

“We’re also rapt to secure Zydeco Jump, Coral Lee from New South Wales, The Fender Benders, The Fuelers from the ACT, Cadillac Drifters, Shane Magro Combo, The Ladybugs and of course our very own Pete Daffy and Torque Flite.”

Event coordinator Liza Fahey said the full program would be available in the coming weeks. 

“The Friday night will be busy with bands in the pubs, the theatre, old stadium and a drive-in movie again at the showgrounds,” she said.

“Saturday will be pretty similar to last year’s success, with free community entertainment on the town square, the market in the avenue, Miss Rock the Clock, hundreds of collectible cars and bikes will be on display, The Hive will be up and going, there’ll be dance lessons on offer and Dorothy Nicol’s amazing fashion show will be back.

“Then in the evening, the pubs, theatre and old stadium will again showcase our amazing bands. It’s going to be huge.”

Ms Fahay said the committee was excited to offer a full program on the Sunday this year.

“We would have liked to do that last year, but being our first year with limited finances and resources it was a risk we couldn’t take,” she said. 

“It’s great that the main street will come alive again on the Sunday this year with the market, music, cars, bikes and fashion.” 

Early bird discounted tickets are available on the Rock the Clock website.

The festival will run from Thursday, October 18 to Sunday 21. Passes are available for $40 and family festival passes for $80. 

Prices will increase to $50 and $100 respectively on August 1.