Classic rock radio station Rock 106.1 turns 20 this year, and they’re throwing themselves an all-day party on July 3 with Connect Savannah at Trustees’ Garden. Puddle of Mudd, Filter, and Sponge top the bill, with local acts Lilakk and Whaleboat opening. More than 15 vendors will add to the festival atmosphere, along with eight food options.

“People can expect something that hasn’t been here in forever, a massive rock show,” said Aaron Wilborn, marketing manager at Rock 106.1. “We thought we should do something amazing that would bring us all together after the quarantines, celebrate the new Kotter and Marshall Morning Show, and throw a party for the 20th anniversary of Savannah’s number one rock station.”

Event co-sponsor Connect Savannah was similarly motivated to get a big crowd together to celebrate getting a big crowd together, with music, food, drinks and more.

“After a year of isolation, our main goal was to bring people together again,” said Publisher Erica Baskin of Connect Savannah. “Working with Rock 106.1 has been fun.”

Headliner Puddle of Mudd exploded on the scene around the time Rock 106.1 was born. Their debut album “Come Clean” went triple platinum in the U.S., with sales of over five million worldwide. The second single from the album, “Blurry” reached No. 5 on the Billboard singles chart. The third single, “She Hates Me,” was a blockbuster, winning the Kansas City band the ASCAP award for Most Played Rock Song of The Year.

Cleveland, Ohio, band Filter formed after Nine Inch Nails touring guitarist Richard Patrick wanted to start his own band. He joined with drummer and programmer Brian Liesegang to record the industrial rock album “Short Bus.” Fueled by “Hey Man Nice Shot,” the ode to Pennsylvania treasurer R. Budd Dwyer’s filmed, gruesome suicide, “Short Bus” went platinum.

After Liesegang left the band, Patrick fleshed out the lineup and expanded it from the original studio duo, decreasing the industrial and increasing the rock on their follow-up, “Title of Record.” The second single “Take a Picture” was a surprise pop hit, landing at No. 12 on the Hot 100 chart and affording Filter unexpected mainstream success.

Hailing from Detroit, Sponge has been playing their brand of gritty rock and roll for almost 30 years. They gained fame on the strength of their alternative rock hit single “Plowed” — the one that goes “…in a world of human wreckage…,” you know it — off their debut album “Rotting Piñata.” They haven’t slowed down much since, releasing seven more albums.

Getting into the act is local grunge pop band Lilakk — pronounced lil’lack). Heavily influenced by 90s alternative giants like Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots and The Breeders, they recently played the packed Kraken Music Fest in Orlando, Florida. The band is fronted by married couple Kirk and Calli Joiner, who started as an acoustic duo before forming a full band and turning it up.

Fellow Savannah band Whaleboat brings their dreampop-shoegaze sound, which has a distinct British accent, reminiscent of early 90s The Cure and lesser-known pioneers of the genre like Kitchens of Distinction. They’ve been playing for 10 years and make specific mention of New Order bassist Peter Hook as the personification of the rhythm ethos. That’s a solid foundation to build some rock on. The sponsors want to make sure everyone gets home safe, so they have partnered with Uber. There will be a designated pick up and drop off area, if attendees need a ride home.

Start your Fourth of July fireworks early at Trustees’ Garden 2 p.m., Saturday, July 3, with a day-long rock party. Eat, drink and get loud! Purchase tickets at etix.com/ticket/p/4889994.

This article appears in 06-30-2021.