Roc-Kin’-On Brings Four Decades of Party Rock to the Charlestown Rathskeller (cancelled)

NOTE: This event has been cancelled due to the nor’easter.

Roc-Kin’-On Brings Four Decades of Party Rock to the Charlestown Rathskeller Sunday, Sept. 27, with three hours of classic rock, country, and pop-rock built for an afternoon of dancing, singing along, and stretching the weekend a little longer.

The five-piece New England cover band takes over the Rathskeller’s outdoor stage from 4 to 7 p.m., with free admission and food and drinks available throughout the afternoon.

And this show has been a few months in the making.

Roc-Kin’-On was originally scheduled to play the Rathskeller over Memorial Day weekend. Rain forced the May 24 performance to be canceled, and the band was rescheduled for Sept. 27.

Four months later, they’re finally getting their Sunday afternoon Down Back.

A Setlist That Can Jump 40 Years in a Few Songs

Roc-Kin’-On doesn’t tie itself to a single decade.

The band’s repertoire reaches across the 1970s, ’80s, ’90s and 2000s, mixing classic rock with country, pop-rock, and danceable party songs.

That broad approach is intentional.

Roc-Kin’-On has been performing together for more than a decade, developing its identity around songs audiences already know and getting those audiences involved in the show.

Rather than presenting a narrowly defined tribute to one artist or era, the group can move between generations during the same performance.

That makes the band a particularly good fit for an afternoon at the Rathskeller, where the audience can range from people who came specifically for the music to diners who wandered Down Back after lunch and decided to stay.

The band describes its Sept. 27 set as rock favorites from the ’70s through the 2000s.

The Rathskeller goes a little broader, describing Roc-Kin’-On as a high-energy rock and party band playing classic rock favorites, timeless hits and danceable anthems.

Either description gets to the same point.

This isn’t a sit-down-and-listen kind of show.

From Eastern Connecticut to a New England Party Band

Roc-Kin’-On began as an Eastern Connecticut favorite before expanding its schedule throughout New England.

More than a decade of playing together has taken the group through bars, clubs, festivals and entertainment venues around the region.

The band continues to maintain an active schedule well beyond summer.

After Charlestown, its currently announced dates stretch into December, with shows in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

That kind of schedule matters for a cover band.

Playing familiar songs is only half the job. A successful party band has to read a room, understand when to change gears and know how to turn people who weren’t necessarily planning to dance into part of the show.

Roc-Kin’-On has built its reputation around that interaction.

The Show That Rain Postponed

Sunday’s performance was supposed to happen much earlier.

Roc-Kin’-On had been booked for the Rathskeller on May 24, part of the venue’s Memorial Day weekend schedule.

Weather intervened.

Because Down Back is an outdoor venue, the show was canceled and moved all the way to Sept. 27.

The new date lands in an interesting part of the Rathskeller season.

Late September still belongs to the outdoor concert calendar, but the atmosphere has started changing. The afternoon light fades earlier, temperatures become more comfortable around the fire and the number of weekends left Down Back can suddenly be counted rather than assumed.

For Roc-Kin’-On, it means the postponed beginning-of-summer performance has effectively become an early-fall Sunday show.

The Rathskeller Has Been Doing This Since Long Before Outdoor Concerts Were Trendy

The Charlestown Rathskeller isn’t a purpose-built concert venue.

Its history reaches back to 1933, when the secluded property became associated with the kind of tucked-away tavern atmosphere that would eventually become part of its identity.

Today, the restored restaurant retains that old tavern character inside while the property behind it has evolved into something very different.

Rathskeller Down Back is the seasonal outdoor side of the operation.

The wooded grounds include a performance stage, backyard bar, Burger Shack, fire pit and lawn games including cornhole and bocce.

The result falls somewhere between a restaurant backyard, beer garden and small outdoor music festival.

There isn’t traditional theater seating.

The setup is deliberately informal, with festival-style seating and guests moving between tables, the bar, games and the area in front of the stage.

That gives the Rathskeller something most conventional music venues can’t offer.

You can arrive well before the first song.

Come for Lunch, Stay for the Band

The Rathskeller opens at noon on Sundays, four hours before Roc-Kin’-On starts.

The kitchen remains open until 10 p.m., so the afternoon can easily begin with lunch before moving outside for the show.

The restaurant’s menu leans toward hearty New England tavern food, including burgers, seafood, steaks, sandwiches and pub fare. The property also operates outdoor food and drink service during its Down Back season.

Then there are the games and the fire pit.

That combination explains why the Rathskeller’s Sunday concerts feel different from its Friday and Saturday night shows.

A 4 p.m. start makes the music part of an afternoon rather than the destination at the end of the night.

Eat. Grab a drink. Play a game. Find somewhere outside. Hear a band.

And in this case, there’s no ticket price standing in the way.

Free Show, RSVP Optional

Admission to Roc-Kin’-On is free.

The Rathskeller encourages guests to RSVP through Eventbrite, but the earlier listing for the rescheduled performance also indicated that guests could simply show up.

With outdoor seating operating festival-style, arriving early remains the better strategy for anyone who wants a preferred spot.

Weather is also worth watching.

The original May performance was canceled because of rain, and Down Back remains an outdoor venue. The Rathskeller posts schedule changes when weather affects a performance.

Assuming September cooperates better than May did, Roc-Kin’-On finally gets its three hours onstage Sunday afternoon.

Four decades of rock songs.

Three hours of music.

One show that took four months longer than expected to happen.

More information is available at the Event Website link below.

To RSVP for free, click the Event Ticketing link below.

Details

Event: Roc-Kin’-On at the Charlestown Rathskeller
Date: Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026
Time: 4–7 p.m.
Location: Charlestown Rathskeller / Rathskeller Down Back
Address: 489A Old Coach Road, Charlestown, RI 02813
Admission: Free
RSVP: Free RSVP available through Eventbrite
Band: Roc-Kin’-On
Band Size: Five-piece
Music: Classic rock, country, ’80s, ’90s, 2000s pop-rock and dance/party favorites
Setting: Outdoor seasonal music venue on the Rathskeller grounds
Seating: Festival-style; arrive early for a preferred spot
Restaurant Hours Sunday: Noon–10 p.m.
Kitchen: Open noon–10 p.m.
Food & Drinks: Available for purchase
Weather: Outdoor performance; schedule may change because of weather
Background: Rescheduled from the band’s May 24 performance, which was canceled because of weather
Contact: Charlestown Rathskeller, 401-792-1000

 

 

Featured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people, location, or activities shown.