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Branson bringing music fest to T.O.
By CASSANDRA SZKLARSKI
                       
The Raconteurs will be on the bill in T.O.
TORONTO (CP) - Virgin's hugely successful British rock festival is bringing its superstar lineup to Canada and the United States this year, starting with Toronto.
Bands including Massive Attack, Gnarls Barkley, the Flaming Lips and the Raconteurs will inaugurate North America's first V Festival at Toronto's Island Park on Sept. 9 and 10. The festival is expected to stop in Baltimore, Md., later this year, then head to Vancouver, Montreal and three other countries in 2007.
Richard Branson, Virgin Group's outrageous billionaire chief, made the announcement at Toronto's waterfront Friday after being lowered onto a restaurant patio from a helicopter.
"It's the biggest sort of social event on the calendar for a particular age group in the U.K.," Branson said of the music festival, now in its 11th year.
"There's a lot of very, very, very big bands. And a lot of dating gets done there, I'm sure, so all-in-all it's very popular."
More than 40 acts were expected to rock up to 50,000 music fans in Toronto over two days.
       
Canadian acts already confirmed include Alexisonfire, The Hidden Cameras, The Dears and Buck 65, who will play Sept. 9 with international acts the Flaming Lips, Gnarls Barkley and Eagles of Death Metal.
On Sept. 10, Canadian acts Sam Roberts and K'Naan share the stage with Massive Attack, The Raconteurs and Wolfmother.
Marketing chief Nathan Rosenberg promised the festival would be an "extravaganza" of entertainment, transforming the downtown island into more than just a concert venue, but including massages, a dance lounge, vendors, a food village and beer garden.
However, camping will not be allowed this year. It is expected to be accommodated for 2007.
Rosenberg said the festival would expand to other Canadian cities next year, as well as other countries yet to be announced.
"We have a commitment to look at doing this in Montreal and in Vancouver, as well, and if I can convince Andrew, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, because I think that's just a great name for a place, really," Rosenberg joked, referring to Virgin Mobile Canada CEO Andrew Black.
"We thought about Winnipeg but there are too many mosquitoes, unfortunately."
Tickets go on sale July 2 to 7 at Future Shop stores in the Greater Toronto Area and online at the chain's website. From July 8 at noon, tickets will also be sold through Ticketmaster.
One-day tickets cost $57.50 each and two-day tickets costs $104.50. Prices include all taxes and ferry fares to and from the island.
The annual concert is a huge draw in England, where tickets sold out in just three hours for this August's show, featuring Radiohead, Morrissey and Beck.
By CASSANDRA SZKLARSKI
                       
The Raconteurs will be on the bill in T.O.
TORONTO (CP) - Virgin's hugely successful British rock festival is bringing its superstar lineup to Canada and the United States this year, starting with Toronto.
Bands including Massive Attack, Gnarls Barkley, the Flaming Lips and the Raconteurs will inaugurate North America's first V Festival at Toronto's Island Park on Sept. 9 and 10. The festival is expected to stop in Baltimore, Md., later this year, then head to Vancouver, Montreal and three other countries in 2007.
Richard Branson, Virgin Group's outrageous billionaire chief, made the announcement at Toronto's waterfront Friday after being lowered onto a restaurant patio from a helicopter.
"It's the biggest sort of social event on the calendar for a particular age group in the U.K.," Branson said of the music festival, now in its 11th year.
"There's a lot of very, very, very big bands. And a lot of dating gets done there, I'm sure, so all-in-all it's very popular."
More than 40 acts were expected to rock up to 50,000 music fans in Toronto over two days.
       
Canadian acts already confirmed include Alexisonfire, The Hidden Cameras, The Dears and Buck 65, who will play Sept. 9 with international acts the Flaming Lips, Gnarls Barkley and Eagles of Death Metal.
On Sept. 10, Canadian acts Sam Roberts and K'Naan share the stage with Massive Attack, The Raconteurs and Wolfmother.
Marketing chief Nathan Rosenberg promised the festival would be an "extravaganza" of entertainment, transforming the downtown island into more than just a concert venue, but including massages, a dance lounge, vendors, a food village and beer garden.
However, camping will not be allowed this year. It is expected to be accommodated for 2007.
Rosenberg said the festival would expand to other Canadian cities next year, as well as other countries yet to be announced.
"We have a commitment to look at doing this in Montreal and in Vancouver, as well, and if I can convince Andrew, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, because I think that's just a great name for a place, really," Rosenberg joked, referring to Virgin Mobile Canada CEO Andrew Black.
"We thought about Winnipeg but there are too many mosquitoes, unfortunately."
Tickets go on sale July 2 to 7 at Future Shop stores in the Greater Toronto Area and online at the chain's website. From July 8 at noon, tickets will also be sold through Ticketmaster.
One-day tickets cost $57.50 each and two-day tickets costs $104.50. Prices include all taxes and ferry fares to and from the island.
The annual concert is a huge draw in England, where tickets sold out in just three hours for this August's show, featuring Radiohead, Morrissey and Beck.