Atlantic Canada Concert Scene - Page 48

MonctonRad · #**941** Posted **Jul 24, 2019, 12:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SevenSquared

It's kind of the same thing as the CFL game. Having grown up here you rarely encounter people who watch football (especially CFL), but talk to people who live 20+ minutes away and you sometimes get weird looks just for not being into it.

You obviously didn't have any kids involved in high school football.

I had three sons who played, and all six high schools in metro Moncton have teams. There is a football culture out there, but if you have no contact with it, you probably aren't aware of it.

Curiously, I think the atmosphere around the experience has lessened since most of the high schools got their own artificial turf fields. Before, all the teams used Rocky Stone Field for their league games, and shared the facility with the Moncton Minor Football Organization. This meant that Rocky Stone was always busy, that there were always people in the bleachers, and there was enough business around for a chip wagon to provide canteen services. It was actually a great experience hanging around the field.

Rocky Stone is less busy now, but this is because the high schools play their games on their own fields. It's a little sad, but it is good to see the increased quality of the football infrastructure in the city.

I agree that Touchdown Atlantic has done a poor job advertising the upcoming CFL game. I'm sure there are people out there who still do not know this is going to happen..........

L'homard · #**942** Posted **Jul 25, 2019, 12:10 PM**

Not sure about a massive turnout for the country show, but I hope I'm wrong and they pack the place.
The Casino Hotel With No Name still has vacancies, as of Tuesday anyway. That is unheard of for a concert weekend. Even the lowest drawing concerts on the hill meant full capacity at the hotel, months ahead of the show.

Photo1 · #**943** Posted **Jul 26, 2019, 9:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I agree that Touchdown Atlantic has done a poor job advertising the upcoming CFL game. I'm sure there are people out there who still do not know this is going to happen..........

Honestly I lost interest when the potential of a team being Moncton based evaporated (I know it was a bit delusional to begin with)...but honestly I don't care about this game when in a year or so the 'team' will be 2.5 hours away.

Photo1 · #**944** Posted **Jul 26, 2019, 10:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by L'homard

Not sure about a massive turnout for the country show, but I hope I'm wrong and they pack the place.
The Casino Hotel With No Name still has vacancies, as of Tuesday anyway. That is unheard of for a concert weekend. Even the lowest drawing concerts on the hill meant full capacity at the hotel, months ahead of the show.

There just isn't the "buzz" for this show like in the past, the city doesn't seem to care, I'm sure there will be lots of people there, but I'm quite sure it's not going to knock your socks off. I'm predicting 30K tops.

L'homard · #**945** Posted **Jul 27, 2019, 2:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photo1

There just isn't the "buzz" for this show like in the past, the city doesn't seem to care, I'm sure there will be lots of people there, but I'm quite sure it's not going to knock your socks off. I'm predicting 30K tops.

Not sure what's up with the city and their efforts towards promoting concerts on the hill and the CFL games. They seem to be unwilling to spend a red cent on making these the signature events that they could be.
There is a good case to be made that it isn't the city's job to promote these events, but rather it us up to the promoters. Be that as it may, if these events are perceived as flops, it reflects badly on a city that prides itself as being experts at attracting and successfully pulling off events that usually go to bigger cities, "punching above its weight" as we used to hear so often.
And on another note, any venue would probably be happy to attract 30000 people to almost any concert, but I'm not sure that would be perceived as a success at Magnetic Hill by anyone except those of us who are tuned in to the realities of these sorts of things.
And where is the Times & Transcript? It used to be that the newspaper hyped the shit out of CFL games and concerts on the hill. Not being an avid reader any more, I might have missed their usual hyperbole, but geez I do check in quite often and nary a word on the concert, and not much on the football game until last week, nothing at all this week that I noticed. I will stand corrected if I missed it.

MonctonRad · #**946** Posted **Jul 27, 2019, 3:10 AM**

<crickets><crickets><crickets>

Ian Fowler would have known how to promote the dickens out of these events...........

J81 · #**947** Posted **Jul 27, 2019, 5:27 AM**

⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

Took the words right out of my mouth! Mr Fowler is greatly missed!

PEI highway guy · #**948** Posted **Jul 27, 2019, 10:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

<crickets><crickets><crickets>

Ian Fowler would have known how to promote the dickens out of these events...........

I was going to post the exact same thing. Moncton needs a new Ian Fowler type employee to kick start these sort of events

L'homard · #**949** Posted **Jul 27, 2019, 12:17 PM**

They hired an Ian Fowler type employee after Ian's death. There was an article on the guy in the newspaper. That's the last I ever heard of him. Maybe he worked tirelessly for us or maybe he did frig all, I have no idea because he was, like, invisible during his entire tenure.

On another note, Ian would meet with the newspaper brass about whatever big event was coming up, and they'd come up with ideas for stories that would generate interest for these events. I found it tiresome to see stories every day for weeks on end about concert A or concert B, but to be honest about it, it was highly effective as we saw from the big crowds and the constant buzz among the local populace and across the Maritimes. Nowadays, all of that is lost. RIP Ian.

lirette · #**950** Posted **Jul 27, 2019, 1:42 PM**

Maybe I'm in the minority here but 30K for Luke Bryan i would consider to be a success. Just because its on the hill doesn't mean it has to be close to 100K.

Luke got somewhere between 35-40K for CBMF last year (sell out) so considering he was just here, CBMF has a bigger branding and supporting acts and this was announced late in the game I don't see how 30K would be bad.

It seems the "buzz" really just depends on what circles you are in at work, friends etc. 30K is still 3X what any Avenir Centre concert could accomodate. That would be a gate close to 3 million.

Moncton also traditionally has a track record of last minute sales waiting for weather for outdoor concerts. Which is even easier to do when the venue can't sell out and its a 1 day show.

felip_ars · #**951** Posted **Jul 29, 2019, 1:14 PM**

The show is being booked by a the closet "local" promoter the Hill have seen (Whitecap Entertainment). I feel like the other two that were here before (DKD & Evenko) were more like "We're bringing the show, you guys take care of the promotions".

Ian would had probably did an interview or two, but IMO, the City would had still kept a low profile on the event.

Mostly because it would had raised questions about how much the City is investing into the concert, and we all know how the City was transparent when that issue came up for previous shows

Whitecap Entertainment has been in the business for a while, so Im sure they know what they are doing.

When there's almost no ads for an upcoming concert, it usually means that the sales are going as expected (why waste money on extra advertisement).

30k would be amazing, but I think that 20k would be more expected for the concert. Considering that he played CBMF last year, and is playing Bangor a few day before.

While he's huge right now, he's not as huge as Springsteen or Metallica who barely got 30k themselves when they played Moncton and Halifax respectively.

felip_ars · #**952** Posted **Jul 29, 2019, 1:40 PM**

On a side note, I was thinking as to why Whitecap Entertainment decided to bring a show on the Hill (why not the Stadium) with the same artist as last year (beside probably having a discount booking fee for bringing him twice in two year).

I wonder if it's not a negotiating tactic with them and the city of Cavendish.

Usually festivals have contract with cities for an x amount of year which covers everything (renting of the venue, security, concessions stands, % the city received, etc). When the contract is due, they go back to the table and extend the deal.

While those usually goes pretty smoothly, they're always the risk of either the City wanting a bigger share, or the Festivals wanting a discount, and threatening to leave.

It happens a few years ago with the Montebello Rockfest, where founder Alex Martel (who was born and proud to be from Montebello), was saying every year that he was considering moving the festival if the City didnt met his demands.

While I dont have any inside info on that specific case, and it's probably 100% pure speculation, I could imagine Whitecap saying to Cavendish "Look, we just brought 20k in Moncton with barely any promotions, and an act that played here last year, so we have other options just in case...."

Fischbob · #**953** Posted **Aug 3, 2019, 8:03 PM**

Great photo of Area 506 by Dan Culberson on Twitter:

Source

Still 2 nights left! Great lineup in an exceptional location (though I think we all agree the site would look even better when developed!).

MonctonRad · #**954** Posted **Aug 9, 2019, 2:17 PM**

Article in the T&T indicates the promoter expects a crowd of ~20,000 on Magnetic Hill (plus walk-up last minute ticket sales) for the Luke Bryan concert.

Not too bad I guess, since I have no idea who Luke Bryan is.........

MonctonRad · #**955** Posted **Aug 9, 2019, 3:18 PM**

Since I'm on vacation, and have nothing better to do with my time on a cloudy day, I thought I would generate a list of concerts and events available in Moncton over the next three months (not including Wildcats hockey games).

August 10 - Luke Bryan, Magnetic Hill Concert Site.
August 14-18 - Cirque de Soleil Crystal, Avenir Centre
August 23 - Theatre of Pain, a Motley Crue Tribute, Molson Canadian Centre
August 25 - Montreal Alouettes vs Toronto Argonauts, Medavie Blue Cross Stadium
August 27 - Nickelback, Avenir Centre
August 28-31 - The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night Time, Capitol Theatre

September 7 - An Evening with 98 degrees, Molson Canadian Centre
September 7 - Francois Bellefueille, , Capitol Theatre
September 8 - David Nail, Molson Canadian Centre
September 10 - Summersault 2019, Avenir Centre
September 14 - Symphony NB, Capitol Theatre
September 14 - Elvis, the Comeback King, Molson Canadian Centre
September 17 - Bret Michaels, Molson Canadian Centre
September 19 - Alexandro Querevalu, Capitol Theatre
September 20 - Meagan & Amy, Capitol Theatre
September 20 - Sibling Rivalry Live: Sleepover with Bob & Monet, Molson Canadian Centre
September 21 - Sugar Sammy, Capitol Theatre
September 23 - Jenn Grant & Great Lake Swimmers, Capitol Theatre
September 25 - The Good Brothers, Capitol Theatre
September 28 - Reveen, Capitol Theatre
September 29 - Dean Brody & Dallas Smith, Molson Canadian Centre

October 3 - Safia Nolin, Capitol Theatre
October 4 - Hert LeBlanc, Capitol Theatre
October 5 - 2019 Flex Lewis Classic Canadian Championship, Molson Canadian Centre
October 9 - Hotel California, Eagles Tribute Show, Capitol Theatre
October 11 - Pink Martini, Capitol Theatre
October 12 - Legends!, Molson Canadian Centre
October 19 - Sylvain Cossette, Capitol Theatre
October 20 - Le Nozzi de Figaro, Capitol Theatre
October 23 - Pigs: Canada's Pink Floyd, Capitol Theatre
October 24 - Rachel Beck, Capitol Theatre
October 25 - Just for Laughs, Comedy Night in Canada with Rick Mercer, Capitol Theatre
October 27 - Symphony NB, Capitol Theatre
October 31 - The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, Capitol Theatre

November 1-2 - Travis Tritt, Molson Canadian Centre
November 2 - Derek Edwards, Capitol Theatre
November 3 - Rumours, Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show, Capitol Theatre
November 5 - 2019 CIBC Canada-Russia Hockey Series, Avenir Centre
November 8 - April Wine & Kim Mitchell, Molson Canadian Centre
November 9 - Jason Cyrus Live, Capitol Theatre
November 10 - Bobby Bazini, Capitol Theatre
November 11 - Holiday Magic Show, Capitol Theatre
November 13 - Matt Mays, Capitol Theatre
November 15 - Jeremy Dutcher with Symphony NB, Capitol Theatre
November 16 - Rock the Rink (figure skating), Avenir Centre
November 18 - Four by Four Holiday Show, Molson Canadian Centre
November 19 - Supertramp's Roger Hodgson, Molson Canadian Centre
November 20 - Formidable, Aznavour, Capitol Theatre
November 21 - Guillaume Arsenault, Capitol Theatre
November 23 - The East Pointers, Capitol Theatre
November 26 - Gordon Lightfoot, Molson Canadian Centre
November 28 - City & Colour, Molson Canadian Centre
November 30 - Symphony NB, Capitol Theatre

Feneant · #**956** Posted **Aug 9, 2019, 3:59 PM**

Thanks MonctonRad, that is a fantastic post which unfortunately highlights how bad a job the city does at advertising shows like this. I can honestly say I was not aware of at least 90% of these shows. The only ones I know of typically is the casino because they have 2 billboards near my house.

I'd be the first to admit it's my fault for not digging into this but considering I've attended shows where the attendance is 3-5% of the capacity I am far from the only one. One sad example was a show where Stephane Moccio (who is an absolutely amazing world class pianist) showed up and the crowd was so small he said 'screw it, everyone gets a refund but I'm playing anyways'. Oh, another one- last year we went to the Empress for a show which was the anniversary of a small local label where they had cake that could feed probably 200. I think that outside of their own 'crew' who were maybe 10 there were between 6 and 8 actual ticket buyers in attendance and about 100 empty chairs.

L'homard · #**957** Posted **Aug 9, 2019, 5:19 PM**

We're a picky bunch, well many of us are anyway.
Someone gave me a whole stack of tickets to the Moody Blues a few years ago, at the Coliseum. I failed to manage to give a single ticket away, despite trying every single person I know. This was the REAL Moody Blues, not some guy who owned the name.
The concert was the same night as the annual big Paderno sale next door in the Agrena. I hit every person who was leaving the Paderno sale, dozens and dozens of the, but not one was interested in taking 25 steps to their left for two hours of the Moody Blues up close and personal for FREE. "Well, I dunno, me and Maude were planning on being home in time for Jeopardy......"
I threw the tickets in the trash and entered the concert. There were a few hundred people on the floor and a few hundred more in the stands, total of I'd guess 900 maximum. The band came out and played their hearts out, as if they were in a packed Madison Square Gardens.
It was one of the best shows ever. And I'm not even that big of a fan.
(Just an aside, it was hilarious watching the security guards who felt the need to argue with all the 60 and 70 year old ladies who had the audacity to get on their feet and dance to the music in the empty Coliseum. One is given to wonder if you have to be a complete twat to work security at the Coliseum. LOL)

MonctonRad · #**958** Posted **Aug 10, 2019, 11:30 PM**

Photo of the Luke Bryan Concert at Magnetic Hill from this evening.

Photo from Mayor Dawn Arnold's FB page.

Seems like a decent crowd, especially since the heavy rain this afternoon might have scared off some walk-up sales.

FarmerTom · #**959** Posted **Aug 11, 2019, 4:04 AM**

It was an excellent concert. I’d say between 15-20000. I have from a good and reliable source this won’t be a one off show.

lirette · #**960** Posted **Aug 11, 2019, 9:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmerTom

It was an excellent concert. I’d say between 15-20000. I have from a good and reliable source this won’t be a one off show.

I heard from one of the volunteers driving the artists around that Whitecap was insistent on using many of the same volunteers and organizers on site as they did during past CBMF festivals to ensure everything was as smooth as possible.

Perhaps this was a bit of an audition to bring back yearly shows. I'm much more comfortable with Whitecap running things than leaving it to the city who has mostly shown its better to leave bigscale events to the professionals. I didnt make it out to this show but will be happy to see some more use of the hill. Eventually expanding to a 2-3 day festival somewhere in August would be best case scenario. Not even necessarily country only.