Proof that every city thinks they can pull this off...
Blue Rodeo coming to Miramichi
Published Friday April 10th, 2009
A1
By Daniel Martins
martins.daniel@miramichileader.com
MIRAMICHI - Blue Rodeo will headline a new concert this June in Miramichi.
The country rock stars will join McGuinty, George Belliveau, J.F. Breau and Matt Minglewood for the inaugural Miramichi Fest ‘09, which is hoped to be the first of a new ongoing series of summer concerts in Miramichi.
"I think its fabulous to have an international Canadian band come in like Blue Rodeo," said Mavis Williamson, president of the Historic Chatham Business District, which is organizing the event. "It's just great for our area. It adds prestige to this event."
Miramichi Fest ‘09 is scheduled for Friday, June 26. the entertainment will start at 3 p.m. at the Miramichi Agricultural Exhibition Grounds, running until 11 p.m.
Williamson said the accompanying acts — Traditional Maritime performers McGuinty, country, blues, roots and rock singer Matt Minglewood and Acadian acts J.F. Breau and George Belliveau — were chosen to reflect the many cultures found on the Miramichi.
"We wanted to bring together the variety of cultures and have this as an event that will show the diversity of the Miramichi and the openness of the Miramichi," she said, adding the business district was still looking at attracting other bands as well.
Blue Rodeo has released 11 studio albums since their debut in 1984. Their latest album, 2007's "Small Miracles," reached fifth spot on the Canadian charts, and the single "This Town" reached number 73.
When asked if Blue Rodeo would have enough of a pull to be able to attract the crowds of up to 10,000 the business district is hoping for, Williamson said she thought so.
"We have every confidence in the world that there will be a large number of people there," she said.
"We've looked at what happens in other areas ... and the response we've been receiving so far from people wanting to be part of this event and the excitement that it has stirred in the city ... we're very confident that there's be a large turnout."
She said the business district has approached several sponsors and was working out several contracts, noting many seemed enthusiastic at being involved.
Deputy Mayor Nancy Lordon agreed with Williamson that the Blue Rodeo would be able to draw a good crowd.
"I think that Blue Rodeo, along with the other bands that will be playing here, will be more than enough to bring that many people into the city. It's a wonderful endeavour."
She said the event would be great for tourism and the economy, as she expected many concertgoers would stay overnight and spend their money in Miramichi.
When asked how such an event would fit in with long-time Miramichi summer fare like Irish Fest and Rock ‘n' Roll Fest, Lordon didn't think the addition of Miramichi Fest would negatively affect the other festivals.
"People are always looking for things to do on different weekends, people take vacations at different times and people travel through Miramichi at different times," she said. "So there'd be something for everybody."
Tickets for Miramichi Fest are $65, with pre-sale through the Blue Rodeo website (
www.bluerodeo.com). Public ticket sales will start April 17, at
www.miramichifest.com. Ticket price covers admission to all acts.
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10,000 seems way too high. Fredericton that weekend has 3 bands that are probably each bigger than Blue Rodeo and they're only expecting 15,000.