Summer concert still possible
Published Wednesday May 12th, 2010
Other events, lack of suitable touring acts have made this year a challenge for securing mega-show
By Eric Lewis
Times & Transcript Staff
Despite online chatter and scuttlebutt suggesting Moncton won't be continuing its tradition of hosting a concert at Magnetic Hill this summer, city officials are still hopeful that a concert will take place.
Ian Fowler, the City of Moncton's general manager of parks, recreation and culture, says promoters still have "irons in the fire."
"We're still working on potential shows," he says. "Nothing locked up, so to be able to come out and say we'll definitely have a show is not something I can do."
Fowler says there have been about six potential shows that didn't work out for this summer, but there are a few that are still possibilities. He wouldn't say how many, however.
"We're still hopeful that there will be a show," he says.
If there is a show, Fowler says it is safe to say it'll be in the latter part of summer, likely between the Moncton 2010 IAAF world junior track and field championships (July 19-25) and mid-September, just before Moncton hosts a Canadian Football League game between the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Eskimos (Sept. 26).
Scheduling has been a challenge this year due to the busy summer, but Fowler also says there is a smaller number of major touring acts that promoters would be willing to invest in that would suit Magnetic Hill, and some that are touring are bands that have already played here, like Bon Jovi and The Eagles.
Fowler admitted that the longer the city goes without signing a concert deal, the less likely a concert becomes.
"But a lot of these things come together very quickly and then go up and on sale quite quickly," he says. "So we'll just pursue it on a day-by-day basis and hopefully in the not-too-distant future be able to solidify something ... Our goal is to have a show, and if we don't get one, we'll be disappointed, but it won't be through lack of effort on promoters' part or on our part."
Moncton has hosted a large outdoor concert each year at Magnetic Hill since 2005, starting with the Rolling Stones. The following year, country acts Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn headlined a show. In 2007, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill graced the stage, followed by The Eagles in 2008. Last year, Bon Jovi and AC/DC each played to thousands of people at separate summer events.
Halifax promoter Harold MacKay confirmed yesterday that he will be announcing a second night of music for his Halifax Rocks 2010 show in July. The Black Eyed Peas will headline a show Saturday, July 24 at the Halifax Common that also features Weezer and Classified.
MacKay told the Times & Transcript yesterday that he hopes to announce the acts for Friday, July 23 in the next week or so, but he wouldn't comment on who might play, how many bands might perform or what genre of music he was aiming for.
Halifax is also hosting Alan Jackson and Johnny Reid at the Common on Aug. 6 and 7.
The Cavendish Beach Music Festival, taking place at Cavendish Beach, P.E.I., featuring Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and more, takes place July 7-11.
So, in other words (to use a musical analogy) the fat lady hasn't sung yet 
I think that Ian Fowler is displaying some false bravado however. The big sporting events this summer and early fall as well as other events like the Atlantic Nationals are eating up a lot of prime weekends and I think we are rapidly running out of time to accomplish anything here. The only good weekend left to try and have a major concert at the hill would be Labour Day.
Can it be done? I certainly have my doubts......
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