VIRGIN FESTIVAL is finishing off its 2009 tour across Canada with a bang by bringing the Festival back to the city where it all began. The fourth annual Virgin Festival Ontario is gearing up to take over Toronto’s THE MOLSON AMPHITHEATRE this weekend and today the Festival set times have been released for all 36 sizzling acts!
Highlights for day one include alternative rock legends PIXIES hitting the Virgin Mobile stage at 7:40 p.m. followed by co-headliners BEN HARPER & RELENTLESS7 at 9:45 p.m. Over on the Virgin Radio 999 stage, day one highlights include current UK chart-topper fave PITBULL at 5:30 p.m. and DANIEL MERRIWEATHER at 7 p.m.
Day two highlights include English electronic dance icons PET SHOP BOYS on the Virgin Mobile stage at 7:50 p.m. followed at 9:30 p.m. by the eagerly-awaited and last ever performance in Canada by industrial rock gods NINE INCH NAILS. Reggae fusion singer SEAN KINGSTON performs on the Virgin Radio 999 stage on day two at 7 p.m.
“This is our fourth Festival in Toronto and our tenth overall. We’re kicking it up a notch for Toronto this year and music lovers will see one of our most diverse line-ups ever,” said Andrew Bridge, Director of Virgin Festival Canada. “Virgin Festivals around the world are known for bringing together an eclectic and one-of-a-kind mix of talent from world famous headliners to local up-and-coming artist. We’re delivering rock, pop, hip hop, electro, blue, indie, reggae and way more.”
This year’s Virgin Festival Ontario was originally scheduled to take place at Burl’s Creek Park in Oro, Ontario but due to slow ticket sales the Festival made the switch to The Molson Amphitheatre. “We’re delighted to be coming downtown! Since the move to The Molson Amphitheatre ticket sales have shot up and we’ve had a lot of excitement and interest in the Festival being back in Toronto. We’re looking forward to an awesome turn-out for Canada’s tenth Virgin Festival,” added Bridge.
On top of the sublime music, the festival will be jam-packed with one-of-a-kind experiences, including burlesque pole dancing lessons, graf artists spraying original works of art, Xbox 360 gaming zone, swag for trash and even a cool zone thanks to Bacardi Breezer!
Check out www.virginfestival.ca/ontario for further details.
The full line-up!
Legendary rockers BEN HARPER & RELENTLESS7 will co-headline day one with alternative rock legends PIXIES. Joining them will be Scottish rockers FRANZ FERDINAND; singer-songwriter PAOLO NUTINI; Brooklyn indie rockers GRIZZLY BEAR; American rock duo MATES OF STATE; Canadian faves SLOAN; Juno Award-winner LIGHTS; Canadian rockers THE RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE; California new wave rockers IGLU AND HARTLY; and Toronto-based foursome THE SUPERSTITIONS. On top of that, UK-pop royal DANIEL MERRIWEATHER and chart topping PITBULL will headline the Virgin Radio 999 stage with guests such as Canadian singer-songwriter ANJULIE; electro club artists CANDY COATED KILLAHZ; progressive indie artists DOWN WITH WEBSTER; and Toronto electro-rock duo THUNDERHEIST!
Industrial rock gods NINE INCH NAILS will headline day two and will be joined by English electronic dance icons PET SHOP BOYS; Juno Award-winning band OUR LADY PEACE; American party hip hop band N.E.R.D.; American indie band COLD WAR KIDS; Grammy Award-nominated rock band MUTEMATH; Danish rockers MEW; Montréal indie rock band PLANTS AND ANIMALS; Quebec songstress COEUR DE PIRATE; alt-rockers THE VON BONDIES; Norwegian electro-rock group DATAROCK; Montréal indie rockers SILVER STARLING; and alt rockers D’URBERVILLES! Day two on the Virgin Radio 999 stage will be headlined by reggae fusion singer SEAN KINGSTON. Also pumping up the volume on the Virgin Radio 999 stage will be Canadian R&B singer-songwriter MELANIE FIONA; electro hip hop group HYPER CRUSH; punk rocker TROUBLE ANDREW; Electro Pop Punk locals FRITZ HELDER & THE PHANTOMS; and synth-pop specialists THE NEW CITIES.
I heard Virgin is giving reduced rates on minutes to low-income people. Any truth to this, VM users? I have been using them for a little while now and because I’m currently without a job I would also like this special rate but the reps I’ve spoken to keep on brushing me off. I’m going to change soon if this is the truth and I can’t get it. I see no reason to subsidize someone else with my cash.