Things are quickly falling into place for the Cavendish Beach Music Festival this weekend.
Three days of country music concerts open Friday at 6 p.m. with headliners Big & Rich, along with Canadian stars Doc Walker.
Saturday's show begins at 1 p.m. with Tim McGraw headlining that night while Sunday's action starts at 12:30 p.m., with legendary Reba McEntire closing the festival.
After a seemingly endless stretch of rain on P.E.I., the weather forecast has finally turned for the better and ideal concert conditions are forecast with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-20s for the rest of the week.
"We needed to catch a break because weather has a huge impact on outdoor music festivals," said Jeff Squires, one of the key organizers for the first event.
"It looks like help is on the way."
McGraw was the guest host on the weekend on a rerun of Saturday Night Live on NBC. He followed that up Sunday as the lead actor in the CBC prime time Sunday night movie, Flicka.
McEntire is on television several times a day with her popular comedy show, Reba.
Crystal Shawanda, who appears on the Cavendish stage Sunday afternoon, was featured with a recent special on APTN.
The recent exposure is good public relations for the festival, says Squires.
"The way things are going, we expect 15,000 fans on the site each day," said Squires.
That is above preliminary plans for 10,000 fans each day.
"It's quite an operation," Squires said from the Cavendish site Tuesday where the stage was being completed.
Squires says the lineup is as impressive as for any music festival this year in North America,
In addition to the Nashville superstars, there is a strong Canadian component, such as Winnipeg's Doc Walker, who are multiple award winners at the latest Canadian Country Music awards show, The Wilkinsons, Paul Brandt, Deric Ruttan, Bruce Guthro, Aaron Lines, Ellis Family Band and Grass Mountain Hobos.
"We have people here from Nashville, Montreal and Michigan, and they all say this is an unbelievable site for this type of festival," said Squires.
"We are right in the middle of the heart of P.E.I.'s tourism centre. People are extremely impressed with what a world-class venue we have. They are used to seeing concrete and exit ramps. What they are getting is green grass, blue water and the beauty of P.E.I."
Squires said this concert will help educate thousands of people to what a great place P.E.I. is, which is music to the ears of the tourism sector.
"Our concern is building on the festival, not as a concert but as a multi-day vacation experience, using what P.E.I. has to offer as an ultimate holiday experience."
He said he was in Moncton for the recent successful Jon Bon Jovi concert.
"We went over, and we came right back home after the concert. People are coming here for more than one day. They're here for a great experience."
The Cavendish concert was among the first in the Maritimes to announce its dates earlier this year. What followed was an unexpected flurry of concerts to provide direct competition for the music fan's dollar, such as Halifax (Paul McCartney, KISS and Virgin Festival), Moncton (Bon Jovi and AC/DC) and Summerside (Beach Boys).
But it appears Cavendish has found its niche with its format, festival and vacation concept.
"Like I said when I coached hockey, we can only worry about our team," said Squires. "We're doing our own thing, we can't worry about other concerts. We have to look after our own."
Mother Nature co-operating as three-day Cavendish Music Festival nears
Mother Nature co-operating as three-day Cavendish Music Festival nears
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Published on
July 8, 2009
- Published on June 14, 2010
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Staff ~ The Guardian
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Comments
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- Bankuba
- - June 21, 2010 at 21:42:00
the lineup is as impressive as for any music festival this year in North America
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Grass Mountain Hobos
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does not compute. -
- Huh?
- - June 21, 2010 at 21:40:47
Why is this always being spun as something Islanders 'ought' to support? We paid enough in tax dollars that any Islander who wants to go should get a free ticket--never mind volunteering too.
This should be just another private undertaking, succeeding or failing on its own. No more tax$ for concerts PLEASE! -
- Right on!
- - June 21, 2010 at 21:33:44
You're right there, notlike. What right do voters have to complain about how their tax dollars are spent? The government should fund many more concerts. It has worked out very well in the past.
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- Line -up?
- - June 21, 2010 at 21:33:11
Quite a line up is right, I guess. You mention the TV shows they have played a part in but not any recent top charting songs. I hope the songs are/were better than their acting. How much are the tickets, again.
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- Deb
- - June 21, 2010 at 21:29:59
Have a wonderful time.
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- notliketherest
- - June 21, 2010 at 21:13:48
Do I read some sarcasm?? I simply stated that CONSTANT complaining in on the Guardian website about taxes is pointless. Do you think they are surfin' the web searching for comments? If you want to be heard talk to them!
I just notice a lot of negativity on here all the time (positive posts are hard to find these days) and sometimes it gets to me enough to make a comment. -
- Hey DJ
- - June 21, 2010 at 21:11:33
What did you do? swallow the spinbook?
This crew will get more of our tax dollars next year, just as they got our tax dollars last year... -
- giggle
- - June 21, 2010 at 21:08:14
DJ, you know you are describing the Ponzi-scheme myth? Remember the little Christmas Cheer tickets that used to get sold? That's what you're describing. I can't believe the government bought them, with our tax dollars, from the same guys again.
Merry Christmas. -
- notliketherest
- - June 21, 2010 at 21:02:49
Always with the taxes...do you really think complaining about them here on the Guardian site will get you anywhere. If you don't like the way things are run, run yourself and see if you do any better.
Congrats on a well planned out festival, I hope you do well this weekend. -
- Hope
- - June 21, 2010 at 20:59:04
I hope it goes well--really well. I hate the idea of tax payers subsidizing this for the next number of years.
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- A lot easier
- - June 21, 2010 at 20:55:20
I wouldn't worry either if the government gave me almost a million dollars to set up what will be a permanent site for concerts and attractions.
Funny the story is attribued to Editorial Staff , just who are they anyway? This reads, as usual, like an advertisement, not a news story.
That should get me clipped by the moderator. -
- to notlike
- - June 21, 2010 at 20:54:07
I was sarcastic, sorry. It depends how you read things whether things are positive or negative though. A positive look at this issue is that many of us are ready to have a government that gives less to friends and more to health care and education.
When did country music concerts become the responsibility of the taxpayer? That's the real question. It's a legitimate question and not meant to be negative. It should lead to other questions, such as why wasn't this money used for up-to-date textbooks? or something similar. New textbooks would lead to positive posts.... -
- No Experience Necessary
- - June 21, 2010 at 20:48:23
So can I get a kick at the cat next year in arranging one of them there concert thingies. Sounds like a no lose deal with all the gubberment deals and money in my pocket regardless of the success.
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- D.J.
- - June 21, 2010 at 20:46:18
I hope the concert goes well for all involved. If enough people show then the government will get its money back in the spin off tax money.
It is said that every dollar spent in these events gets spent seven times over before it is saved. The government receives taxes seven times on every dollar.
My tax dollar is well spent if enough people show up so lets hope for the best as we are all in this together.
As for all the whiners and experts out there ...well being negative won't get you very far in life but good luck any way.
