As the old saying goes, ‘if something isn't broken, then don't fix it'.
That phrase could easily fit the tested and true formula for the Cavendish Beach Music Festival which has been drawing crowds upwards of 80,000 to the Island's north shore in early July for the past three years.
With Wednesday's announcement of country superstars Rascal Flatts, Sugarland and Dean Brody performing at the 2012 CBMF, which will run from Friday, July 6, to Sunday, July 8, it appears fans of the festival can expect much of the same this coming summer.
And that's before taking into account that the three acts will only equal a small portion of the final list of performers at the festival.
"We're fortunate to be able to have a couple headliners this year to be able to release before Christmas," festival president Jeff Squires said during an interview with The Guardian Wednesday.
"Over the next four to five months, we'll continue (to release artists' names). If you look at other years, we were continuing to release artists right into the month of June. We'll follow that schedule."
Tickets for the festival go on sale this Saturday, Dec. 10, at 10 a.m.
In the past three years, Cavendish has become home to country music stars such as Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley and Toby Keith, as well as country legends Ricky Skaggs, Reba McEntire and Tanya Tucker.
Squires said he expects the final lineup to be as big as any previous CBMF.
"Cavendish Beach Music Festival is a place where the artists want to play and they like to plug it into their schedules because they know the fans in this end of Eastern Canada are going to come out and give a great reception."
Rascal Flatts, a band that has won nearly 40 music industry awards and boasts more venue attendance records than any other country music act, will hit the stage on Sunday, July 8, along with Dean Brody, a three-time winner at the Canadian Country Music Awards.
Sugarland, a winner of the 2011 Country Music Award for Vocal Duo of the Year will perform Saturday, July 7.
Of course, the acts can only be as good as the venue itself. Situated at a pristine location by beautiful campgrounds and beaches, the Cavendish field, a natural amphitheatre boasting a "million dollar" permanent stage, has been turned into a community of cowboy hats and leather boots during the past three years.
"The venue has become a big part of why people come," said Squires. "It's a world-class venue in a beautiful setting of Cavendish, P.E.I. and it truly is an enjoyable experience at any level."
"Over the next four to five months, we'll continue (to release artists' names). If you look at other years, we were continuing to release artists right into the month of June. We'll follow that schedule," - Festival president Jeff Squires
The festival is once again being sponsored by Atlantic Lottery. Tom Mullally, managing director of Atlantic Lottery's Red Shores, said the group is thrilled to be part of an event that has earned the province "bragging rights as a country music destination."
Also sponsoring the event is the province's Tourism department.
"This festival is a great example of how industry and government can work together to showcase our province and attract visitors to Prince Edward Island," said Tourism and Culture Minister Robert Henderson in the press release.
For more info, and to see a teaser video for this year's festival, go to the event's website at www.cavendishbeachmusic.com.
A general admission three-day early bird adult pass will cost $159.50; early bird VIP club three-day pass, $299; children (ages 6-12) three-day pass, $69.50; children under six years, free; and single day passes will be available in 2012.
LOL 10$/hr...sorry bud don't have your job...try 17....little bit of a difference....Not getting paid your rent-a-cop wage sorry to tell ya. And its the tax dollars paying for me to stand there. Unless your a welfare drawing tool then your paying for me to work there...thanks useless