The Cavendish Beach Music Festival has literally added some pop to this year’s lineup.
The festival announced on Tuesday that it is expanding by a day to make room for pop superstar Shawn Mendes.
The multi-platinum selling Canadian artist has captured the People’s Choice Award for favourite breakout artist and the Juno fan choice award.
Mendes also has two No. 1 Billboard album debuts, two platinum albums and seven consecutive platinum and multi-platinum singles.
The Cavendish festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
Jeff Squires, CEO of Whitecap Entertainment, the company that produces the festival, said they wanted to do something a little extra special to celebrate the big anniversary.
“It’s 10 years. We’re always trying to find a way to be creative and inventive,’’ Squires said Tuesday.
But, it was more than just trying to find something that appealed to another audience.
“I think one of the things is you don’t always have a chance to bring this type of artist to P.E.I.’’
RELATED: Cavendish Beach Music Festival requests fully-licensed venue and extension in hours
RELATED: 2017 Cavendish Beach Music Festival in photos
RELATED: Country music superstar Luke Bryan coming to Cavendish Beach Music Festival
Squires said Mendes will bring a Tayor Swift-like feel to the festival, using an artist who used to be country but identifies more with pop circles now as an example.
Squires said Mendes will appeal not only to a younger pop crowd, but will also appeal to families, much like Swift did.
Mendes will perform on the fourth night of the festival, Monday, July 9.
As it stands right now, here is how the lineup breaks down.
On Friday, July 6, it will be Brett Eldredge, Chase Rice, Meghan Patrick and The Road Hammers.
On Saturday, July 7, the stage welcomes Chris Young, Dallas Smith, Terri Clark and Lindsay Ell.
On Sunday July 8, it will be mega-star Luke Bryan, Granger Smith, James Barker Band and Petric.
And, on Monday, July 9 Shawn Mendes will headline a list that includes Dan + Shay, Broods, Lauv, Cashmere Cat and Alec Benjamin.
More artists will be announced in the coming weeks for every night of the festival.
Three-day passes are on sale now. Single day passes and four-day passes go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m.
Squires said the majority of artists on the lineup have never played the Cavendish festival before and he is also proud that the festival boasts one of the strongest female contingents it has had yet.
