Tickets on sale for Tragically Hip Niagara (Ontario) concert

by Bullet News Niagara

Tickets for the Tragically Hip's Niagara-on-the-Lake concert on June 30 went on sale Saturday.

The concert is set to take place at The Commons in Butler's Barracks. Organizers from AEG Live appeared at the Feb. 13 Town Council meeting to seek councillors' approval for a one-hour noise bylaw extension, allowing them to continue rocking until 11 p.m. instead of 10.

Vanessa Arscott, representing AEG Live Canada Ltd., said the company was approached by the band to organize the event, with Niagara-on-the-Lake in mind. With 2012 marking the bicentennial of the War of 1812, and Niagara-on-the-Lake being the epicentre of commemoration activities, Arscott said it made the historic town the perfect venue for such a concert event. Arscott also noted they have already been working with local food and wine vendors to supply concessions for the event.

Organizers expect between 15,000 and 20,000 people to come to the concert and have been working to find parking and shuttle arrangements for concert-goers to help them access the grounds during what will already be a busy weekend for the popular tourist town.

The day-long concert will also feature Death Cab For Cutie, The New Pornographers (featuring AC Newman, Neko Case, John Collins, Kurt Dahle, Todd Fancey, Blaine Thurier and Kathryn Calder) and The Rural Alberta Advantage. Doors for the event will open at 3 p.m.

The concert will coincide with several other Canada Day weekend events planned for Niagara-on-the-Lake, including the annual Festival at the Fort, featuring fireworks, live entertainment and family activities at Fort George.

The Friends of Fort George traditionally plan a day of activities set to take place in Simcoe Park leading up to the evening activities at the fort. The Simcoe Park celebrations include the Cake Parade down Queen Street. Artistry by the Lake, a two-day marketplace and art show for artists and artisans producing original high quality handcrafted works will again be taking place in Queen's Royal Park, this year on June 30 and July 1.

Organizers said they hope the Hip concert will bring people into town to take in all of these events, not just the concert, and have been working with hotels and inns to create overnight packages.

Single day tickets for each show are $69.50 plus service fees and there will be a limited number of two-day festival tickets available for $99.50 plus service fees. All tickets are general admission and will be available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.ca or by phone at 416-870-8000. For more information on both shows visit www.thehip.com.