Hip, STP to line Virgin fest

Calgary is one step closer to becoming virgin-ized after the Virgin Music Festival announced its exciting lineup.
Music festival promoters rolled out the red carpet and rolled out the big names yesterday as popular bands The Tragically Hip and the newly reunited Stone Temple Pilots were announced as headliners.
Andrew Bridge, director of Virgin Festivals, said the inaugural city event puts Calgary on the top of the list with Toronto and Vancouver on the music scene.
“I think it’s a sign Calgary has come into its own and has become a great music scene and a staple in the music industry,” Bridge said.
The Virgin Music Festival is the biggest music festival in the country, playing already three times in Toronto and once in Vancouver.
“We’re just really excited to bring internationally acclaimed and Canadian artists, both established and up and coming, to the city.”
The Virgin Music festival was created by Sir Richard Branson who made the announcement last year the popular event would stop in Calgary.
“When we announced the event I promised we’d continue to make music a huge part of people’s lives,” Branson said.
The unique part of the announcement is thousands of Calgarians were asked what musical acts they would like to see in the city and Virgin responded.
“Who knows what music Calgary wanted to hear better than Calgarians themselves?” Branson added.
Other acts set to hit the stage include The Flaming Lips, Three Days Grace, Corb Lund, Mathew Good, City and Colour, The New Pornographers and Calgary’s own The Dudes, to name a few. More acts will be announced in the next month.
Music fan 23-year-old Sherry Matherson said she is excited about the musicians coming to the city.
“It’s just awesome the Stone Temple Pilots are getting back together for the show. They’re the reason I’m going, but the other bands are great too,” Matherson said.
-krista.sylvester@metronews.ca