Buy a ticket to this weekend’s Virgin Festival in Halifax and bring a friend for free to see “a cracking lineup” of musical acts, from iconic Canadian rockers The Tragically Hip to local boys In-Flight Safety, an event spokesman promised Thursday.
“It’s a special offer that’s recently been released,” Chris Baines said Thursday from Toronto of the new two-for-one deal. “It applies to people who already have a ticket as well.”
He said the special price isn’t because organizers are feeling the heat from competing summer concerts such as Paul McCartney and KISS — both taking place on the Halifax Common this month — but because they want to encourage as many Nova Scotians as possible to come out and enjoy the first ever Virgin Festival in their province.
And of course, let’s not forget the day-long concert includes American punk rockers The Offspring, who have chosen Halifax for their one and only Canadian performance with the annual festival, which originated in the United Kingdom about 14 years ago.
“It’s unique for Virgin Festival Canada,” Baines said of the Offspring appearance. “They were well up for it.”
He said organizers try to ensure all Virgin Festival shows “have a good-mix” of music including both A-list and local acts.
“We also tailor each festival to each market,” Baines said, with feedback on what local music fans want coming from websites such as Facebook and Twitter. “So with this one you’ve got very much a rockin,’ sort of indie-type band lineup.”
Baines said the festival this Saturday on Citadel Hill can accommodate about 15,000 people, adding ticket sales are going “strong.” He said at Virgin Festival music is centre stage, but added there’s a lot more going on, from onsite yoga and pole dancing to a traditional British red phone booth for a quiet place to make phone calls.
Go to virginfestival.ca for more information.
