About six months ago, I spoke to the representative at Casino Rama Resort in Orillia, Ontario, about the possibility of doing a media weekend to see Charley Pride and experience their beautiful resort with my parents. At that time my 80-year-old father was recently diagnosed with metastasized bone cancer, and I wanted to do something for him that was special and different than the norm. Casino Rama was gracious enough to accept my proposal. The story begins there. It has taken me two weeks to write this article. Why you ask? Because this wasn’t just a media trip. I also gave my parents a dream come true (which I didn’t realize the extent of it until we were experiencing it first hand). The Makings of a Fun Weekend at Casino Rama I was in Gaspe to bring my parents up to Ontario for their annual Winter stay with us. Dad had an appointment to see his oncologist, who was in Rimouski about five hours east of Gaspe, so we had to make a pitstop there. Well, the pitstop became an overnight adventure (if you want to call it that). He found out that his prostate cancer had metastasized into his rib cage. He […] Read More
It was almost a two-and-a-half-hour show, and yet anyone who caught Santana’s 2018 Divination Tour at the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton last night would attest to one thing: Carlos and his eight-piece band could have played forever… and ever. As just over 7,000 fans poured into the facility, the mood for the entire evening was set. A large screen on stage displayed psychedelic art and images of sorts – faces, symbols, and places – and jazz-fusion-style-music, dominated by the sound of a rich trumpet playing high and low notes, filled the air. The atmosphere was calm, welcoming, and peaceful. “We didn’t take any selfies back in 1976, that’s for sure,” laughed a man who held up his smartphone to snap a pic of himself with friends at their seats. He was referring to the last time he saw Santana at Maple Leaf Gardens, after scoring last minute nose-bleed-seats. “Wow, forty-two years sure does fly by… Let’s do this again,” he said while saluting the main stage with his tall can of beer. Then the lights dimmed and Santana took the stage. Fans stood on their feet, clapping and cheering as the band unleashed “Soul Sacrifice,” a brilliant instrumental that launched […] Read More
Get your cowboy boots ready as the 2018 Boots and Hearts line up is stellar! A little bit of old and a whole lotta new is coming your way with headlines Florida Georgia Line, Alan Jackson, and Thomas Rhett! Additional artists on the announcement include Billy Currington, Dallas Smith, and Brett Young. Tickets for Boots and Hearts are on-sale November 17th, 2017 at www.bootsandhearts.com with general admission tickets priced at $229.99. Boots and Hearts is an annual country music festival event produced by Republic Live. It takes place at the custom designed camping and festival grounds at Burl’s Creek this summer from August 9th – 12th. Boots and Hearts will make an amazing gift this Holiday Season too! “We’re thrilled with our headliner announcement for Boots and Hearts’ seventh year,” said Eva Dunford, Founding Partner, Republic Live. “For fans to see Florida Georgia Line and Thomas Rhett return to our festival when we’ve all watched their careers skyrocket, it’s a really rewarding experience. These are some of the world’s biggest country music stars and they’re back! Adding to that excitement is Alan Jackson, with his first ever Boots and Hearts performance. Currently, this is Alan’s only scheduled Canadian performance for 2018, and it’s […] Read More
A once-in-a-lifetime cultural event that’s been exactly thirty years in the making, British pop powerhouse Bananarama touch down in 2018 for their first four dates in North America, as the original three-piece lineup – Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward, and Siobhan Fahey. First up, the ladies take over Los Angeles on February 20 before gigs in San Francisco, Toronto, and New York. Check out the full itinerary below. A special fan presale goes live Wednesday October 11, while general on-sale begins Friday October 13. As they will sell out fast, get tickets HERE. This marks a very important first for the trio. Prodigal sister Fahey amicably split from the group back in 1988-thirty years to the date of this forthcoming tour. Even though Dallin and Woodward carried on as Bananarama, performed around the globe, and released six albums, they never properly toured in their initial incarnation with Fahey. That changes in 2018. This reunion celebrates their enduring legacy as a three-piece and the seminal albums they recorded together such as Bananarama [1984], True Confessions [1986], and Wow! [1987]. Expect to hear show-stopping and stunning renditions of era-defining singles, including the Hot 100 #1 smash “Venus“, Top 5 hit “I Heard A […] Read More
What to pack for Boots and Hearts is a question everyone has. I have only missed one Boots and Hearts Country Music Festival in the past six years and I’ve become a pro as I have overpacked and underpacked. What to Pack for Boots and Hearts 2017 A tent. Well that’s obvious isn’t it? Camping chairs or something to sit and relax on. I’m currently checking out the Koolulu inflatable couch for next year. I have seen people bring it into the venue as well. Be sure to pack it up at night in general camping. Large cooler – pack up your food and drinks in one easy cooler. This is a great product that worked for me! The Coleman 100QT Wheeled Xtreme guarantees you the pleasure of keeping food and drinks cold, a place to put drinks, and an extra seating place if you meet some friends. I kid you not. I had to buy 2 extra bags of ice over four days. If I was in general camping I’d be a little skeptical of bringing something of this value. For those who love a hot meal, I recommend the Coleman NXT Standup Propane Grill. Very easy to pack and with no picnic […] Read More
On July 6th, 2017, we travelled from Ontario to attend the 9th Annual Cavendish Beach Music Festival, located in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island. I have to be honest. I’ve been to a lot of concerts and festivals. However, this festival, with its East Coast charm and friendliness, is top of charts going forward. I want to be a part of it every year if finances allow. We arrived on a warm Thursday evening and stayed a stone’s throw from the festival at the Cavendish Breeze Inn. It was walking distance and we were able to hear the artists on the main stage loud and clear. I would highly recommend this cottage if you are a non-partier after 11, but want to attend the festivities. Friday’s Lineup Friday’s festivities got off to an amazing start with Port Cities, the legendary Good Brothers, Brandy Clark, Gord Bamford, High Valley, and headliner Little Big Town. If you haven’t heard of High Valley, I highly recommend that you check them out on YouTube. I saw High Valley at the second Boots and Hearts Music Festival and they’ve grown into a thriving band with a lot of staying power. Note** They are not hard on […] Read More
