Media releases

Virgin festival goes national!

Montréal announced as first Virgin Festival of 2009

MONTREAL (Quebec) May 6, 2009

Virgin Festival, Canada’s hottest summer music festival, announced today that it’s going to rock Canada from coast to coast this year with five Virgin Festivals! In addition to Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, Virgin Festival will also be held for the first time in Montréal and Nova Scotia! Each Festival host city will deliver everything that Virgin Festival is known for: A-list superstar headliners, a genre-busting mix of musical styles, and hot up-and-coming local talent, all at ticket prices that won’t break the bank.

The news also dropped that Virgin Festival Montréal will be the first festival of the year! Virgin Festival Montréal will deliver the music festival event of the year to an expected 30,000 music lovers at Parc Jean-Drapeau – éle Ste-Héléne on Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 2009.

“After last year’s incredible success, we’re taking the Festival coast to coast in 2009,” announced Richard Branson, Chairman of the Virgin Group. “Virgin Festival is spreading the love to Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Montréal, and Nova Scotia, making it a truly national Music Festival.”

“Virgin Festival Canada keeps getting bigger and better and that’s thanks to the growing number of fans that keep coming back for more and more,” added Nathan Rosenberg, Chief Marketing Officer, Virgin Mobile Canada. “We’ve grown from 30,000 fans in our first year to a total that’s now well over 150,000, and in 2009 we’re expecting to break the 300,000 mark, making Virgin Festival the fastest growing music festival in Canada.”

Keep an eye on www.virginfestival.ca for the latest breaking news on the exact locations, dates, and line-ups for the Canadian Virgin Festivals.

Virgin Festival Montréal

Headlining day one will be the Grammy Award-winning Black Eyed Peas, the MMVA and Juno Award-winning Simple Plan, Canadian rockers Hedley, synth-pop specialists The New Cities and soul infusionist Eva Avila. Headlining day two will be legendary pop group New Kids On The Block, multi-platinum pop soul singer Akon, alt-rock legends Live, up-and-coming electro singer/songwriter Lights and R&B songstress Divine Brown. More stellar talent will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We’re thrilled to finally be bringing one of the biggest music festivals in Canada to Montréal,” said Andrew Bridge, Director of Virgin Festival. “Like all Virgin Festivals, the Montréal event will be an unforgettable one packed with supersonic talent and one-of-a-kind experiences.”

This year, Virgin Festival Canada will partner with Gillett Entertainment Group (GEG) for Virgin Festival Montréal.

Jacques Aube, Vice President and General Manager, Gillett Entertainment Group added “Montréal is a natural host for Virgin Festival. The city has an eclectic, thriving music scene, and tons of festival-loving fans. With artists like Black Eyed Peas, New Kids on the Block, Simple Plan, Akon, Hedley, Live, Lights, The New Cities, Eva Aliva and Divine Brown we’re going to wow them with an experience that only Virgin Festival can create.”

Virgin Festival Facts

• 300,000 screaming fans! By the end of the summer Virgin Festival Canada is expected to be the fastest growing music festival in Canada with over 300,000 fans.
• Virgin Radio number one groupies! This year, Virgin Festival is partnering with its sister brand Virgin Radio and Astral Media to help grow the Virgin Festival buzz and spread the love with exclusive Festival news, the latest breaking artist info, and hot ticket offers.
• Virgin Festival is way more than a concert! While music takes centre stage at Virgin Festival, there’s much more happening than just that. The Festival creates on on-site experience like no other – from interactive displays and contests, a vendor village, beer gardens, special perks for Virgin Mobile customers, and way more – there is always something to keep everyone going while they’re waiting for their fave artist to take the stage.
• Raising funds for Virgin Unite! Virgin Festival also works to raise funds for Virgin Unite – the charitable arm of the Virgin Group that focuses on creating grass roots change and sustainable businesses to make a real difference for people around the world who need it most.
• Keeping the festival green! Another crucial focus for the festival is taking care of the environment. On the path to becoming as carbon-neutral as possible, Virgin Festival will provide recycling on-site, use biodegradable food and drink containers and leverage green energy sources, where possible, to power the music festival.

Ticket News

General ticket sales for two-day, one-day, and VIP Weekend tickets begin Saturday, May 9th at 10 a.m. in person at The Bell Centre Box Office, select Future Shop locations, online at www.geg.ca, or www.futureshop.ca, and by calling (514) 790-2525, or 1-877-668-8269. Ticket information is also available at www.virginfestival.ca. Two-day tickets are $133.50 (including all sales taxes, $7.50 Service Charge $4 Facility Fee, and a $2 donation to Virgin Unite Canada). One-day tickets are $75 (including all sales taxes, $7.50 Service Charge, $2 Facility Fee, and a $1 donation to Virgin Unite Canada).

As always, when you’re with Virgin Mobile you move to the front of the line. Virgin Mobile customers can get their hands on Early Bird tickets before anyone else.

Want to put some VIP into your Virgin Festival experience? Kick it up a notch and party like a rock star in the Louder Lounge. This exclusive VIP area is stuffed with comfy lounge chairs, cabanas, drinks, and food to keep you relaxed and fueled up. Plus, you never know who you might rub shoulders with. Plus you get a front of the line entrance to the Festival, shorter washroom line ups, and a Festival merchandise discount. Get all the details at virginfestival.ca. VIP Weekend tickets can be yours for $313.50 (including all sales taxes, $7.50 Service Charge, $4 Facility Fee, and a $2 donation to Virgin Unite Canada.)

About Virgin Mobile

The Virgin Mobile group of companies has attracted more than 12 million customers worldwide. As the No.1 mobile youth network, Virgin Mobile Canada's mission is to be Canada’s most loved mobile company. Its simpler, better deals offer customers control, flexibility and choice to design mobile packages that truly works for them. J.D. Power and Associates ranked Virgin Mobile highest in customer satisfaction with prepaid wireless service for four years in a row  and 91% of customers would recommend Virgin Mobile to a friend.

Virgin Mobile phones are available at more than 4,000 locations with top-up cards available at more than 10,000 locations nationally. Virgin Mobile products can also be purchased online at www.virginmobile.ca or by calling 1-888-999-2321.

About GEG

Gillett Entertainment Group (GEG) is one of the top entertainment promoters in the world. In 2008, GEG finished in 10th position amongst the top concert promoters around the world and Bell Centre was ranked third in America (according to Pollstar magazine), reaching out to 1.5 million fans thanks to over 638 shows that were presented across Quebec, the Maritimes and Vermont.

For more information on Virgin Festival please contact:

Erica Faltous
Hill & Knowlton Canada
1-416-413-4695/1-416-400-0171
erica.faltous@hillandknowlton.ca  

For more information on GEG please contact:

Michal Wieglus
Gillett Entertainment Group
1-514-925-2138
mwielgus@geg.ca