Media releases

Virgin Festival 'pops' into Montréal!

Black Eyed Peas and New Kids On The Block headline first ever Virgin Festival Montréal!

MONTREAL (Quebec) June 19, 2009

Montréal’s summer kicks off in style today and tomorrow at Parc Jean-Drapeau with the first ever Virgin Festival Montréal!  Twenty-one artists including international chart-toppers and headliners Black Eyed Peas and New Kids On The Block, two awesome stages, a multitude of one-of-a-kind experiences and thousands of screaming fans means this festival is ready to go pop…in a big way!

“Let’s get it started!  Virgin Festival Montréal is here!” says Andrew Bridge, director of Virgin Festivals. “Since we launched in 2006, Virgin Festival has brought together more than 150,000 music fans and taken its place as one of the top music festivals in the country. Year in year out, Virgin Festival attracts some of the biggest acts from around the world.  We’re delighted that for the first ever Virgin Festival in Montreal festival-goers will get to party to hot talent including current world-wide chart-toppers and international superstars Black Eyed Peas and the legendary pop group New Kids On the Block!”

Jacques Aube, vice president and general manager, Gillett Entertainment Group, added, “This is going to be one jam-packed weekend that people will never forget.  The summer festival season is going to get a major boost this year with the Virgin Festival coming to Montréal and if there’s one thing you don’t want to miss this summer it’s the first ever Virgin Festival Montréal!”

And don’t forget, Virgin Festival is not just about the music – it’s also about the experience!  As well as an incredible line-up, there are stacks of experiences to keep festival-goers entertained between the music.  From burlesque pole dancing lessons, to graf artists spraying original works of art, to the chance for gamers to live out their rock star fantasies with hit X-Box 360 games, the entire island will be jam-packed with one-of-a-kind surprises to give you a v.special experience.

Check out all the fun at www.virginfestival.ca.

The talent….

Pumping up the volume on the Virgin Mobile Stage on day one will be headliners and Grammy Award-winning BLACK EYED PEAS, Canadian rockers HEDLEY, Juno Award-nominee R&B singer KREESHA TURNER, Alberta pop punk rockers TEN SECOND EPIC and R&B poppers STEREOS. 

Hitting the Festival Stage on day one will be MMVA and Juno Award-winning SIMPLE PLAN, synth-pop specialists THE NEW CITIES, pop folk singer-songwriter CARLY RAE JEPSEN, soul infusionist EVA AVILA and singer-songwriter SAM BRADLEY.

On day two on the Virgin Mobile Stage will be headliners and legendary pop group NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, Montréal-based rock singer-songwriter DAVID USHER, Juno and MMVA-nominated soul/fusion singer-songwriter KARL WOLF, Juno award winner and electro singer/songwriter LIGHTS, Mont-Royal singer JONATHAN ROY and  pop rockers 2AM CLUB

Day two on the Festival Stage will be multi-platinum pop soul singer AKON, alt-rock legends LIVE, singer-songwriter JESSE MCCARTNEY, R&B songstress DIVINE BROWN and all-male hip hop dance troupe JABBAWOCKEEZ.

Still need a ticket….

Tickets are available at the door for each day of the festival at the Parc Jean-Drapeau Box Office.  General ticket sales for two-day, one-day, and VIP Weekend tickets are available in person at The Bell Centre Box Office, select Future Shop locations, online at geg.ca or futureshop.ca and by calling (514) 790-2525 or 1-877-668-8269.  Ticket information is also available at 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).

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. You never know who you might rub shoulders with. Plus you get a front of the line entrance to the Festival, shorter washroom lines, 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.)

Let’s Crunch Some Numbers

With so much going down at Virgin Festival, it’s hard to keep track of it all! Here are a few key stats to keep in mind while checking out the festival:

• 3,000 Kilometres of recycled toilet paper will be used at Virgin Festival. That’s enough to lay out a road of toilet paper from Montréal to Houston, Texas. Which is really kinda loooooooooong.
• 327 The number of guitar picks the bands will go through at the festival.
• 99 The number of drum sticks drummers will be drumming with at the festival.
• 21 Number of artists that will be performing at the first ever Virgin Festival Montréal.
• 1 p.m. The time the gates open for Virgin Festival Montréal.
• 48 The number of big-ass speakers that will (literally) be pumping up the volume.
• 74 The number of guitars that will be used at the Festival.
• 399 The number of crowd surfers expected to get physical during the Festival.
• 15,000 Pounds of ice that will keep all those drinks cold.
• 30  Virgin Angels on hand to help you out or give you a hug.  Awwwwww.

Take Virgin Festival To Go!

Festival-goers on any mobile network can also get Festival info, including a map, the line-up, up to the minute weather and the latest breaking Festival news all by simply visiting http://m.vfest.ca straight from their mobile phones or by sending a text to 847446 with the message VFEST.
And the fun doesn’t stop there! Festival-goers can also send a pic to the big screen straight from their mobile phone – just message it to 514-679-3639. Wanna get a message up on the screen? Text your message to 847446.

More Virgin Festival Facts

• 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.
• 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.

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:

Shawn Filadelfi
HKDP Communications et affaires publiques
1 514 395 0375, poste 258 ou 1 514 793 7895
sfiladelfi@hkdp.qc.ca 

For more information on GEG please contact:

Christine Montreuil
Gillett Entertainment Group
1-514-925-2110
cmontreuil@geg.ca