By Kevin Toal - The Weekly News
With two successful years under their belt, organizers of Weir Rockin' 09 are preparing to Raise a Little Hell. On Aug. 22, yet another legendary Canadian band will take to the stage at Weir Field in Upper Sackville.
The official unveiling of the event was made April 9 at the Beer Institute in Alexander Keith's Brewery. Sponsors, volunteers and politicians were treated to a visual display of previous concerts before hearing the latest news.
"And now for the worst-kept secret in Sackville," began Scott McKenzie, who is marketing and promoting Weir Rockin' '09.
From the back of the crowd, District 19 Coun. Brad Johns quipped, "Sorry about that."
As the laughter died down, McKenzie announced Trooper would be the headlining act. A boisterous round of applause greeted the news. Even though supporting acts are yet to be decided, the overall feeling was that this concert will be even more successful than last year's show.
McKenzie admitted that putting on an event with an estimated audience of 2,500 takes a great deal of planning and hard work. But when it succeeds, as Weir Rockin' has done for two years in a row, the organizers are justifiably proud of their accomplishment.
"I think (Weir Rockin') is huge," McKenzie said. "We're doing something a lot of small towns don't do. At least not as a non-profit event."
All money raised is earmarked for future shows and in case of rainy days. Realizing that poor weather can have a major impact on an outdoor concert, the organizers hold on to enough money to ensure that a bad year will not wipe them out. The money is also used to make each year bigger and better than the year before.
"We're always trying to improve it," McKenzie said.
It has become a little easier to organize the annual event, he said. "We now have contacts. We pick up the phone and say we're doing it again. With more volunteers, it means we can delegate some of the work."
The event has become a tradition among local residents. Andy Conrad, general manager of the Springfield Lake Rec Centre, said that for many, it was like a reunion. "Even those who have tickets for the VIP tents don't stay in them," he said. "They're always going out (into the field) to meet up with old friends."
For Johns, who is also one of the sponsors, the concerts are a highlight. "I've had the best experience with HRM with this event," he said. "More than anything else I've been involved in."
Tickets go on sale June 1. For more information, see www.weirrockin.com.
atoal@ns.sympatico.ca
