By Kim Moar - The Weekly News
The first day of a two-day Halifax Common concert headlining Kid Rock has been cancelled.
Kid Rock, along with Counting Crows, Daughtry, Tonic, Jimmy Swift Band, and the Stanfields were to kick off the Halifax Rock concert on July 23. On Friday, the promoter issued a press release saying the first night's acts have been cancelled.
On Saturday, July 24, six-time Grammy winners The Black Eyed Peas, Weezer, Classified, Hot Hot Heat, Rich Acoin, and Chad Hatcher are still scheduled to perform.
Ticket holders for the July 23 Kid Rock concert can contact the Ticket Atlantic box office at 451-1221 for a refund, or attend the July 24 concert instead.
Country Rockfest hits the Halifax Common stage on Friday, Aug. 6 and runs to Saturday, Aug. 7. The line-up includes Alan Jackson, Johnny Reid, George Canyon, One More Girl, Kevin Costner, Billy Currington and Lonestar.
In recommending council exempt the concerts from city noise rules, HRM staff say events of this magnetitude are good for business.
"The complete economic impact of these concerts is unknown at this time, but they will generate millions of dollars in economic spin offs," said a report to council.
The province's tourism department agrees.
"This is great from a tourism perspective, and it's something we love to see," said Tina Thibeau, spokeswoman for the provincial Tourism, Culture and Heritage department.
Besides the Common concerts, Halifax is hosting numerous large events this summer that not only brings the tourists, but also numerous other people to actually put on the events.
"We all benefit from those people coming to visit Nova Scotia, even if it is just for one of these events because they're contributing to our economy, they're staying in our hotels or in our inns, so they're playing a big role from a tourism perspective.
While some there's been some criticism of the acts that are performing this year, everyone's musical taste is different, and what attracts one may not another.
Thibeau said she has family coming in from Ontario to see the Alan Jackson concert, something some people here may scoff at, but for them it's a big deal.
Power Promotional Events Inc., which is putting on the two shows, told HRM besides noise from the actual concert, some site preparation could get noisy too.
Work on the North Common will start on Monday, July 19 and conclude Thursday, Aug. 12, and will include removing baseball backstops and light standards, as well as the construction of the concert infrastructure. Replacing HRM infrastructure and removal of concert infrastructure.
The daily work schedule will be from 7 a.m to 9:30 p.m. or later if delays occur.
On the days of the concert performances the hours of use will be from 1:30 p.m. to midnight. Dismantling on the last day could last until 2 a.m. The stage structure will not be dismantled until the morning after the Aug. 7 concert.
Work on the Common could include temporary installation/modification of water pipes, removal of back stops, construction of the stage, erection of a perimeter fence, and will require the use of cranes, heavy machinery, a large number of transport tractor trailers delivering/removing infrastructure and supplies, back hoes, etc.
Power Promotions said the majority of the construction will take place in the southeastern corner of the North Common (corner of Cogswell Street and North Park Street) where the concert stage will be located.
The sound system contains directional speakers that will diminish the sound outside of the North Common boundaries, but will not completely eliminate the sound outside the concert site.
During the concert, sound will be directed from the southeastern corner to the northwestern corner of the North Common toward Robie Street.
During the concert set up and the actual concert, diesel generators will supply power to various locations on the concert site.
kmoar@hfxnews.ca
For ticket information, call (902) 451-1221 or go to www.ticketatlantic.com.
