City and Colour to headline this summer's festival Update

Confident that the time is right to restore the city’s summer festival back to the full package Derek Shogren and the Summer in the Park Committee held a news conference Tuesday afternoon to announce some of the entertainment line-up and programming for this year’s festival.

Shogren says everyone can continue to enjoy the free Lee Park programming which will include inflatables, the always popular petting zoo, exotic pet show and a variety of children’s performers. Folks can also look forward to a Movie in the Park, Art in the Park and the return of the much loved Country Open Singing Contest.

“One of the commitments that we made were, basically three or four commitments that we had, on was to bring back the Country Open,” states Shogren.

”Number two was obviously to bring back the concerts at the waterfront which we have done. From a business point I know President Strang from the Chamber has talked about it that he never felt the buzz was really back in town … it wasn’t the economic generator that festivals had been in the past, so certainly that was the other thing we were trying to do.”

“And again the other thing was kind of bringing the community together, we have everyone from the military supporting us, the arts community, and all kinds of service clubs from Kiwanis to Rotary, so it really is a community event and that’s what it’s all about.”





Mayor Al McDonald says he is looking forward to the festival being restored to the big homecoming event it once was.

“We’re bringing that ownership back of the festival for our community, it was a real sense of pride it was a homecoming it was a place that friends can gather,” notes McDonald of festivals past.

“We want to create that buzz in our community no question I think it’s there and I hear it ever day people are happy that it’s back,”



Part of restoring the weekend event as mentioned is returning to big stage concerts and today the committee announced the Friday night act is East coast band 'City and Colour'. The Juno award winners will be the headline act for the Friday July 29th concert at the North Bay Waterfront. Opening the night is Newfoundland’s Hey Rosetta and Saskatoon’s Sheepdogs. Saturday night’s musical act is expected to be announced next week.

Chad 'Buddah' Cardinal, who is often referred to as the guy who makes everything possible at the Wall, says when making a decision on who should be on stage for the Friday night gig the committee had to pick a band that would be well received by a age demographics. He said without a doubt lead singer Dallas Green has an unmistakable voice that appeals to young and old alike.

"I've had the opportunity to work with Alexisonfire and City and Colour in the past and in 15 years they're probably my favourite people in the industry to deal with."





Have a listen:





The Northern Ontario Open Country Singing Contest. The contest will get underway at 10 am on Friday July 29th and will wrap up at 6 pm on Sunday July 31st.

World’s Finest Shows Midway will be opening on Wednesday July 27th until Monday August 1, 2011. Advance midway tickets will be available for purchase

Wristbands for the evening musical entertainment are $20 in Advance and can be purchased online at www.capitolcentre.org or at the Parks, Recreation & Leisure Services Dept. at City Hall, Memorial Gardens, and The North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce, The Waterfront Marina, The Transit Terminal, TD Banks on Main St., North Bay Mall or Laurentian Ave.