Looks Like V-Fest has Gone Over to the 'Pop' Side

It was last summer when I went to my first Virgin Festival in Toronto. My sister and I boarded the ferry that would take us over to Centre Island where we would have our minds blown with set after set of amazing Indie and Rock bands such as The Foo Fighters, The Fratelli's, Bloc Party and Oasis.

Although I don't go to concerts every weekend, I have been to my fair share (including my first concert when I saw Blue Rodeo with my family at the age of six). The Virgin Festival was an amazing experience and although it was a touch on the expensive side I thought it was worth it. Just to see The Foo Fighters and Oasis would probably cost at least $60.00 each, so I was willing to pay the $200+to see many bands that I had been listening to for a few years.

This year something changed. Firstly, the location. No longer will V-Fest be held at Toronto's Centre Island but at Molson Park in Barrie. (I have heard rumours of others places, so please correct me if I am wrong). I didn't like this decision at first, but after remembering how awful it was waiting for 2 hours to get on the Ferry on the Saturday night, I agreed with the change.

Secondly, the line-ups have changed drastically. Although they still have not released the Toronto line-up, the line-ups for the festivals in Montreal and in the U.K are both filled with pop artists. Montreal's line-up includes:

New Kids on the Block
Akon
Stereos
Black Eyed Peas
Jesse McCartney
Eva Avila
Divine Brown

Hylands Park and Weston Park (both in the U.K) line ups include:

The Killers
Lily Allen
Taylor Swift
Oasis
Snow Patrol
MGMT
Lady GaGa
Natalie Imbruglia
The Proclaimers

and others

Of course, there are a few decent names in the line ups. But the good does NOT outweigh the POP. How did Taylor Swift and Jesse McCartney ever get booked to play V-Fest? It seems that V-Fest has taken a turn for the worse. No longer will it be a place for the hipsters, indie-rockers and music-lovers. It has become a place for the Poppers. Although I am sure every 13-year-old girl singing Taylor Swift's "Our Song" will be dying to go this year. (Also, aren't The Proclaimers a band from, oh lets say, the early '90s's? Yes Five Hundred Miles is a very fun song, but are they V-Fest appropriate?)

Not all of the V-Fest concerts are a waste of money. Nova Scotia's line up isn't terrible with the Tragically Hip headlining and Metric playing a set. Of course, if you are up for some travelling, just catch the Tragically Hip when the play in Harris Park, London, Ontario on July 23rd with The Spades and Arkells (who will also be at the Nova Scotia V-Fest). And you can catch Metric at EdgeFest in Toronto for approximately $50 where Billy Talent will be headlining and K-OS, Alexis on Fire, Moneen, Arkells (again!), The Stills and AFI will all be performing.

So even though V-Fest is an absolute disappointment (so far, we will see what the Toronto line-up has in store for us) this year, there is no reason that you can't enjoy some fantastic concerts across the country this summer. Some of these include:

The Osheaga Music Festival in Montreal
North By Northeast (NXNE) in Toronto
Vancouver Island MusicFest on Vancouver Island (where Steven Page will be performing!)
ReggaeFest 2009 in Calgary

and many, many others....


Maybe V-Fest was a over-rated anyways. It only makes sense that it would start to appeal to the mainstream.