Colin MacDonald (Trews) performs at Empire Rockfest 2014 (Photo: Quinte News/ Tim Durkin)
Belleville’s Empire Theatre is all set for its summer festival.
On Wednesday night, owner Mark Rashotte announced the 2017 artists and bands who will hit the stage.
Starting Thursday July 20th will be Sum 41, one of Canada’s biggest exports of the 90s. Their hits included “Some Say“, “In Too Deep“, “Fat Lip“, “Motivation” and “Pieces” . They will be joined by the openers The Flatliners.
Rashotte says the stars aligned to bring them to Rockfest.
On Friday night, July 21st, The Trews will headline the evening. Anthems of Canadiana include “Tired of Waiting” , “Sing Your Heart Out“, “Not Ready To Go“, “The Power of Positive Drinking“, “Hope and Ruin“, “Paranoid Freak“, “Poor Old Broken Hearted Me”, and the military tribute “Highway of Heroes“.
The Trews have appeared both inside the theatre and on the Rockfest stage. Opening the show will be Jake Clemons, the saxophonist of Bruce Springsteen. Clemens recently released a solo album “Fear and Love”.
Rashotte says the Trews are simply amazing.
The Glorious Sons during Rockfest 2016. (Photo: Michael J. Brethour)
The Saturday night will be new rock, with the sounds of classic rock. An evening featuring The Glorious Sons and The Sheepdogs. The Sons have blown onto the scene, and are described by the Empire’s Andy Forgie, as “one of the greatest shows in Rockfest history”. Their smash hits include “Lightning“, “Heavy“, “Mama“, “White Noise“, “Contender” and “Kill the Lights“. They will return after hitting the stage in Belleville last year (2016).
The Sheepdogs were the first unsigned band to be placed on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. “Feeling Good“, “The Way It Is“, “I Don’t Know“, “How Late How Long“, “Southern Dreaming” have been staples of each performance.
The Saskatchewan based band “The Sheepdogs” return to Belleville for Rockfest (Photo: Rolling Stone magazine)
Rashotte says with it being Canada’s 150th birthday, there could not be a greater Saturday night.
Mark Rashotte on the Sheepdogs & Glorious Sons
Tickets go on sale Thursday April 13, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. You can CLICK HERE to get tickets.
Tickets are $50 a night, $125 for the weekend with early bird pricing of $110 (includes HST).
Empire Owner Mark Rashotte gives tickets away Wednesday night (Photo: Tim Durkin/ Quinte News)
