Flaming Lips And Massive Attack Headline Toronto's Virgin Festival
Friday June 30, 2006 @ 06:30 PM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff

Sir Richard Branson

There's a British invasion coming to Toronto this summer, as England's V Festival will take over Island Park on September 9 and 10.

The Flaming Lips, Gnarls Barkley, Alexisonfire, Eagles Of Death Metal, The Dears, The Hidden Cameras, Buck 65, 2ManyDJs, Phoenix, Starsailor and Plaster will play on Saturday, while Sunday will see Massive Attack, The Raconteurs, Sam Roberts Band, Wolfmother, Thrice, K'Naan, Zero 7, Jose Gonzales, We Are Wolves and Mickey Avalon perform. More acts will be announced within the next few weeks to take the total above 40.

Sir Richard Branson, the billionaire with the Cheshire grin, performed his usual humble entrance when he rappelled from a helicopter on Friday morning at the Docks entertainment complex to make the announcement. The Virgin Group chairman and founder of Virgin Mobile Canada said that this "great weekend festival," which has been taking place in England since 1996, only makes sense.

"Our roots are music," said Branson. "We built up the biggest independent label in the world."

Canada's inaugural Virgin Festival will start at noon and go until 11 p.m. on both days. The Virgin Mobile stage will be located on Olympic Island and Centre Island will host the Future Shop stage. The combined capacity for both stages is 25,000.

The partnership between Virgin Mobile and Toronto-based Emerge Entertainment will also feature the Red Light Lounge, where attendees can dance to music spun by DJs from around the world, an international food village, several beer gardens and an area for vendors and interactive exhibitors.

You can purchase either a one-day ($57.50) or two-day ($104.50) ticket. The prices include all sales taxes, a donation to the Virgin Unite charity, the ferry ride to and from the islands, and unlimited access to Centreville rides.

Tickets can be purchased exclusively from July 2-7 at Future Shop stores in the Greater Toronto Area and online here. Buying tickets from Future Shop grants "front-of-the-crowd" access to the Future Shop stage. Tickets will go on sale through all Ticketmaster outlets, online or by calling (416) 870-8000 starting at noon on July 8.

Virgin also used the festival announcement to introduce its new limited-edition Virgin Mobile Rock Box, which includes a Nokia 3155i Groove phone with red and white stripes (just in time for Canada Day), a Nokia headset, two artist ringtones and two videotones.