JORDAN NUNZIATO FOR QMI AGENCY
The musical lineup for the Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival in Port Colborne makes this year a star-studded event.
"Part of when we look at the entertainment that we're bringing in, we always want to make sure that we are servicing the target market that we know are loyal at Canal Days," says Port Colborne Special Events Co-ordinator, Allaina Kane. "Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar is a very talented and very dedicated singer/songwriter, so it was a natural marriage to bring Suzie McNeil in because again, I found her to be a very strong singer/songwriter."
The 2010 concert series at Market Square in downtown Port Colborne features classic rockers Trooper and David Wilcox on Friday, July 30 starting at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, July 31 get ready for the Songs Collide local musical performances at 8 p.m. Following that is this year's headliners: Rock Star: INXS finalist and breakout Canadian singer/songwriter, Suzie McNeil, and the newly reunited Big Sugar.
Sunday, Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. features tribute artists playing hits from Tim Meagre, Faith Hill and Dixie Chicks. The Canal Days fireworks display is scheduled to start at about 9:30 p.m. and following that at roughly 10:30 p.m., Free Fallin', a tribute to Tom Petty, performs.
And finally, on Monday Aug. 2 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. catch The British Invasion Band, and following, The Caverners to end the concert series.
Big Sugar performing at this year's Canal Days is a big deal since the band had almost no intention of reuniting until a fellow band convinced them otherwise.
"I have to give credit to The Trews for reuniting Big Sugar because it really wasn't on my mind to do anything else with the band," says Johnson, front man of Big Sugar. "I have another band in Texas, and I've been producing a bunch of records. I went to see The Trews play on tour somewhere, and I was in the same town and went to see them. They did a bunch of Big Sugar songs and they got me on stage -- it was a riot."
As Johnson recalls, after the performance the members of The Trews began to try to convince him of reuniting his lost band.
"They were really sort of spurring me on to do Big Sugar again. They were like 'Come on man, don't you wanna? Don't you love playing those songs?' They really helped me to want to get back into it."
As Johnson didn't confirm any new recordings coming out for Big Sugar in the future, the band is back to play their classics.
Admittance to the all ages show is through donations of $2 to $5 at the gate.