Coldplay, Jay-Z to headline massive summer music fest in small B.C. town
The U.K. has Glastonbury, the U.S. has Coachella and, this summer, Canadians will get a similar type of music festival in the village of Pemberton, B.C.
Organizers announced on Friday plans for the first-ever Pemberton Festival, with the fledgling event set to take over the town of about 2,200 — noted for being a picturesque hub for outdoor adventurers and located just 25 kilometres from famed ski resort community Whistler — from July 25-27.
Spearheaded by concert promoters Live Nation and Good Boy Productions, the inaugural festival will feature a host of headliners that include Coldplay, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Jay-Z and Nine Inch Nails.
Canadians slated to take part include The Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts Band, Metric, Buck 65, MSTRKRFT and Wintersleep.
The bill will also feature many newer and emerging acts, including Death Cab for Cutie, Interpol, The Flaming Lips, Vampire Weekend, MGMT and The Airborne Toxic Event.
The concert site will feature two stages, a dance tent and a "festival village" — all located at the foot of Mount Currie, with concert-goers able to camp or set up recreational vehicles on-site. Officials will also run a shuttle service to and from Whistler.
As with other massive outdoor music festivals, Pemberton organizers have also vowed to keep the festival as green as possible, with incentives planned for concert-goers arriving via car pool and concessions to feature bounty from local Pemberton Valley farms.
Tickets will go on sale March 28.
New York Yankees release Billy Crystal
TAMPA, Fla. - Billy Crystal's "mahvelous" time with the New York Yankees is over.
The team released the actor on his 60th birthday, one day after he struck out in his only at-bat against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The announcement came at the bottom of the second page in Friday's game notes. Under transactions, it said "March 14 Released INF Billy Crystal."
The team gave Crystal, a longtime Yankees' fan, the opportunity to be the designated hitter and lead off in the first inning Thursday because of his ambassador-like role for baseball.