An Article From the Vancouver Sun

[elanorelle]

(Mentions MIKA and some other Artists..the last paragraph is amusing)

 

Big-name stars coming to Vancouver in the new year

 

Amy O'Brian

Vancouver Sun

 

Thursday, December 20, 2007

 

As for who will be hitting Vancouver's stages in the new year, it's a bit premature to be giving a full listing of the year's big shows. But history tells us that tours often follow new album releases, so you can start getting excited now, even if the tour dates haven't been announced, if you know what we mean.

 

Celine Dion isn't one to waffle. The darling -- and decisive -- diva announced her Vancouver show nearly a year in advance. She will hit GM Place on Oct. 20 and is asking between $62 and $520 for the privilege of seeing her sing live.

 

If you're looking for a show earlier in the year (and one that's not quite so pricey), Michael Bublé will be the first big act to hit GM Place in the new year. The young crooner will be belting out his hits at the Garage on Jan. 12 and is charging a mere $49 to $89 for tickets.

 

B.C.'s own Hedley -- the band named after the town that was reportedly for sale a few years ago -- is playing two gigs in January, one an all-ages gig at the Croatian Cultural Centre on Jan. 18 and the other an adults-only show at the Commodore on Jan. 19. The boys warmed up the crowd for Bon Jovi this past weekend at GM Place -- not bad for a band led by a loud-mouthed kid from Abbotsford who placed third on the second season of Canadian Idol.

 

Things heat up in February with a veritable parade of musicians traipsing through the city.

 

Three Days Grace have already sold out their two shows at the Commodore on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2. But the Editors and Hot Hot Heat are scheduled to hit the same stage a couple of nights later, on Feb. 5 and there were still tickets available last time we checked.

 

The following week finds Ontario folk-rocker Hayden at U.B.C.'s Norm Theatre on Feb. 12, and Feist and Ron Sexsmith kicking off the two-year countdown to the Olympics on the same night at the Orpheum.

 

Wyclef Jean, the innovative rapper and former member of the Fugees, is at the Commodore on the 13th, while Mika, the flamboyant British pop sensation who sings that Grace Kelly song, is at the Orpheum on the 15th.

 

Wintersleep (which happens to be one of my new favourite Canadian bands) will be playing their simultaneously haunting and rocking melodies at the Commodore on Feb. 16.

 

John Mellencamp and Tom Cochrane are hitting the same stage at the Pacific Coliseum on Feb. 18 and Aussie surf singer -- and avid environmentalist -- Xavier Rudd will play the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Feb. 22.

 

There aren't a lot of concerts yet scheduled for March, but we do know that Avril Lavigne will be swinging back through town on March 7 to play to thousands of fans at GM Place -- some of whom might still be a little peeved at the singer for her tardiness earlier this month. The pop-punk princess left her devoted fans waiting in the freezing cold and snow for over an hour on Dec. 2 for her free show at Swanguard Stadium.

 

Alanis Morissette and Matchbox Twenty hit GM Place together a couple of nights later on March 9. The show has piqued curiosity not just for the slightly odd match of artists, but because Alanis has been off the radar for so long.

 

Also, the Foo Fighters announced this week they will be arriving in Vancouver on March 30.

 

The most hotly anticipated show of the spring though is happening March 31, when the Boss and his E Street band take over GM Place. Bruce Springsteen released a solid new album earlier this year and while he will undoubtedly play material from that, he's sure to break out at least a few of his older hits. He's also recently become friends with Win Butler and Regine Chassagne of Arcade Fire, who joined him in Ottawa recently for a surprise performance. Who knows? Magic could happen here, too.

 

There are a few other wild cards for 2008. Perhaps the biggest questions are whether Led Zeppelin will take their recent London show on the road and whether Radiohead will do any shows in North America. Thom Yorke and his band have announced a handful of European shows for next summer, but there hasn't been any word yet on whether they'll cross the pond. Fingers crossed.

 

Of course, nothing is certain in the uncertain world of music. Tours can be cancelled. Albums can be postponed. Artists can fall ill. But judging from what we know thus far, 2008 is shaping up to be another great year.

 

© The Vancouver Sun 2007