Wake up Maggie!

P.E.I. welcomes pop-rock legend Rod Stewart on stage tonight at the site of the Cavendish Beach Music Festival. No, the raspy-voiced singing star hasn’t gone country – although his concert comes on the eve of the highly successful, three-day country music jamboree. He was in the region and available for this date before heading to St. John’s for a Saturday performance.

The England native achieved instant megastar status with a smash single - the iconic Maggie May in 1971- before moving to the U.S. in 1975 where he’s had a very successful solo career. In recent years he’s enjoyed a resurgence by singing his classics and there are many to perform tonight.

His performance is a test for festival promoters who have toyed in recent months with expanding the use of the festival stage and the music genres performing there. They’ve been cautious, intent to not upset local residents or other tourism events and festivals.

But this weekend is ideal as Cavendish Beach has the spotlight almost to itself. Mr. Stewart will be a strong test for the drawing power of pop/rock music to Cavendish.

A bevy of country and folk stars are ready to perform Friday to Sunday before tens of thousands of fans and the weather looks to co-operate after a hurricane played havoc with Saturday’s shows a year ago. Music stars like Keith Urban, Steve Earle, The Mavericks, Alan Doyle, Dallas Smith, Eric Church, Jimmy Rankin etc. etc. will be sure to have country fans tossing cowboy hats in the air all weekend.