Basement rockers get chance to play rock star in Niagara Falls
Clayton Mattatall to play his guitar after taking wedding vows at Day of 1,000 Musicians
Grizzled veterans and weekend basement rockers will stand side by side and all feel like rock stars for the day when they take to the Gale Centre parking lot in Niagara Falls on July 20.
If last year’s inaugural event is any indication of what they can expect, the guitarists, drummers and singers taking part in the second annual Day of 1,000 musicians can expect to see a massive crowd of spectators on hand to see them shredding it with guitars and channeling Keith Moon with their chopsticks.
But this year’s big event, billed as the biggest rock show in Canada, will have a new twist: A wedding.
St. Catharines resident Clayton Mattatall and his fiancé, Bobbi Jo Lord of Scarborough, will tie the knot before the crowd shortly before the Day of Musicians mass takes place at 6 p.m.
Mattatall, a longtime guitarist, played in last year’s event and was so blown away by how much fun it was that he pitched the idea to Lord of marrying him at this year’s collective performance.
“She said that would be cool to get married there,” he said.
Mattatall will once again pick
up his axe for this year’s event, after his wedding.
“I loved it last year,” he said. “It was great. At my age, to be in something that big was awesome.”
Modelled after a similar event in Italy, in which 1,000 musicians and singers gathered to belt out tunes, the Niagara Falls event is believed to be a first for this continent.
This year’s event, featuring up to 250 bass players, up to 250 guitarists, up to 250 drummers and up to 250 singers arranged in rows, is free for the public.
There is a $20 registration fee for performers, who will receive a Day of 1,000 Musicians T-shirt, a food voucher and a bag with items such as a commemorative guitar pick.
Co-organizers Paul Lemire and John Fillion said last year’s inaugural event at Firemen’s Park stuck a chord with participants, literally and figuratively.
Fillion, who was still helping latecomers find parking as the first people left last year’s event, said people driving past him made a point of stopping.
“They said ‘thank you so much for this day; this was one of the best days of my life,’” he said.
“That was truly heartwarming. What’s amazing is how moving the experience was for people.”
The 12 songs in this year’s collective performance, all but one Canadian rock classics, will be double last year’s number.
“The crowd screamed out for more and we listened,” said Lemire. “The reaction of the crowd and musicians was overwhelming.”
This year’s event begins with an opening ceremony at 12:45 p.m., then several local bands will take to the stage to perform before the wedding and the collective performance, with closing ceremonies at 7:30 p.m.
Niagara Falls city council unanimously agreed to waive rental fees at the Gale Centre for the event, with council members praising the organizers for what they said is a unique, family-friendly event.
For security reasons, people are asked not to bring backpacks or liquids. Water bottles can be filled on-site.
In the event of rain, the event will be moved to Sunday, July 21.
For more information or to register, visit dayof1000musicians.com.