Impressive list of bands to take to stage for Whoop-Up Days
THEORY OF A DEADMAN, FINGER ELEVEN, 38 SPECIAL AMONG PERFORMERS
It’s heavy rock and a rock heavy lineup, as the full entertainment array for Whoop-Up Days 2017 was unveiled during a media gathering Tuesday evening at Exhibition Park.
Theory of a Deadman, The Trews, 38 Special, April Wine, Finger Eleven, The Glorious Sons and Jess Moskaluke will headline the five nights of concerts this year.
On Aug. 22, Theory of a Deadman will headline at 9 p.m. following an opening 7 p.m. set by The Trews. The next night, Aug. 23, is for the classic rockers, as April Wine will open at 7 p.m. for 38 Special at 9 p.m.
Those first two nights will be held at the grandstand as part of the 120th Anniversary Grandstand Concert Series. A special ticket price of $59 has been set for each night’s double bill, which includes gate admission.
“We’ve got some really good action going on for bands,” said Doug Kryzanowski, Exhibition Park’s marketing manager.
Theory of a Deadman has a long line of multi-format hits, including the 2008 U.S. No. 1 Mainstream Rock breakthrough, “Bad Girlfriend.” The Trews are widely regarded as one of Canada’s top live bands with such hits as “Not Ready To Go” and “Highway of Heroes.”
Southern rockers 38 Special have sold more than 20 million albums with such mega hits as “Hold On Loosely” and “Caught Up in You.” April Wine is well known to any Canadian who listened to rock music since 1970, due to a line of songs such as “Roller,” “I Like To Rock,” “You Could Have Been A Lady” and “Just Between You And Me.”
After the grandstand concert series, the following three nights will return to the Gas King Stage for the 120th Anniversary Pioneer Park Concert Series. Admission on those nights is included with gate passes.
On Aug. 24, Finger Eleven, one of Canada’s most recognized rock bands, with songs such as “One Thing” and “Paralyzer,” will perform at 9 p.m. after an opening set by local acoustic cover band Uncovered.
On Aug. 25, The Glorious Sons will take the stage at 9 p.m. Since 2015, they have had seven consecutive top10 radio hits including No. 1 “The Contender.”
Whoop-Up Days veterans may recall The Sons playing on rainy 1 C Friday night back in 2015. Despite the midway and rodeo being shut down, about 1,000 people still turned out for the show. Lethbridge’s Steve Keenan Band will open in 2017 at 7 p.m.
Moskaluke, Canadian Country female artist of the year for three years running, will headline the final night at 9 p.m.
With her hit track “Cheap Wine and Cigarettes,” she became the first female Canadian country solo artist since Shania Twain to achieve platinum single status. At 7 p.m., Theo Fleury & The Death Valley Rebels will play, preceeded by Dory & The Weathermen at 5 p.m.