
Canada Day Countdown
Encyclopedia
The Canada Day Countdown is an event first started in Saint John, New Brunswick
, Canada
as a way to re-invent the celebration of Canada's National Holiday: July 1st (Canada Day
). The Canada Day Countdown is a free music festival that takes place on June 30th (Canada Eve) at New Brunswick's Festival Place, Market Square. It counts down toward Canada Day the second it arrives at midnight (similar to New Year's Eve) with Canada's National Anthem "O Canada" and fireworks. The first event in 2005 drew record crowds from across the Province of New Brunswick to enjoy this new format for celebrating Canada Day. The main advantage of the Canada Day Eve Celebration is that the Canada Day Countdown Party is always followed by the national holiday the next day so that revellers can stay out into the late evening (and early morning) hours. Local beverages such as Saint-John brewed Moosehead Beer are often consumed heavily by the crowd in celebration of the event and their pride in the Nation of Canada
. The event has become a respected showcase of the best in up and coming Atlantic Canadian musical talent.
Filling out the 2011 line-up is:
Filling out the 2010 line-up was:
with his band the Emergency
Filling out the 2009 line-up was:
.
Filling out the 2008 line-up was:
.
Filling out the 2007 line-up was:
.
Filling out the 2006 line-up was:
& El Torpedo.
Filling out the 2005 line-up was:
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
as a way to re-invent the celebration of Canada's National Holiday: July 1st (Canada Day
Canada Day
Canada Day , formerly Dominion Day , is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act , which united three British colonies into a single country, called Canada, within the British Empire...
). The Canada Day Countdown is a free music festival that takes place on June 30th (Canada Eve) at New Brunswick's Festival Place, Market Square. It counts down toward Canada Day the second it arrives at midnight (similar to New Year's Eve) with Canada's National Anthem "O Canada" and fireworks. The first event in 2005 drew record crowds from across the Province of New Brunswick to enjoy this new format for celebrating Canada Day. The main advantage of the Canada Day Eve Celebration is that the Canada Day Countdown Party is always followed by the national holiday the next day so that revellers can stay out into the late evening (and early morning) hours. Local beverages such as Saint-John brewed Moosehead Beer are often consumed heavily by the crowd in celebration of the event and their pride in the Nation of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The event has become a respected showcase of the best in up and coming Atlantic Canadian musical talent.
2011
2011 headline act is Juno Award-winning trio, Bedouin SoundclashFilling out the 2011 line-up is:
- Hey Ocean!
- United Steel Workers of Montreal
- Keith Mullins
- Earthbound Trio
- With Late Night Dance Party DJ
2010
2010 headline act was East Coast party band Ruby Jean & The Thoughtful BeesFilling out the 2010 line-up was:
- The Idlers
- Enter the Haggis
- Rose Cousins
- The Deep Dark WoodsThe Deep Dark WoodsThe Deep Dark Woods are a Canadian alternative country band from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, currently signed to Sugar Hill Records in the United States and Six Shooter Records in Canada...
- Jon McKiel
- With Late Night Dance Party with DJ Hawk
2009
2009 headliner was multiple ECMA winner Joel PlaskettJoel Plaskett
Joel Plaskett is a Canadian rock musician originally from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and now resides across the harbour in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia...
with his band the Emergency
Filling out the 2009 line-up was:
- David Myles Band
- The Got to Get Got
- Greg MacPherson
- Laurie Jones
- With a special late party featuring the Mardeen
2008
2008 headliner was juno-nominated act In-Flight SafetyIn-Flight Safety
-External links:* official website*...
.
Filling out the 2008 line-up was:
- Hey Rosetta!Hey Rosetta!Hey Rosetta! is a six-piece Canadian indie rock band from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Known for its energized live shows, the band creates a massive, layered sound by incorporating piano, violin and cello into the traditional four-piece garage rock sound.-History:Their influences include...
- Les Paiens
- Jeff Morris
- Yuk Yuks Comedy
- With a special late night jam featuring the Scientists of Sound
2007
2007 headliner was Halifax-based WintersleepWintersleep
Wintersleep is a Canadian indie rock band from Halifax, Nova Scotia.-Background:Wintersleep formed in 2001 and released two albums with Dependent Music, a music label and artists' collective that began in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1994....
.
Filling out the 2007 line-up was:
- The Jimmy Swift BandThe Jimmy Swift BandThe Jimmy Swift Band was a band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada that combined elements of rock, jam, and electronica. Composed of Craig Mercer on guitar and vocals, Mike MacDougall on bass, Aaron Collier on keyboards and effects, and Doug Cameron on drums, the band was most often described as...
- Two Hours TrafficTwo Hours TrafficTwo Hours Traffic is a Canadian indie rock band, based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. They are named after a line in the prologue to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Although often described as the band that Halifax guitarist Joel Plaskett took "under his wing", they have increasingly...
- Divine Heist
- Gordon Gets Lost
- With a special late night jam featuring Madame Brown
2006
The 2006 event was headlined by award winning Canadian rockers The TrewsThe Trews
The Trews are a Canadian rock band from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, consisting of vocalist Colin MacDonald, guitarist John-Angus MacDonald, bassist Jack Syperek, and drummer Sean Dalton...
.
Filling out the 2006 line-up was:
- Will HogeWill HogeWill Hoge is an American singer, songwriter and musician from Nashville, Tennessee.-Early life:Will Hoge grew up in Franklin, Tennessee, a rural suburb south of Nashville...
- Tom Fun OrchestraTom fun orchestraThe Tom Fun Orchestra is an indie rock ensemble from Cape Breton, Canada. The band features an unconventional mix of electric and acoustic instruments, including violin, banjo, accordion, trumpet, double bass, electric guitars and drums, and have elicited comparisons to acts ranging from The Clash,...
- Carmen Townsend & The Shakey DealsCarmen TownsendCarmen Townsend is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.-Career:Townsend's debut album, Waitin’ and Seein was released through ABC/ Universal in Australia on November 19, 2010...
2005
In 2005, the first Canada Day Countdown was led by ECMA award winner Matt MaysMatt Mays
Matt Mays is a Canadian singer-songwriter and was the lead singer of Matt Mays & El Torpedo, a rock music group based in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia and New York City. Previously, Mays was a member of a Canadian indie band The Guthries...
& El Torpedo.
Filling out the 2005 line-up was:
- SlowcoasterSlowcoasterSlowcoaster is a Canadian indie rock band from Sydney, Nova Scotia.The band's sound is essentially rock-based, with strong influences of reggae, ska, folk and jazz, combined with pop hooks and improvisation.-History:...
- Mr. Something Something
- The Novaks
- Jessica Rhaye
- All of Green