Eleven nights of world-class entertainment, the Iceberg Alley Performance Tent provides a fan-first experience featuring national and international chart-toppers
Summer 2019 is winding down. The final sun-soaked barbecues and ice-cold beers of our ever too brief season of the warm and wonderful are taking place in every town across The Rock. It’s the dog days, as they say, and for some, a feeling of ‘winter is coming’ goes hand in hand with back-to-school bargains and summer everything-must-go sales.
UNDER THE TOP
But there is hope, friends, hope for those who wish to live it up as if the hot summer nights lasted 24/7, 365.
The Iceberg Alley Performance Tent returns for 11 days of epic music under the grandest big top Newfoundland and Labrador has ever seen.
Returning for a third straight year of unprecedented entertainment tailor-made with patron experience in mind, the Iceberg Alley Performance Tent was created to showcase the unique culture, traditions and heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador alongside some of the best entertainers in the game both internationally and nationally.
It all takes place under the “big top,” a 36,000 square foot tent that would put Ringling Brothers to shame in the culturally historic area within the City of St. John’s known as Pleasantville, on the banks of Quidi Vidi Lake.
Complete with food trucks, fast and efficient beverage areas, a dedicated VIP area and all the amenities one would expect from a world-class concert venue, the eye-popping stage setup gives way to unforgettable concert experiences, with production to rival the very best this island has seen past or present.
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HIT-MAKERS & LOCALS
From 2017-18, Iceberg attendees flocked to the tent to take in a who’s who of music heavyweights, from chart-toppers with platinum hits to local favourites and rising stars.
Billy Talent, Steve Earle and The Dukes, Burton Cummings, Arkells, Serena Ryder, The Strumbellas, Big Wreck, Dean Brody, Dallas Smith, The Beaches, Shawn Hook and July Talk are among the phenomenal acts that have packed the tent for the first two installments of the rapidly growing festival. And while those names read as an impressive list of some of our very best both nationally and internationally, 2019’s lineup raises the game once more.
The 2019 Iceberg Alley Performance Tent lineup is a varied and eclectic mix of genres and stars both new and established. From country to indie pop, hard rock and traditional, there is something for everyone under the bright lights of the big top.
A ROCKIN’ FIRST NIGHT
It all kicks off on Wednesday, September 11th, as Juno-winning rockers The Glorious Sons return to Iceberg Alley with Hamilton southern rockers Monster Truck (more on them on p. 22) and beloved local trailblazers The Novaks.
On September 12th Iceberg Alley hosts the long-awaited return of one of Canada’s premier indie-pop attractions. Led by the enigmatic Emily Haines, Metric returns to the island with special guests Weaves. A winner of five Juno awards, Metric is a coast-to-coast fan favourite with a pair of platinum-selling albums here in the great white north.
Friday, September 13th features a double bill between some of the finest songwriting forces in North America as Los Angeles folk-rock four-piece Dawes headlines with the maritime legend Matt Mays and local singer-songwriter Chris LeDrew.
Saturday night is alright for scuffin’ as the biggest kitchen party under any big top worldwide makes a triumphant return to Iceberg Alley. It’s a triple threat of local favourites as Great Big Sea’s Alan Doyle will be joined by trad icons Shanneyganock and the impossibly uplifting Celtic Connection.
Last year the same combination of local flavour sold out well ahead of showtime, providing a packed and enthusiastic environment of rantin’ and roarin’ patrons.
On Sunday, September 15th, Scottish folk-rock pioneers The Waterboys make their long-awaited island return, bringing with them three decades of hits like Fisherman’s Blues, And a Bang on the Ear, The Whole of the Moon and Glastonbury Song.
Fans of ’90s rock can rejoice, because platinum-selling Californians Everclear make their Newfoundland debut on Monday, September 16th, with special guest Sister Hazel and a rare performance by ECMA winning Atlantic Canadian duo Crush. Stay tuned next week for a candid one-on-one interview with Everclear frontman Art Alexakis.
Patrons may be singing the blues on Tuesday, September 17th, but not in the way you think! Canadian blues-rock legend Colin James returns to Newfoundland and Labrador with his world-class smoky and soulful guitar. Special guests include the phenomenal Matt Andersen and The Mellotones and Willie Nile. 
We’d expect Nothing But A Good Time on September 18th as hair metal and classic rock titan Bret Michaels headlines the Iceberg stage, alongside guests Haywire. Michaels is a global brand and superstar frontman of ’80s staple Poison, known for the mega-hits Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Unskinny Bop and Talk Dirty to Me. You won’t want to miss a living legend of rock under the big top.
KICKIN’ IT COUNTRY
Thursday, September 19th, goes country, as chart-topping genre king Tim Hicks headlines a triple bill alongside Blackjack Billy and local powerhouse Damhnait Doyle, fresh off her acclaimed return album no less.
Just announced on August 13th, the final slot on the Iceberg Alley lineup will play host to one of the biggest bands in the history of Canadian rock music. No strangers to music fans across The Rock, Our Lady Peace will headline Friday September 20th at the Iceberg Alley, for a night of undisputed classic hits like Somewhere Out There, Naveed, Clumsy, Superman’s Dead and many more.
Transport back to the radio rock days of the ’70s and ’80s for a night of retro nostalgia unlike no other to close out the third annual Iceberg Alley on Saturday, September 21st. Loverboy, Kim Mitchell and David Wilcox will close out 11 nights of can’t miss entertainment in style! Grab a soda and go b’y!
So shake off the summertime blues. There are 11 nights of world-class music coming your way at the Iceberg Alley Performance Tent this September.