Dustin Parsons, Sales & Marketing Manager at Marble Mountain, could gush for days about the fabulous summer they’ve had so far and the fun to come in the weeks and months ahead.   

Marble Mountain in the summer? That’s new! Oh yes! But it quickly became a hit for so many reasons.

“This summer marks the first summer ever that Marble Mountain is open and doing business, regular business, during the week over the summertime. It’s been a really interesting learning curve, but it’s also been a lot of fun to unlock a brand new asset we have right here in Newfoundland,” Parsons said. 

“It’s a given that ‘the mountain’ is a huge draw for the area. The view, the mountains, the location, the weather. There’s just so much going on. We had a really busy July with two major concerts. We had The Fables and then Classified.” 

The fun isn’t about to slow down, either, he continued. “Through August, we’re kind of re-gearing for the winter again, but visitors who come by Marble will still have lots to see and do as we want to position ourselves as your base camp for your west coast adventure.”

It’s not just about hiking Gros Morne, he added. “There’s so much to see and do right in the Humber Valley and staying at our (Marble Mountain) Villa is a great way to access it all.”

There’s a new restaurant that’s opened at Marble Mountain called Bishop’s Tavern, for one thing, Parsons continued. ”We’ve got this massive smoker and we’re doing Southern barbecue style food; beautiful smoked meats, and we have this massive outdoor beer garden and food area, so it’s a really unique place to come, eat, drink and hang out in the summertime while having an indoor/ outdoor experience. We’re dog friendly. We’re family friendly up until 8:00 in the evening, so it’s becoming this really, really fun hub of activity in the area.”

Live entertainment

Walk the dogs, hike the mountain, swim in the 200ft waterfall, or just chat and hang out.  There’s live entertainment (Kellie Loder for one, Parsons teased), open mic nights, trivia challenges (with cool prizes), and so much more.  

The vibe and the energy at the hill is changing for the better, he added, as the sunshine has added another dimension of fun.  

“You will notice improvements in customer service and product availability. We want this to be an open place where all people would want to come and be surrounded by music, good food, maybe a few animals, some kids and a few mountain bikers.” 

Check out the Spider Challenge, an aerial rope course designed to “test your nerve” while also being fun and exhilarating. There’s more! “We just finished clearing the first mountain bike trail and that will be open soon, but we have a new bike park which is basically a little skills park. People can bring their mountain bikes and their helmets and they can ride some different ramps and features that we’ve added. That’s part of a new partnership that we have with the West Coast Cycle Association who are having  a big race event in August.”  

Bottom line, there’s so much to see and do at Marble Mountain Resort, and Parsons is thrilled to spread the word.  

“This summer has been really cool for us and what we’ve been doing has been a huge hit.”

For more visit Marble Mountain Resort website: www.skimarble.com

The experience of music is a bonding agent. Ask around, we think the general consensus would be a resounding yes!

Live music? That’s something else entirely. It’s that added jolt, the feeling, the sensation that amplifies one’s love of the sonic highways and dials that up to eleven for a sensory overload. Once you get addicted to that feeling, it’s hard to replicate.

LOVE OF THE GOOD STUFF

The Iceberg Alley Performance Tent has been tapping into our ingrained love of the good stuff since their inception, rolling out Newfoundland’s biggest party under the big top annually in September to rave reviews.

From Bret Michaels to Serena Ryder, Steve Earle and Arkells, the tent has hosted a who’s who of the international music scene, rolling out nearly two week’s worth of genre-busting entertainment that has earned the growing festival a fast reputation as a must-attend – and play – yearly event.

UNSUNG HEROES

John Steele, a career music man and founder of the Iceberg Alley Performance Tent, knows that there are more than a few unsung heroes who make the event what it is.

“There’s a lot of people, a lot of unsung heroes who work behind the scenes of this and work very, very hard to make it the event that it is,” Steele shared in a one-on-one with The Herald.

“We always wanted to do to the best of our ability and capability. And we knew that was going to take some investment upfront. We had a five-year plan to go. Obviously, the first time we went at it, we didn’t feel comfortable. So we pulled the plug even before we launched it and then in our second year we came back and I was pleased overall with how it went that first year. And I’ve been pleased every year since how we’ve been able to keep growing in terms of making the experience better for people and also for the numbers of people that are attending it and the great comments that we get.”

A STACKED TALENT ROSTER

Returning following a year hiatus thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic from September 8-18, the 2021 Iceberg Alley Lineup boasts a stacked roster of talent across all spectrums of music. Melissa Etheridge, NL’s own Alan Doyle, Billy Talent, July Talk, Big Wreck, John Hiatt and Jerry Douglas, Johnny Reid, Our Lady Peace, Barenaked Ladies, Death From Above 1979, April Wine, and The Original Irish Descendants are just a few of the dozens of artists set to entertain the masses at Quidi Vidi this September.

“The reality is this. You’re doing eleven nights in a row in a market the size of St. John’s, Newfoundland or in Newfoundland and Labrador, you got to have different genres because there isn’t one type of genre that’s going to fill you up for eleven nights. So that’s why we go for the different genres and we try to get the best that we can,” Steele shared.

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“We always got great reviews from the bands and we look after them well. We’re starting to get known within the booking world and they know that it’s a well-run event and that it’s not going to hinder their career by playing it because it’s not well organized.”

With restrictions easing across Newfoundland and Labrador, the name of the game heading into the fall is caution and patience, shared Steele.

Coupled with the growing numbers of double vaccinations within Newfoundland and Labrador, and all hands are invested to provide a safe event that will no less provide a reprieve from the stress and strains of the pandemic.

“The key is vaccinations,” shared Steele. “Ultimately, that’s going to provide the greatest amount of safety for everybody. So we need everybody who is able to get double vaccinated to do so. And not only in terms of the Iceberg Alley Performance Tent, but just in terms of getting back to as close to the way things were as before. Ultimately that’s what it’s going to come down to, is that people need to get double vaccinated, to look after themselves, to look after their loved ones.”

MAGIC UNDER THE BIG TOP

And if all those best-laid plans come to fruition, expect magic under the big top once again when the Iceberg Alley Performance Tent rolls into town.

“There’s very few things that match the power of live music for bringing people together and bringing out emotions for people,” says Steele. “It’s just something that can’t be faked. It’s an organic thing that happens. And then if you get an environment that’s really conducive to that, it can be very magical.

“I’m very proud of everybody who works on this event to make it what it is. And at the end of the day, we hope that everybody has a great time and that everyone’s safe and that it’s going to be something that they will remember for all the right reasons.”

For more stories by Dillon Collins, click here

The George Street Association — the local organization of establishment owners in the capital city’s historic entertainment hub — announced the official details of the Summer of George campaign, which includes exciting, prize-laden events.

Supported by the City of St. John’s and a list of committed sponsors, the association has announced a variety of events starting as early as June 30th.

“We appreciate all of the members, Board, sponsors, and community partners who provided their time and effort into ensuring that we can provide these incredible events this summer,” writes Chair of the Board, Kevin English, in a release. “We look forward to seeing George Street filled with people and enjoying themselves in a safe, social, and fun environment!”

SUMMER OF GEORGE EVENTS

The Happy Hour Performance Series featuring live performances by MusicNL artists on Fridays at 4 PM at various George Street establishments. The performance series starts July 2nd and runs for eight weeks. The prize for this event includes two tickets to the 2022 George Street Festival, along with access to the Bud Light Lounge.

From June 30th to July 1st, visitors can wear either red and white or orange to participating establishments. A lucky winner will receive two tickets to Canada Day 2022 in Ottawa, ON.

Enthusiasts of the classic pub crawl can participate in Drag on George: A Pub Crawl for Pride. Teams of 15 can sign up to crawl through 15 bars, hosted by 15 Queens for 15 minutes. Participants of age can enjoy games and drinks and have the chance to win two tickets to Pride Festival 2022 in Toronto, ON.

You might have heard of Christmas in July, but have you heard of Paddy’s Day in July? From July 30th to August 1st, visitors can dress in green and gold to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at participating George Street bars. This event includes the on-point prize of a trip for two to Ireland in 2022.

Last but not least is the Association’s BBQFest. On August 14th, participating establishments will duke it out and compete for George Street’s best grill. This ‘saucy’ event features VIP, full-week pass to George Street Fest 2022.

Winners will be announced by special guests including Sam Picco, Shanneyganock’s Chris Andrews, and comedian Colin Hollet.

For more details on the Summer of George campaign, follow George Street on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or check out their official website.

I didn’t have one word to show for my efforts, and she commented on the blank screen before me. “I’m thinking,” I said in response to her raised eyebrows. 

“Why don’t you write about the underwater tank tragedy in Indonesia?” she suggested. “Underwater tank?’ I asked. She meant submarine, and the story she was referring to was something I knew nothing about, so she filled me in on the tragic loss of the 53 lives on board. 

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NOT IN THE KNOW, YOU KNOW

As I Googled the story, she offered another idea. “You could also write about that cargo ship that blocked the Suez Canal.” I didn’t know anything about that either. There were other suggestions. 

From Joe Biden planning on making the American school year longer to make up for lost time due to the pandemic to the US President’s, “Your president has your back,” comment to transgender people, my daughter listed off a slew of news events I knew nothing about. 

“How about you write about the fact that the Centre for Disease Control says that if you are vaccinated you don’t need to wear a mask, which is dumb because that could cause anyone to not wear one if they don’t want to,” she said. “How do you know about all this stuff?“ I asked. 

“TikTok,” she answered. Who knew? 

I watch the news every day and each evening and either I’m not retaining what I hear or I’m much too distracted by my phone or other things as I watch. I was filled with admiration for my 12-year-old and the TikTok think tank. 

I had always thought she was looking at junk when she had her phone to her face. “How do you not know these things?” she lectured. “What about the people who were crushed to death in Israel at a religious event after a bomb threat caused a stampede?” Nope. I hadn’t heard of that one. 

As she huffed away ashamed to know me, I began to write. I was near the end of my column when she came back to give me a kiss before heading off to school for the day. 

She saw I was writing about our morning chit-chat. She approved, she said, and patted me on the head. 

“What were you going to write about before my suggestions?” she asked. 

“The fact that Nan said I looked good in that blonde wig. She thought I had my hair done and that it wasn’t a wig and she commented that I had never looked better and I found that funny because basically, she was saying I’ve looked totally terrible for the last 51 years.” 

DEADLY BLONDE, SAYS MOM

My daughter looked at me and shook her head. “No one cares about that stuff, Mom!” she said. “Is that so?” I countered. 

As she headed out the door she called over her shoulder, “I’ll tell you more news later when I get home. You can’t go out in the world not being in the know, you know.” 

Best kind. But I still think that blonde wig column would have been deadly. 

Pam Pardy is the Managing Editor of The Newfoundland Herald and can be reached at pghent@nfldherald.com.

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. 

For venue information, a detailed lineup and general or VIP ticket details visit icebergalleyconcerts.com. Tickets are available online at Orange Store eTixNow kiosks island-wide.

“I could not believe what an incredible concert venue they made,” Doyle said after first viewing the setup last September. “I played in tents around the world at festivals, but not like that. They do it up real, with the real floor and bleachers. It’s a real incredible concert experience You get the full vibe of the tent and the circus nature of it, but then you get all the modern conveniences. It’s really amazing.”

That Doyle and his Beautiful Band have been tirelessly touring throughout 2018 should come as no shock. Doyle, as ever, is the consummate troubadour artist, who, if not busy acting, producing, writing or dabbling in entrepreneurial or philanthropic endeavours, has well earned his status as a road warrior.

“It’s been great fun,” he admits. “The first five or six months of this year were kind of cracked because we really went hard to come out with a new tour. We started in Seattle and rolled down through the southwest and across the bottom of the United States. We came home for about a week and then went back and started in Ontario, in Peterborough I think and went west as far as Vancouver. We went back for another block and started in New York and Boston and came into Atlantic Canada. Now the summer stuff, the leg of the tour took us back to Ontario, Victoria, east of St. John’s. We start up again in November and do a bunch of Ontario places we haven’t played yet like London and Sarnia and Belleville. We cross over and do Phili, Pittsburgh and a bunch of places we haven’t done so far.”

In finding a foothold in the United States, which Doyle has seemingly accomplished in recent years, the seasoned artist shares that, despite a band reaching peak status in Canada or abroad, the red white and blue is an entirely different animal.

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“The United States is a huge population, so by definition, it’s a huge market,” he shares. “That means there’s a lot of audiences there, but a lot of bands there too. Every English-speaking band in the world wants the U.S. If you’re wondering why some Canadian band didn’t make it on The Rolling Stone in the U.S., for every one of them there’s 450 from the U.S. that didn’t either. There’s 200 from England, and so on. It’s so big that it’s tough to just eventually end up at the top. The big media opportunities, like in Canada for example, eventually Q radio will play you. There’s not that many of us. Eventually, you can possibly earn your way onto the national show in Canada. You can’t earn your way onto The Tonight Show. It has to be given to you or gotten for you. It’s just a different scale altogether.”

Asking Alan Doyle ‘what’s next?’ usually results in thread-splitting sidebars on numerous ventures. He has many hats on many rungs in many avenues, as ever.

“I took a gig producing a kids record for a group called Splash’N Boots. They’re like a Canadian kind of Wiggles, quite successful. They wanted me to produce a record, and I went to them and kind of confessed right up front that I didn’t know how to do it, but I’d love to give it a go. We’re working on that now. I’m also recording new songs for a new project for me, and then I’m starting a new book, while still touring.”

Never failing to raise fan expectations, and pulses, Doyle and Great Big Sea members Bob Hallett and Sean McCann sent folks into a fine frenzy in recent months by posting photos together, leading to rumour and innuendo of reunions and the like. We’d be negligent not to at least ask the status of the iconic trad trio.

“Nothing new, really, other than we had a couple of gatherings in the last few months,” Doyle admits. We’re musing about what we’ll be able to get up to in the coming years. Nothing more than that. We’ve talked about under what scenarios we’d be able to mount a reunion or anniversary gig or short-run or something that fits in everybody’s lives. Luckily, everyone is quite happy doing what they’re doing.

“My notion, since Sean left the band, is I don’t want to fight about it,” he adds. “When everybody wants to do it again, let’s do it. I didn’t want the last thing that me and Sean and Bob did together be a fight over the spoils of it. I got so much respect for those two guys. I literally owe my career to those two guys and Daryl Power. In truth, it was mostly their idea. They were doing it before I joined. My notion is that if we can find a happy way that we can do it and happily great, but if not that’s fine.

“I’m not one bit surprised about Sean and Bob,” he says of the continued individual success of the trio. “They’re two of the smartest, most hard-working people I’ve ever met in my life. Not to mention, incredibly talented. They both have skill sets that were so enormous outside the band that we benefited from. It’s good times, is the short answer, and I’m grateful for it.”

As for what fans can expect under the big top this Saturday? A kitchen party in a circus setting, says Doyle.

“We’ll be doing songs from the most recent record, a few of my records and a bunch of Great Big Sea songs and a bunch of Newfoundland traditional songs. All of the things we always do to make a great kitchen party night out.”

For tickets to the Iceberg Alley visit the official website and for more on Alan Doyle, click here!