From: Jennifer Hanson, thenorthbaybay.ca staff
NORTH BAY — The Summer in the Park committee are proud to announce this year’s line-up.
“We feel we’ve done an excellent job,” says Tracy White, chairman of the board. “We’ve wrangled in big names and local favourites and we’re confident this year’s Summer in the Park is going to be the best one yet.”
Headlining Friday night will be the fan-favourite band Trooper.
“What can I say about Trooper that hasn’t already been said?” asked White. “After 43 years…”
Tracy trails off.
“Anyway, they’ll be here Friday.”
Formed in 1975, Trooper had several hit songs in the 1970s, which makes them “pretty much perfect” for Summer in the Park.
Saturday
Saturday will see a number of local acts take the stage, including Powassan’s hick-hop band The Moostresses, Sudbury’s folkronica group Trumpet Wench, and finally North Bay’s own Al McDonald and the Cancellers.
“Al McDonald is a well-known Mayor in North Bay,” says White. “And his prices were reasonable, so we thought – ‘aw, what the hell!'”
Al McDonald and the Cancellers will take the stage Saturday evening to “rock and roll all night.”
“We’re going to play a little something for everyone,” says McDonald. “We’re going to do ‘Freebird,’ we’re going to do ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ we’re going to do ‘Uptown Funk,’ ‘Lady in Red,’ ‘Highway to Hell,’ ‘Tik Tok,’ ‘Y.M.C.A.’ and ‘Achy Breaky Heart.'”
McDonald plans on finishing the set with a “wonderfully light and spry” acoustic cover of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face.”
“I’ve been practicing my Poker Face in council meetings for years, and now North Bay can see and hear it live!”
New Location
Other Summer in the Park acts include little-known 70s band The Wackers and French-Canadian Thin Lizzy tribute band Le Fleur De Liz.
Weekend passes are $50 and go on sale next month.
“Every single wristband comes signed by Al McDonald,” says White. “Please don’t ask me why. They just do.”