All-day Rock on the Range moves indoors to MTS Centre

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/08/2011 (5521 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TODAY’s Rock on the Range has turned into Rock in the Rink.

The third-annual music festival was moved inside at the MTS Centre from outdoors at Canad Inns Stadium after ticket sales stalled at less than 10,000. Those ticket holders hoping to enjoy a late August Saturday outside will be disappointed with the promising forecast of a clear day and a high of 24 C.

For this event the MTS Centre is allowing in and outs, so music fans can still catch some rays on Portage Avenue if they want. A licensed outdoor patio will also be set up on the sidewalk on Graham Avenue.

The new venue means there are some changes for ticket holders. Patrons with VIP tickets have access to the floor and the John Labatt Lounge; those with general admission field tickets have access to the floor (until capacity is reached) and the 100 level; people with reserved seating tickets will have assigned seats in the 200 level; and patrons with general admission grandstand tickets are now in the 300 level. Anyone who purchased tickets in the alcohol-free zone will be seated in sections 321, 322 and 323.

All ticket holders will have access to the vendor village area at the south end of the main concourse. Otherwise, the rules are similar to a regular MTS Centre concert (no outside food, alcohol, weapons, etc.). People planning to drink alcohol must show valid identification and will receive a wristband to purchase one drink at a time.

Doors open at 1 p.m. and bands will alternate playing two stages at the north and south ends of the arena from 1:40 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Punk group Sum 41 was forced to scrap its entire Canadian tour last week after frontman Deryck Whibley injured his back during a Aug. 12 show. The cancellation means Saskatoon boogie-rockers the Sheepdogs now headline the second stage and set times have been extended slightly for all bands.

Here is the new revised lineup:

• Doors open, 1 p.m.
• Me Versus, 1:40 p.m.
• Drive A 2:05 p.m.
• Art of Dying, 2:40 p.m.
• The Reason, 3:20 p.m.
• Duff McKagan’s Loaded, 3:55 p.m.
• Anberlin, 4:40 p.m.
• Hinder, 5:15 p.m.
• Volbeat, 6 p.m.
• Five Finger Death Punch, 6:45 p.m.
• The Sheepdogs, 7:40 p.m.
• Evanescence, 8:25 p.m.
• Alice in Chains, 9:45 p.m.

 

Despite this year’s setback, organizers say Rock on the Range will return in 2012 outdoors at the new football stadium at the University of Manitoba.

rob.williams@freepress.mb.ca

Concert preview

Rock on the Range