Virgin Festival

Virgin Mobile Fest
Virgin Mobile Fest logo
Genre	Rock, Pop
Location(s)	United States, Canada
Years active	2006 - 2013
Website
www.virginfestival.ca

The Virgin Fest, known as the Virgin Mobile FreeFest in the United States, is a rock festival held in the United States and Canada, a spin-off from the V Festival held in the UK. In North America the Virgin name, and recently the Virgin Mobile brand, is used in full to increase brand association, compared with the UK and Australian festivals, where association is simply implied through the use of the V.

Like the other variants of the V Festival, the events are sponsored by Virgin Mobile, in this case, either the US or Canadian versions.

On June 30, 2006, Virgin Group chief Richard Branson announced the inaugural shows. The first, which took place September 9 and 10, 2006 at Toronto Islands Park, Toronto, Canada, featured over 40 artists. A single-day show also took place in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, on September 23, 2006, at the Pimlico Race Course with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Who.

Virgin Festival 2007 took place in Vancouver on May 20 and 21, as well as a return to Baltimore for an expanded two-day event on August 4 and 5 and Toronto on September 8 and 9. On October 16, 2007, an event was announced to take place in Calgary, Alberta on June 21 and 22, 2008. The festival also returned to Baltimore on August 9 and 10, 2008.

The shows in Baltimore have been put on by Seth Hurwitz's I.M.P. Productions, owner/operator of the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. and the former producer of the HFStival.

In 2007, Richard Branson was encouraged by Daryl Hannah to green the Baltimore festival by bringing in zero waste event producers The Spitfire Agency.

The 2009 Virgin Mobile Festival, dubbed the Virgin Mobile FreeFest, was held on August 30, 2009 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. The festival returned to Merriweather on Saturday, September 25, 2010,^[1] and was once again a free event.^[2] The Virgin Mobile FreeFest is also returning to Merriweather Post Pavilion on September 10, 2011. The tickets were reported to have "Freed out" in just over five minutes after being available. The Headliners for the 2011 Virgin Mobile FreeFest were Deadmau5 (House), Cee Lo Green (Hip-Hop/Pop), and The Black Keys (Indie).

2013 Line Up

Virgin Mobile FreeFest (Saturday September 21st)

Pavilion Stage The Knocks Little Green Cars Black Joe Lewis City and Colour MGMT The Avett Brothers Vampire Weekend

West Stage Sky Ferreira Chvrches Icona Pop Kaskade Robin Thicke Pretty Lights

Dance Forest Ghost Beach Washed Out Manufactured Superstars Congorock TJR Gareth Emery Madeon

^[3]

2012 Line Up

Virgin Mobile FreeFest (Saturday October 6th)

Acts Start at 12 p.m.

Pavilion Stage Justin Jones Allen Stone Trampled by Turtles Ben Folds Five Alabama Shakes ZZ Top Jack White

West Stage Das Racist (cancelled due to illness/breakup) Future Islands Portugal. The Man The Dismemberment Plan Santigold NAS M83 Skrillex

Dance Forest Volta Bureau Penguin Prison Alvin Risk Nervo Thomas Gold Porter Robinson & Zedd Above & Beyond

^[4]

2011 line-up

Virgin Mobile FreeFest (Saturday September 10th)

Acts Start at 11A.M.

Pavilion Stage Bombay Bicycle Club Okkervil River Grace Potter & the Nocturnals Patti Smith TV on the Radio Returning for a Second Time (2007) The Black Keys Returning for a Second Time (2008)

West Stage Alberta Cross Two Door Cinema Club Big Sean Cut Copy Cee Lo Green Returning for a Second Time (2006 as Gnarls Barkley) Empire of the Sun (band) Deadmau5 Returning for a Second Time (2008)

Dance Forest Eclectic Method Porter Robinson Calvin Harris !!! James Murphy Returning for a Second Time (2010 as LCD Soundsystem) Teddybears Ghostland Observatory

^[5]

2010 line-up

Virgin Mobile FreeFest (September 25th)

The Virgin Mobile Freefest line-up was announced at 11AM on July 20, 2010.^[6]

Pavilion Stage Brite Lite Brite Jimmy Eat World Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros High tea toast with Jeremiah Weed Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Matt and Kim Pavement LCD Soundsystem

West Stage The Temper Trap Trombone Shorty Yeasayer Thievery Corporation Ludacris Bindlestiff Family Cirkus M.I.A. Fire show by Therm

Dance Forest Will Eastman Wolfgang Gartner Neon Indian Maximum Balloon Chromeo Sleigh Bells Modeselektor Sharam

Artist T.I. canceled his performance due to ongoing legal issues.^[7]

2009 line-up

Virgin Mobile FREEFEST (August 30th)

As per official site.

The Virgin Mobile FREEFEST was held at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD. In an official statement released by Virgin Mobile, it was stated that due to the current economic status, admission to the festival would be free of charge for all concert goers. The sponsor hoped that concert goers would donate $5 to youth homelessness through its charitable initiative known as "The ReGeneration". Concert goers could also purchase special packages that came with a T-shirt, as well as tickets and the donation.^[8][9]

Sunday, August 30

• Blink-182
• Weezer
• Taking Back Sunday
• Jet
• Franz Ferdinand
• Mates of State
• The Hold Steady
• Wale
• Public Enemy
• The Bravery
• St. Vincent
• Girl Talk
• The National
• Danny Howells
• Holy Fuck
• Lee Burridge
• Pete Tong
• The Birthday Massacre

Virgin Festival Montreal (June 19 & 20)

As per official site.

Friday, June 19

• The Black Eyed Peas
• Simple Plan
• Hedley
• Kreesha Turner
• The New Cities
• Carly Rae Jepsen
• Eva Avila
• Stereos
• Ten Second Epic
• Sam Bradley

Saturday, June 20

• New Kids on the Block
• Akon
• David Usher
• Live
• Karl Wolf
• Jesse McCartney
• Lights
• Divine Brown
• Jonathan Roy
• JabbaWockeeZ
• 2AM Club

Virgin Festival Nova Scotia (July 4)

As per official site.

The venue is the Citadel Hill concert site, adjacent to the Halifax Common.

Saturday, July 4

• The Offspring
• Metric
• Handsome Furs
• Dinosaur Jr
• Hey Rosetta!
• Plants and Animals
• Arkells
• In-Flight Safety
• Dog Day

Tragically Hip cancelled due to family medical issues and the concert is being provided free of charge, ticket-holders get their money refunded and concert capacity is now limited only by space, Citadel Hill above the concert site allows for viewing in case the site fills up.

Virgin Festival British Columbia (July 25 & July 26)

As per official site.

Saturday, July 25

• The Roots
• Our Lady Peace
• Broken Social Scene
• K-OS
• Mutemath
• Spinnerette
• Plants and Animals
• Chris Velan

Sunday, July 26

• Ben Harper & Relentless7
• Metric
• Sonic Youth
• Jarvis Cocker
• De La Soul
• Gomez
• Future of the Left
• Awesome Color
• Carly Rae Jepsen
• Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Virgin Festival Alberta (August 8th & 9th)

As per official site.

Saturday, August 8

• Pearl Jam
• Wintersleep
• K-OS
• Thunderheist
• Arkells
• Mother Mother
• The Cliks

Sunday, August 9

• Billy Talent
• Metric
• Tokyo Police Club
• White Lies
• Secret Broadcast
• Shout Out Out Out Out

Virgin Festival Ontario (August 29th & 30th)

As per official site.

Saturday, August 29

Virgin Mobile Stage Ben Harper & Relentless7 The Pixies Franz Ferdinand Paolo Nutini Sloan Grizzly Bear Lights Mates of State

Virgin Radio Stage Daniel Merriweather Pitbull Down With Webster Thunderheist Anjulie Candy Coated Killahz

Boardwalk Stage The Rural Alberta Advantage Iglu and Hartly The Superstitions

Sunday, August 30

Virgin Mobile Stage Nine Inch Nails Pet Shop Boys Our Lady Peace N.E.R.D. Cold War Kids Mutemath Mew Datarock Cœur de pirate

Virgin Radio Stage Sean Kingston The New Cities Melanie Fiona Hyper Crush Fritz Helder & The Phantoms Trouble Andrew

Boardwalk Stage Plants and Animals The Von Bondies The D'Urbervilles Silver Starling

2008 line-up

Virgin Festival Calgary (June 21 & 22)

Saturday, June 21

Virgin Mobile Stage Kilbourne The Fratellis Face to Face Corb Lund Three Days Grace The Flaming Lips Stone Temple Pilots

TD Music Stage The Fast Romantics Michael Bernard Fitzgerald Secret Broadcast Carolina Liar Crash Parallel Hey Ocean The Dudes Grand Theft Bus

Sunday, June 22

Virgin Mobile Stage Chixdiggit Attack in Black Constantines Stars City and Colour Matthew Good The Tragically Hip

TD Music Stage The Summerlad Said The Whale The Whitsundays The Spades Ten Second Epic Ladyhawk Cadence Weapon The New Pornographers

Virgin Mobile Festival Baltimore Day 1 (August 9)

South Stage KT Tunstall Gogol Bordello Lupe Fiasco Bloc Party The Offspring Chuck Berry and the Silver Beats Foo Fighters

North Stage Cat Power Duffy The Swell Season Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings Rodrigo y Gabriela Citizen Cope Wilco Jack Johnson

Dance Tent' JDH & Dave P Erol Alkan DJ Dan & Donald Glaude Soulwax Steve Lawler Ferry Corsten Underworld

Virgin Mobile Festival Baltimore Day 2 (August 10)

South Stage Hollywood Undead The Go! Team Andrew Bird She & Him Lil Wayne The Black Keys Bob Dylan Kanye West

North Stage Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Shudder to Think Paramore Taking Back Sunday Iggy and the Stooges Stone Temple Pilots Nine Inch Nails

Dance Tent Chromeo Rabbit in the Moon Deadmau5 Richie Hawtin Moby (DJ set) Armin Van Buuren

Virgin Festival Toronto Day 1 (September 6)

Virgin Mobile Stage Foo Fighters Bloc Party Against Me! MGMT Constantines Tito Santana The Airborne Toxic Event Mark Robertson

TD Music Stage The Kooks Wintersleep The Fratellis Spiritualized Shudder to Think The Midway State Mardeen

Oh Henry! Stage The Waking Eyes Bad Flirt Lights Flash Lightnin The Saint Aliva Cartel We Are the Take

Bacardi B-Live Stage MSTRKRFT (special, un-announced guest) Flosstradamus Thunderheist Lets Go to War Drop the Lime Mario J Nasty Nav

Switch and SebastiAn were replaced by MSTRKRFT due to delayed flights.

Virgin Festival Toronto Day 2 (September 7)

Virgin Mobile Stage Oasis Paul Weller Stereophonics Silversun Pickups The Weakerthans Danko Jones Spiral Beach

TD Music Stage The Pigeon Detectives Sons and Daughters Yoav Matt Costa Sebastien Grainger and The Mountains Paper Lions

Oh Henry! Stage Secret Broadcast Shad Rock Plaza Central Arkells OPOPO Winter Gloves

Bacardi B-Live Stage Moby (DJ set) Deadmau5 Lee Burridge Sydney Blu Doman and Pettigrew Evan G Harmonik Rage

2007 line-up

Virgin Festival (Vancouver) Day 1

• Billy Talent
• My Chemical Romance
• Rise Against (replaced Muse on the bill)
• Mutemath
• Stars of Track and Field
• Jets Overhead
• Enter Shikari
• Pride Tiger
• The Junction
• TV Heart Attack
• The Bled
• Hernan Cattaneo
• Luke Fair
• Kevin Shiu
• Chloe Harris
• Andrew Pacey
• Jesse James
• Veer
• The Look
• Neurosonic
• Crowned Kings

Virgin Festival (Vancouver) Day 2

• The Killers
• AFI
• Art Of Dying
• Hot Hot Heat
• Metric
• Smoosh
• You Say Party! We Say Die!
• Marianas Trench
• Mother Mother
• illScarlett
• Sebastien Grainger et les Montagnes
• The Reason
• MSTRKRFT
• Tommie Sunshine
• Desyn Masiello
• John Morgan
• Timeline
• Tyson V
• Elizabeth
• Superbeing
• Yuca

Virgin Festival (Baltimore) Day 1

North (Main) Stage Fountains of Wayne Cheap Trick Amy Winehouse Incubus Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals Beastie Boys The Police

South (Side) Stage Fiction Plane The Fratellis Paulo Nutini Peter Bjorn and John LCD Soundsystem TV on the Radio Modest Mouse

Dance Tent Shout Out Out Out Out Miguel Migs Booka Shade Felix Da Housecat Danny Tenaglia Sasha & John Digweed Sander Van Doorn

Virgin Festival (Baltimore) Day 2

North (Main) Stage CSS Regina Spektor Spoon Panic! at the Disco Yeah Yeah Yeahs Interpol The Smashing Pumpkins

South (Side) Stage Aiden Matisyahu Explosions in the Sky Bad Brains Wu-Tang Clan Velvet Revolver 311

Dance Tent Dan Deacon Girl Talk Dieselboy and Andy C James Zabiela Infected Mushroom The Crystal Method (DJ Set), Deep Dish M.I.A.

Virgin Festival (Toronto) Day 1

Virgin Mobile Stage Björk Interpol Arctic Monkeys Kid Koala M.I.A. K-OS Paolo Nutini The Vincent Black Shadow

Future Shop Stage Mutemath Voxtrot Matt Costa Enter Shikari The Most Serene Republic The Wildbirds Dragonette Jon Levine Band

Budweiser Stage Spectrum, feat. Sonic Boom, Spacemen 3 & E.A.R Hayley Sales The Reason Sybris Birds of Wales Clothes Make the Man Bang Camaro Crowned King Noah's Arkweld

B-Live Stage Souljazz Orchestra DJ Dopey Tommie Sunshine Princess Superstar Kevin Shiu Robbi K Eric McCabe Tony Pantages

Virgin Festival (Toronto) Day 2

Virgin Mobile Stage Smashing Pumpkins The Killers Metric Stars Tokyo Police Club Jamie T Louis XIV Earl Greyhound

Future Shop Stage Editors Explosions in the Sky Constantines Blonde Redhead The Clientele Biffy Clyro Honeycut Justin Nozuka

Budweiser Stage The Cinematics The Heights The Red Romance Liam and Me The Carps Museum Pieces Closedown DD/MM/YYYY The Postage Stamps

B-Live Stage Jelo Dirty Vegas M.A.N.D.Y. Tony Pantages Steve Porter Sean Miller Souljazz Orchestra Evan G

2006 line-up

Virgin Festival (Toronto) Day 1

• The Flaming Lips
• Gnarls Barkley
• Muse
• Alexisonfire
• Eagles of Death Metal
• The Dears
• The Hidden Cameras
• Starsailor
• Phoenix
• Amon Tobin
• Buck 65
• Plaster
• David Ford
• Wintersleep
• Kid Koala
• Ohbijou
• Mean Red Spiders
• illScarlett

Virgin Festival (Toronto) Day 2

• Broken Social Scene replaced Massive Attack
• The Raconteurs
• The Strokes
• Sam Roberts Band
• Wolfmother
• Lupe Fiasco
• Thrice
• Zero 7
• K'Naan
• Matt Mays & El Torpedo
• The Diableros
• José González
• We Are Wolves
• Mickey Avalon
• MSTRKRFT
• The Mooney Suzuki
• Born Ruffians
• Champion & His G-Strings

Massive Attack were originally scheduled to headline but three days before the concert, it was announced that they had to postpone the first four concerts of their North American tour, including the Virgin Festival appearance, due to delays in receiving U.S. visas. They were replaced by Broken Social Scene.

Virgin Festival (Baltimore)

• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• The Who
• The Flaming Lips
• Gnarls Barkley
• The Raconteurs
• Keane (CANCELLED)
• The Killers
• Scissor Sisters
• Wolfmother
• Kasabian
• The New Pornographers
• Drive-By Truckers
• Thievery Corporation
• Brazilian Girls
• Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
• Digweed
• Carl Cox
• RJD2
• 2 Many DJs
• Tiësto (CANCELLED)
• James Holden

See also

• Olympic Island Festival

References

3. "virginmobilelive.com".
4. "virginmobilelive.com".
5. "virginmobilefestival.com".
6. "virginmobilefestival.com".
7. "Midnight Sun: Virgin Mobile FreeFest Schedule".
8. http://www.virginmobilefestival.com/#/whyfree/
9. http://www.virginmobilefestival.com/#/tickets/karma/

External links

• Virgin Festival Official Canadian site