Media releases

VIRGIN FESTIVAL ONTARIO MOVES TO THE MOLSON AMPHITHEATRE!

Festival returns to Toronto due to fan demand to make it more accessible!

TORONTO (ONTARIO) August 13, 2009

• Tickets start at $39.50 and include CNE admission ($15 value!)
• Don't forget this is the last chance to catch Nine Inch Nails in Canada!

Virgin Festival Ontario, Canada's hottest summer music festival, announced today that its fifth and final festival of 2009 will now take place at THE MOLSON AMPHITHEATRE at Ontario Place in Toronto, Ontario on August 29 and 30.  The switch of venue is in response to the overwhelming response from festival-goers who have asked that this year's festival returns to the city of Toronto.

"Since we announced the details for Virgin Festival Ontario ticket sales haven’t been what we had hoped for," said Andrew Bridge, Director of Virgin Festival Canada. "We asked festival-goers why and they said that although the line-up and intended site are both awesome, they wanted the festival to return to Toronto this year to make it easier to access. We're delighted to announce that Virgin Festival Ontario will now take place at The Molson Amphitheatre on August 29 and 30!"

The line-up for Virgin Festival Ontario remains the same with two awesome stages and a host of stellar talent!  And don't forget as well as legendary rockers BEN HARPER & RELENTLESS7 and THE PIXIES, this is the last chance to catch the Industrial rock gods NINE INCH NAILS in Canada! In total more than 30 hot acts will rock out The Molson Amphitheatre at Ontario Place on August 29 and 30!

Anyone who has already purchased a Virgin Festival Ontario ticket can attend the festival – just keep a hold of your ticket(s) and bring them to The Molson Amphitheatre at Ontario Place on August 29 and 30 to gain entry. All the details will be available at www.virginfestival.ca/ontario.

The Line-up!

Legendary rockers BEN HARPER & RELENTLESS7 will co-headline day one with alternative rock legends THE PIXIES. Joining them will be Scottish rockers FRANZ FERDINAND; singer-songwriter PAOLO NUTINI; Brooklyn indie rockers GRIZZLY BEAR; American rock duo MATES OF STATE; Canadian faves SLOAN; Juno Award-winner LIGHTS; Canadian rockers THE RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE; and California new wave rockers IGLU AND HARTLY. On top of that, UK-pop royal DANIEL MERRIWEATHER and chart topping PITBULL will headline the Virgin Radio stage with guests such as Canadian singer-songwriter ANJULIE; electro club artists CANDY COATED KILLAHZ; progressive indie artists DOWN WITH WEBSTER; and Toronto electro-rock duo THUNDERHEIST!
Industrial rock gods NINE INCH NAILS will headline day two and will be joined by English electronic dance icons PET SHOP BOYS; Juno Award-winning band OUR LADY PEACE; American party hip hop band N.E.R.D.; American indie band COLD WAR KIDS; Grammy Award-nominated rock band MUTEMATH; Danish rockers MEW; Montréal indie rock band PLANTS AND ANIMALS; Quebec songstress COEUR DE PIRATE; alt-rockers THE VON BONDIES; Norwegian electro-rock group DATAROCK; Montréal indie rockers SILVER STARLING; and alt rockers D’URBERVILLES! Day two on the Virgin Radio stage will be headlined by reggae fusion singer SEAN KINGSTON. Also pumping up the volume on the Virgin Radio stage will be Canadian R&B singer-songwriter MELANIE FIONA; electro hip hop group HYPER CRUSH; punk rocker TROUBLE ANDREW; Electro Pop Punk locals FRITZ HELDER & THE PHANTOMS and synth-pop specialists THE NEW CITIES.

Keep an eye on www.virginfestival.ca/ontario for the latest information for Virgin Festival Ontario. Fans can also keep up to date with Virgin Festival on Twitter at www.twitter.com/virginmobilecan and on the Virgin Festival Canada Facebook® fan page.

Ticket News

If you have already purchased a Virgin Festival Ontario ticket you are good to go the festival – just keep hold of your ticket(s) and bring them to The Molson Amphitheatre on August 29 and 30 to gain entry.

Otherwise, general ticket sales will be available in person at all Ticketmaster outlets, select Future Shop locations, online at www.ticketmaster.ca or www.futureshop.ca and by calling (416) 870-8000 starting Saturday, August 15th at noon. Ticket information is also available at www.virginfestival.ca/ontario.

One day general admission pit, general admission 200 level and reserved admission 300 level tickets are $59.50 plus $3.75 facility fee and a $1 donation to Virgin Unite (includes all sales taxes). Two-day general admission pit, general admission 200 level and reserved 300 level tickets are $99.00 plus $7.50 facility fee and a $2 donation to Virgin Unite (includes all sales taxes).

One day reserved 400 level tickets are $49.50 plus $3.75 facility fee and a $1 donation to Virgin Unite (includes all sales taxes). Two-day reserved 400 level tickets are $89.00 plus $7.50 facility fee and a $2 donation to Virgin Unite (includes all sales taxes).

One day lawn tickets are $39.50 plus $3.75 facility fee and a $1 donation to Virgin Unite (includes all sales taxes).

Festival tickets will also provide free access to the Canadian National Exhibition and Ontario Place ($15 value!).

Sorry, VIP tickets are sold-out!

Can’t make it to Toronto?

If you choose not to go to the festival and had purchased a ticket for Burl’s Creek head to www.virginfestival.ca/ontario for information on getting a full refund. Camping tickets will be automatically refunded.

About Virgin Festival Canada

Virgin Festival held its first Canadian festival in Toronto in 2006.  Since then it has become one of the biggest music festivals in Canada attracting around 200,000 fans. In 2009, Virgin Festival will host five festivals – one each in Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec! Virgin Festival also works to raise funds for Virgin Unite – the charitable arm of the Virgin Group that focuses on creating grass roots change and sustainable businesses to make a real difference for people around the world who need it most. For more information check out www.virginfestival.ca

About Virgin Mobile

The Virgin Mobile group of companies has attracted more than 12 million customers worldwide. As the No.1 mobile youth network, Virgin Mobile Canada's mission is to be Canada’s most loved mobile company. Its simpler, better deals offer customers control, flexibility and choice to design mobile packages that truly works for them. J.D. Power and Associates ranked Virgin Mobile highest in customer satisfaction with prepaid wireless service for four years in a row and 91% of customers would recommend Virgin Mobile to a friend.

Virgin Mobile phones are available at more than 4,000 locations with top-up cards available at more than 10,000 locations nationally. Virgin Mobile products can also be purchased online at www.virginmobile.ca or by calling 1-888-999-2321.

For more information, please contact:

Kayla Rochkin, Hill & Knowlton Canada
416-413-4767
kayla.rochkin@hillandknowlton.ca

Erica Faltous, Hill & Knowlton Canada
416-413-4695 / 416-400-0171
erica.faltous@hillandknowlton.ca

For information about artist interviews, please contact:
Amanda Munro, Segal Communications
416-775-2309
amanda.munro@segalcommuniactions.com