TIMMINS - Could Shania Twain come back as early as the summer of 2018 to play her hometown?
With a forthcoming album to promote, it's certainly within the realm of possibilities.
Let's face it Shania Twain could draw another 20,000 people into Hollinger Park again. Real easy folks.
I know what you're saying — but we have not even had Stars and Thunder yet.
But make no mistake, the Stars and Thunder music and fireworks festival is going to be a full-blown blast.
With Twain's new announcement that a single track will be released as early as June and an already completed album to follow by September 2017, a Canada Day show in 2018 in the City With a Heart of Gold wouldn't be unreasonable.
It's been almost 15 years since Twain put out a full new album not discounting her gorgeous 2011 single Today Is Your Day and a greatest hits package in 2004.
In between, however, she did do her Still The One Las Vegas shows in 2012 and a full 2015 arena tour.
For the new album, which as yet has no title, Twain has enlisted a couple of excellent producers including Jake Gosling (Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga) and Ron Aniello, who produced Bruce Springsteen's last two albums.
New track titles such as We Got Something They Don't, Who's Gonna Be Your Girl? and Swinging With My Eyes Closed may signal a more organic approach for Twain.
A little darker in the songwriting is something I have been calling for as long as I have reviewed Twain's work in my Daily Press columns and my blog online but I still feel her new album will have more than a few killer radio tracks.
After all Twain as an international star would not put out an album as dark as Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska or Stevie Nicks classic Bella Donna.
And I don't think her fans would go for that either.
But yes, I'm excited about her new upcoming work.
Personally, I was there doing my own gigs in the city when Twain spent her nights covering rock hits with Longshot at JP’s Lounge, receiving the keys to the city in 1996 and her homecoming concert on Canada Day.
I gotta say right now, it's all been very impressive.
With recent appearances on the James Corden "Late Late Show" and the hit show "The Voice", Twain is indeed ramping up the publicity for her new single We Got Something They Don't. [Correction - it's "Life's About To Get Good"]
To millions and to Timmins, Twain is “Still The One.”
— John Emms is a Timmins songwriter and long-time writer of the local rock music scene.
Shania Twain's concert date in Hamilton has been changed to Saturday, June 30, 2018. Twain was originally scheduled to perform at FirstOntario Centre on July 1 next year. However, tour producer Live Nation announced Tuesday that the performance had been pushed back by a day. The Canadian country-pop darling is touring in support of her latest album, which will be released Sept. 29. Tickets for Shania Twain go on sale Friday, Aug. 25 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.ca by telephone at 1-855-872-5000 or in person at the Dan Lawrie Box Office at FirstOntario Centre.
I bet Shania's Hamilton concert was changed so she can perform at the Timmins Stars & Thunder music festival on July 1. It's Canada Day and also the last day of the festival.
Mayor drops teaser about Stars & Thunder headliner
By Len Gillis | Timmins Press | October 18, 2017
TIMMINS - In less than three weeks from now, the music line-up for Stars and Thunder 2018 will be announced. While the majority of the entertainment talent has been booked already, the possibilities have people throughout the city guessing and speculating who the top performers might be.
Timmins Mayor Steve Black added some fuel to the fire Wednesday afternoon when he revealed the headliner act is a Canadian.
Black made the revelation while speaking at the Timmins Chamber of Commerce business week lunch event.
The Stars and Thunder website said news and details on the 2018 line-up will be formally revealed on November 8, 2017 with a news conference hosted by the city.
The 2018 version of Stars and Thunder takes place from Sunday, June 24, 2018 (St-Jean Baptiste Day) through to Sunday, July 1, 2018 (Canada Day).
Based on previous discussions among organizers, it is expected the top-rated headliner act is likely to be a million-dollar performer. The entertainment budget for hiring a full week’s worth of well-known performers is already set at $2 million.
It begs the question of what person or what band of Canadian origin falls into that lofty million-dollar category. Unlike the speculation that arose around this time last year, there have been no leaks as to who the top performers might be.
One website that lists top-ranked Canadian performers has included such names as Arcade Fire, The Weeknd, Bryan Adams, Shania Twain, Nelly Furtado, and some might suggest the legendary Neil Young as top-flight festival entertainment.
Regardless, the organizers say that performers have been booked for five of the eight nights so far.
Ticket prices, as stated on the Stars and Thunder website will be higher than the 2017 festival rates, with ticket sales scheduled to take place a week after the line-up is formally announced.
Ticket prices were listed as follows for tickets sold before April 30, 2018.
• All week (eight day) passes will be $275;
• VIP all week (eight day) passes will be $450;
• Individual day tickets for Days 1 to 6 are $80;
• Indivudual day tickets for Day 7 are $125;
• Individual day tickets for Day 8 are $150;
• Individual day VIP tickets available after April 30 (subject to availability) as VIP area may sell out with all week passes prior. No further information was provided.
The webpage encourages fans to keep checking starsandthunder.com for updates and new information.
I thought for sure Shania would be announced today as the headliner on Canada Day, July 1. Instead it's Bryan Adams.
Timmins' Super-Sizes 2018 Stars & Thunder Festival
FYI Music News | November 8, 2017
The City of Timmins has announced the lineup for what promises to be one of the biggest summer festivals of 2018.
Stars & Thunder Festival, presented by Goldcorp's Porcupine Gold Mines, follows the Canada 150 festival that attracted as many as 100,000 people to its super-sized multi-day events. The 2017 festivities pumped tens of millions into a local economy in a city previously known as a mining town and most famous for a residency by a then-unknown Eilleen Regina Edwards, who became Shania Twain.
Leading the performance line-up of headliners in 2018 is Bryan Adams.
Following last year's success, the City of Timmins has decided to embark on the second annual Stars & Thunder Festival, with an eight-day schedule of live music and an international fireworks displays by teams representing Brazil, Finland, China and host Team Canada-David Whysall’s International Fireworks spectacle.
As was the case last year, the City is working with western-Canada impresario Ron Sakamoto who is named promoter of the 2018 events.
The festival will kick off on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (Sunday, June 24), with a lineup of performances by Quebec stars' Eric Lapointe, Roch Voisine, LGS, and Celeste Levis.
The lineup, not fully announced, is packed with top-draw Canadian performers in the northeastern Ontario city that sits on the banks of the Mattagami River.
Sunday, July 1
Canada Day has Bryan Adams appearing for the first time in the northern city. Joining him on the bill are Our Lady Peace, Matthew Good, and Sons Of Maxwell.
Saturday, June 30
California surf mees northern towns: the Beach Boys are marqueed on a bill with Arkells, Allan Doyle and 54.40.
Friday, June 29, 2018
Paul Brandt, High Valley, Nice Horse
Thursday, June 28
Gord Bamford, Lindsay Ell, Aaron Goodvin, and Chris Buck Band, plus a fireworks display by Team China.
Wednesday, June 27
Another top-line concert bill with Burton Cummings and his band, and Sloan.
Tuesday, June 26
Marianas Trench, Virginia to Vegas, Julian Taylor Band, and a firework display by Team Finland.
Monday, June 25
Talk about a great deal, the night's billing features Blue Rodeo, Colin James, and Cree four-piece Midnight Shine.
Sunday, June 24
Eric Lapointe, Roch Voisine, LGS, Celeste Levis and a firework display by Team Brazil.
More talent is TBA, but also confirmed are the Beach Boys, Blue Rodeo, Burton Cummings, Sloan, and Colin James.
After initial hesitation in 2016, sponsorship valued in the millions of dollars has backed the 2018 events.
Among them are Caisse Populaire, LaRonde, and College Boreal, Le Loup and Workforce North, Rogers Radio, Moose FM, CTV and First Student, Timmins Daily Press, Caron Equipment, plus Miller Paving and Northern Fencing.
The official ticket sale will launch on Friday, Nov. 17 at noon.
Ticket information and pricing can be found at www.starsandthunder.com. Early bird ticket prices are an affordable $275 for an 8-day general admission pass or $450 for an 8-day VIP pass. These packages are valid until April 30, at which point they will increase.
Those buying a ticket on the first two days of ticket sales (Nov. 16 or 17) will be entered in a draw to win one of 10 meet-and-greet packages.
Media Contact: Heather Duhn, Corporate Communications Coordinator
Her management should be fired immediately without thinking twice about it. She's wasting her time and money paying them. They can't do their job properly and they're ruining her career.