Salmon Fest should have changed tune this year, promoters say

Two Newfoundland and Labrador music promoters say they would have made major changes to last Saturday`s Salmon Festival concert in Grand Falls-Windsor once they realized the Confederation Hill Music Festival in St. John's was happening on the same day.

The St. John's concert, featuring headliner Rod Stewart, attracted roughly 15,000 music fanswhile the Salmon Festival, featuring John Fogerty, pulled in an estimated 5,000 people.

Gene Browne,owner of The Leveea popular live music venue in downtown St. John'ssaid Salmon Festival organizers in Grand Falls-Windsor should have known selling tickets to theevent would have been a challenge.

"The fact is, they're fighting for the same audience, and 20,000people didn't leave the city (of St. John's) that day," said Browne.

"I would have tried to rope in my concert to a smaller, more effective concert," said Bill Sharpe.

Sharpe plays drums with Billy and the Bruisers, a popular local rock, pop and blues band. He's also a music industry promoter, andhas played at and booked acts into many similar events.

"I would have went for tourists and locals, I would have done a bigprobably an all-Newfoundland concerttry to break out some ex-Newfoundland superstars like the Wonderful Grand Band and the Navigators."

Classic rock rules

When it comes to large concerts designed to bring in 10,000people or more, Sharpe said classic rock is the key to success.

"What's happening now, there's a big lucrative concert market. The biggest names are available now," said Sharpe, noting that tickets to see the Rolling Stones can go for as much as $800.

"Music is a whole different thing now. Back then, Those bands were real bands. You don't really see those real sharp superbands anymore. So these guys carry nostalgia with them."

Sharpe said even though many acts had their heydays decades ago, they also appeal young concert-goers, who grew up listening to their parents' music.

"Even though a kid could be 20, he's going to know who John Fogerty is, he's going to know Jimi Hendrix, even. He's going to know Rod Stewart."

Browne said high profile international acts are expensive, but chosen well, they can be worth the gamble.

"The big names draw people from all towns all over the province to that one centre," said Browne.

"These people draw in the revenue," said Browne.

"So if they cost a couple of $100,000, you can work into the ticket price to really take care of that couple of hundred thousand. And you know you're going to get it, it's just that if you book a local band, you might not get it."

Both Browne and Sharpe pointed out that Fogerty had performed in Newfoundland in 2013 and 2014, and that likely diminished the interest and demand from local concertgoers in the Salmon Festival event.

Salmon Festival should continue

How, the two promoters agreed that the Salmon Festival should still go ahead next year, just not on the same day as another major concert event on the island.

"I think they (the Salmon Festival organizers) have the general right idea," said Browne.

"I think they need more market research."

Browne suggestedSalmon Festival organizers should choose a rock act thatappeals to multiple generations, something between baby boomer favourite John Fogerty, and Maroon 5, the much younger-skewing headline band from 2014.

"They went too far the other way," said Browne, of Maroon 5.

"Sure, my son and daughter might like it. But are you, a parent, going to spend the $2,000, $3,000to take your kid out of town to see a band you've never heard, never seen, you don't know if they're fit to eat? It's an expense on the older generation again."

Browne's ideal concert bill would feature an internationally known headline act, with acts from this province near the top.

"Hey Rosetta and Repartee are doing well. Where I work, you can pick any them, they're just as talented, they're just as smart, they write songs that are just as good."

Sharpe said his ideal headliner in Newfoundland and Labrador would be Bruce Springsteen,

"That's the one name everybody wants to see in Newfoundland. Rock and roll in Newfoundland, that's the thing."