Bayfest in Sarnia??

I just found this - http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=963853


The Observer

Bon Jovi's Lost Highway Tour is winding its way to Bayfest

Posted 7 hours ago

Speculate no more. Bayfest has signed Bon Jovi.
The biggest act in the outdoor festival's 10-year history took four years to book. But organizer Michele Stokley said aggressive negotiations and a lot of luck finally did the trick.
"We've wanted this band so much, we probably would have taken them in April," she laughed. "Bon Jovi has been our ultimate goal because they are requested more than all others.
"We're just ecstatic."
Talks to bring the band to Sarnia began weeks ago and fell through at one point.
"We were really close and then their tour changed," Stokley said. "Then it changed again and we reinstated our offer.
"It's been a real roller coaster of emotions all through these negotiations."
Frontman Jon Bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres will perform at Bayfest the evening of Sunday, July 6. That was the only date available for the group.
"It's great because that's July 4 weekend so we expect a lot of Americans," said Stokley's husband Jim.
Bayfest continues on July 9 to 13, which means it will last six days - twice as long as when it began in 1998.
"I think the restaurant and hotel people in Sarnia will be happy this will keep tourists in town," Jim Stokley said. "This is the biggest draw Sarnia has ever had."
The Stokleys' massive stage will be erected in time for Canada Day celebrations in Centennial Park and remain up throughout Bayfest and Ribfest, which is scheduled for July 17 to 20.
The stage is unique in Canada and strong enough to carry the weight of a light show for such big acts as Bon Jovi. Without it, Bayfest couldn't have featured Aerosmith last summer. But with it, negotiations are possible with the biggest bands.
"Bon Jovi's people said they studied our market, they looked at our site plan and saw the calibre of our stage," Michele Stokley said. "Last year people asked how would we top Aerosmith, and we have."
Bon Jovi established themselves as one of the world's most successful rock acts in the 1980s with their Slippery When Wet album (1986) and New Jersey (1988 ).
In 2006, the band won a Grammy for best country collaboration with Who Says You Can't Go Home with Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland.
They were also the first rock band to reach number one on the hot country song chart. The band has sold more than 120 million albums and performed more than 2,500 concerts.
Their latest album, Lost Highway, was released last year and debuted at number one around the world.
The Stokleys say they will announce more rock acts for Bayfest 2008 on Tuesday.
The Thursday night headliner won't be confirmed until mid-April.
Readers who think they can guess the remaining acts can visit www.theobserver.ca for the latest contest information. The most correct responses will be eligible to win two VIP passes to each Bayfest 2008 concert.
Bayfest lineup
April 1: More headliner announcements.
April 2: Anyone with country passes can upgrade to an all-show pass. April 3-4: Early bird all-show passes go on sale for $167.
April 5: Tickets to individual shows, rock passes and all-show passes on sale.
July 6: Bon Jovi
July 9: TBA
July 10: TBA
July 11: TBA
July 12: Rascall Flatts and Taylor Swift
July 13: Big and Rich, Emerson Drive
Copyright © 2008 The Sarnia Observer

Here's the website for Bayfest which is advertising Bon Jovi, too - http://www.sarniabayfest.com/

EDIT: I just found this listed on AEG's website, too. That sounds official to me! Nothing on bonjovi.com yet.

i just read that and was going to post it here! well i guess it looks like they are coming back to N.A. this summer. From that article, it actually looked like they planed on staying in Europe but i guess they wont, unless they go back later in the summer. What im wondering is if when they do a festival such as this one, do tyhey bring their stage or use the one already set up. i guess it would be stupid to tear down the one in place for one night. anyways, good news for canadians!

Oh yeah!!!! Guess when Steph's taking her vacation time!!!

Hmmmmmmm . . . early July in Sarnia?! LOL

I'm seriously thinking about it, too!

I think I may go too!! YAY!

deb

LOL please explain??

I think you should!! JTers meeting at Bayfest

So they were going to be paid the biggest single amount a band has ever received to play in Greece... yet Canada is greedy?

Did you ever think its because Lost Highway is doing incredibly well in Canada? they sold out an entire Canadian tour not to mention 5 shows in the same building. The band gets received very well in Canada and im not comparing it to Greece or anywhere else for that matter... but if you know you can go to a venue, make a shitload of cash, get treated like heros and be within 10 hours of your home, its a no-brainer.

Sorry but we Canadians aren't greedy, we earned this treatment by selling out all of these shows.