By Joyce Miles<br><a href="mailto:joyce.miles@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Joyce</a>
June 26
Rusted Root
opened by Steve Johnson, Bearhunter and New Clear Fusion
July 3
Our Lady Peace
opened by Inland Eyes and The Incurables
July 10
The Cult
opened by OURS and Chylde
July 17
Kim Mitchell
opened by Jeremy Hoyle Band and Friendly Fire
July 24
Lita Ford with Sass Jordan
opened by Flyin’ Blind
July 31
Queensryche
opened by David Constantino and Billy Draws Two
Aug. 7
Eddie Money
opened by Potter’s Field and Johnny Nobody
Aug. 14
Charlie Daniels
opened by Her & Kings County and Ransomville
Aug. 21
Randy Bachman
opened by Alison Pipitone and Son of the Sun
Rusted Root. Our Lady Peace. The Cult. Kim Mitchell. Lita Ford. Queensryche. Eddie Money. Charlie Daniels. Randy Bachman.
These are the headliners of the Molson Canal Concert Series 2009 at Ulrich City Centre.
Series organizer Kathy Paradowski announced the lineup Thursday at the City Centre courtyard.
The lineup represents “a very strong, very good variety of music,” she said. “Eddie Money really is looking forward to coming to Lockport.”
Hopes are high that this year’s series will match or exceed the crowd-pleasing performances in last year’s series.
A ninth, free Friday night concert is on the schedule, one more than last year, and the show openers’ list again includes a good mix of up-and-comers, some local and others escorting the headliners they’re touring with.
“We’re all looking forward to an even better summer this year,” Mayor Michael Tucker. “It’s now a big part of our city.”
The range of acts, and the fact most haven’t taken part in the series previously, will help Lockport sell itself to a wider audience, Paradowski suggested. The 2008 series brought traffic from as far away as Pennsylvania and Ohio, and the feedback was flattering, she said.
“We heard all positives about the venue — the size, the location, even the travel into (the city). ... People were pleased to see how Lockport has grown,” she said.
Despite full-blown recession, every 2008 series sponsor signed on again and a few more donors were eager to get in on the act, according to City Centre owner David Ulrich. Sponsors foot the bill for the bands and some related expenses, which keeps the concerts admission-free.
“Cornerstone Federal Credit Union, Mullane Motors, Tops ... every single sponsor, I think, (signs on) because they have the City of Lockport’s best interests at heart,” he said. “They all deserve more credit than they get. We’re in very difficult times ... and without them, (the series) would not be possible.”
Concerts will begin around 6 p.m. every Friday, June 26 through Aug. 21, and end about 10:30 p.m. The layout of the City Centre courtyard, and the rules of admission, remain the same as last year, Paradowski said. Food and drink cannot be brought in; nor can chairs.
