After months of deliberation, city officials and the band have reached an agreement and it looks like The Rolling Stones’ free Toronto gig is going to happen after all. Although the official announcement is expected to happen tomorrow, a taped video message from the band was shown to several local media outlets today, marking July 30 as the big day. Mick Jagger says, “We’re happy to tell you that we’re coming to play on July 30 in a great concert for the people in the city of Toronto, to help bring back the energy to our favorite city.” According to Billboard, the event will be held at the docklands area of the the city, with the downtown skyline as the backdrop. Ten to fifteen supporting acts are expected to join the festivities.
The outdoor concert is being held in an effort to boost revenue and moral for the city, which has suffered since a SARS outbreak earlier this year seriously diminished Toronto’s tourism industry and caused the cancelation of some major entertainment events. Elton John and Billy Joel, Michelle Branch, and Kelly Clarkson all canceled tour stops to the city recently.
