McCartney Coming To Halifax

05/20/09 4:57pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

Paul McCartney will play his first show in Halifax on July 11.

The outdoor gig at the Halifax Commons will be McCartney's only Canadian performance this year and will coincide with the Tall Ships Nova Scotia Festival 2009. Tickets go on sale on May 29. Early bird tickets will run you $125, and VIP passes will go for $305.

Promoter Harold MacKay told the Halifax Chronicle Herald newspaper that he expects about 60,000 people to attend the show.

"The Canadian audiences are great and the timing of the event, with the arrival of the Tall Ships, means that it will be an exciting event for us all," says McCartney. "We are looking forward to rocking Halifax."

The Chronicle Herald reports the Nova Scotia government offered Halifax a $300,000 grant to bring McCartney to the city. Halifax mayor Peter Kelly said the city would give up to $150,000 in services for the gig, which MacKay said had been in the works for two years. It will reportedly cost $2 million before artist fees.

Rumours that McCartney would play in Halifax started when he toured the Halifax Commons last year.

KISS will headline a gig at the Commons a week after McCartney plays there.