Halifax ready to celebrate the Tragically Hip

By Meghan Groff with files from The Canadian Press

It’s expected to be an epic night of Canadian entertainment as the Tragically Hip plays the last show of their “Man Machine Poem” tour in their hometown of Kingston, Ontario.

Saturday night’s show will be broadcast live across Canada, with many venues planning to show the event live.

Here in Halifax, the concert will be live-steamed on a big screen in Grand Parade Square in front of City Hall.

The show starts at 9:30 p.m., but the celebrations in the city will last all day.

‘Hey Man, Thanks: A celebration of Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip’ will feature live music, an outdoor street party and family-friendly activities.

Downtown Halifax Business Commission’s Paul MacKinnon told NEWS 95.7 the day is dedicated to Gord Downie and the Canadian Rockers,

“Live entertainment on the street, face painting for kids and kids-at-heart, we’re going to have a  ‘Raise One for Gord’ video booth where you can come do a video message for Gord and the band,” he explained.

The fun begins at 2 p.m., with closures of Argyle Street between Duke and Blowers starting at 1 p.m.

Halifax Transit is extending ferry service for the event.

Late last year, Hip front-man Gord Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

The news was made public in May as the band announced they’d be doing a tour, promising to try and make it their best yet, and Live Nation’s Ken Craig says that’s what fans are getting.

“I think his vocals are almost they best I’ve ever heard on any tour, and he’s loving it, the crowd response is energizing him,” he said.

Craig first booked the Tragically Hip in 1988 for the university circuit.

“They were a cover band and they played McMaster University in Hamilton for me,” he explained.

Craig said he booked the band every three months or so, the first original song he heard them sing was ‘New Orleans is Sinking’.

“Every time I brought them in it was great, the student loved them,” he said. “I knew this band had something.”

CBC says you’d better set your DVR is you want to watch the show again and again, as they’re not planning on re-airing ‘The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration’.

Hhowever executive director of unscripted content Jennifer Dettman says, “I’m sure the band will figure out what they will want to do with the concert afterwards.”

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