You know what I miss more than concerts? Going to concerts at Molson Park in Barrie. From CFNY-FM’s very first Edgefest in 1987 to Neil Young and “All-Star Ensemble” closing out the Canadian portion of Live 8, Molson Park was a magical location to experience live music. And I’m not referring to any mushrooms others may have consumed, or how the site doubled as a massive grow op in the early aughts.
Growing up in the westernmost hinterlands of the GTA, I looked forward to leaving my suburban cocoon several times a summer to hike up Highway 400 so as to take in all the sights and sounds, even if the commute there was oftentimes longer than the actual time spent at Molson Park. Yes, big-ticket shows took place at the much closer-to-me CNE Stadium, but I’ve always felt that alternative rock was something that needed to be sought out and therefore more rewarding if you made an adventure out of it.
This August 25th, I will be joining Toronto Mike’s world-renowned podcast to discuss some of our shared Molson Park Memories. We’ll Kick Out the Jams from the ten most significant shows at the place where you can now shop Best Buy, Marshalls and Cabela’s off “Concert Way”, but I want your help! Please leave a comment of what yer favourites were; don’t worry, The Tragically Hip will be well represented so don’t be afraid to spread the music love around. Eagerly awaiting the flood of #MolsonParkMemories.
Molson Park ticket collage courtesy of Shawn William Clarke
July 1, 1992. I was dating a guy who lived in Barrie. The night before the gates opened, we drove to Molson Park, 2 - 60 ounce bottles in tow. We snuck in just as the sun went down, searching for the perfect spot to stash them for show day. We got them buried and then were spotted and chased by security on golf carts...I squeezed through the smallest opening in a fence and ran. Mission accomplished.
Show day, we retrieved our booze, shared with friends and took in the most amazing day. In all honesty, there is a lot I don’t remember about this day but I do remember Amanda Marshall, Sass Jordan and my all time favourites, The Tragically Hip. Drunk and standing in a sea of people, only wearing my bra and shorts (no idea where my shirt landed), I remember singing every song, word for word, thrashing around, loving Gord with everything I had.
So i had to look up the year, but i guess 1994 Lollapalooza - Smashing Pumpkins headlining.. The memory i liked is the mosh-pit during the day. It was the first time I had been in one and I liked the 'code' of the mosh pit where people would look after someone who fell. esp. a girl they would help them up and get safe. esp. a girl. not in a creepy grabby way or anything. but real respect and helpful spirit. It wasnt a super aggressive pit either, but a lot of smiles - everyone had fun from what I remember
Oh, wow, I loved seeing festivals there! I feel like every festival I saw there featured Our Lady Peace, and I wasn't even a big fan, but they always put on a solid show of hits.
All the Edgefests bleed into one. I recall a non-drug-related high watching The Tea Party as the sky turned to dark, somebody doing a fun cover of Ozzy Osborne’s “Crazy Train” (was it Collective Soul?), and Jag Tanna’s guitar wizardry with I Mother Earth.
I also saw the “Alanisfest” there (which a quick google tells me was on this very day in 1996!). What stands out about that show was J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. tuning his guitar at full volume (which was LOUD) for what seemed like 10 minutes, and, in retrospect, getting to see pre-Foos Taylor Hawkins slam the skins for Alanis. I was like 23 at the time of that show and I wasn't planning on going, but a neighbour kid, who was maybe 15-16, asked me if I would take him. Our families were close, so his mom trusted me and I assumed this was the only way he'd be allowed to go. I wondered if he'd wind up meeting up with some no-good buddies and it would turn into a thing, but the only thing it turned into was a fun, hot, day of rock and roll.
But, seriously, what was the deal with people throwing bottles at that place? That was the one aspect of shows there that drove me insane.
I remember during the change over for the BB, it was just as the sun was setting everyone started throwing their empty water bottles in to the air. It looked like there were giant dragon flies going over the "pond" of humanity. A beautiful sight.
We were disappointed as it was supposed to be Tribe Called Quest in the Biz Markie spot but they cancelled at the last minute. Biz was like a drunken (Stoned?) uncle on stage. Want to see ladies lift their shirts as he careened around the stage doing weird raps and scratches.
Also at about 3am we ran out of gas on way home about 10k outside of Orangeville. Some guy was able to give us a couple litres from a jerry can to get us to the nearest gas station.
Aug 31 1996 Neil Young/ Oasis
Watching Liam Gallagher just get pelted with bottles during Oasis's set. He walked to the front of the stage and said something like "Fine you fuckers, FREE SHOT!" Bottles flew like a solid wall of plastic. If he got hit he didn't show it. It looked like he had a force shield around him.
July 10 1993 Lollapalooza
Lots of memories including Tool on the side stage, just before they go moved to the main. They were selling shirts after their set off the stage. I still have mine.
August 22nd, 1998. Everything about that day was incredible. From Cracker, to Hayden, to Cornell soundchecking and the fence almost coming down from the crowd trying to see from atop the hill, Pearl Jam in the dust bowl was one of the greatest shows I’ve ever seen.
Aug 6, 1994. Rev. Horton Heat, Pop Will Eat Itself, Marilyn "I Am The God Of F%&$" Manson (He was still a rather unknown.) NIN, AND Soundgarden.
My only compliant was Soundgarden played after NIN... nobody had anything left in the tanks! I could barely stand for Soundgarden.
And Manson ran out of I Am The God Of F%#$ t-shirts... which in retrospect I'm glad I wasn't able to get.
July 1, 1992. I was dating a guy who lived in Barrie. The night before the gates opened, we drove to Molson Park, 2 - 60 ounce bottles in tow. We snuck in just as the sun went down, searching for the perfect spot to stash them for show day. We got them buried and then were spotted and chased by security on golf carts...I squeezed through the smallest opening in a fence and ran. Mission accomplished.
Show day, we retrieved our booze, shared with friends and took in the most amazing day. In all honesty, there is a lot I don’t remember about this day but I do remember Amanda Marshall, Sass Jordan and my all time favourites, The Tragically Hip. Drunk and standing in a sea of people, only wearing my bra and shorts (no idea where my shirt landed), I remember singing every song, word for word, thrashing around, loving Gord with everything I had.
The Tragically Hip
Bootsauce
54-40
Sons Of Freedom
Amanda Marshall
Slik Toxik
Sass Jordan
Leslie Spit Trio
Spinal Tap
So i had to look up the year, but i guess 1994 Lollapalooza - Smashing Pumpkins headlining.. The memory i liked is the mosh-pit during the day. It was the first time I had been in one and I liked the 'code' of the mosh pit where people would look after someone who fell. esp. a girl they would help them up and get safe. esp. a girl. not in a creepy grabby way or anything. but real respect and helpful spirit. It wasnt a super aggressive pit either, but a lot of smiles - everyone had fun from what I remember
Oh, wow, I loved seeing festivals there! I feel like every festival I saw there featured Our Lady Peace, and I wasn't even a big fan, but they always put on a solid show of hits.
All the Edgefests bleed into one. I recall a non-drug-related high watching The Tea Party as the sky turned to dark, somebody doing a fun cover of Ozzy Osborne’s “Crazy Train” (was it Collective Soul?), and Jag Tanna’s guitar wizardry with I Mother Earth.
I also saw the “Alanisfest” there (which a quick google tells me was on this very day in 1996!). What stands out about that show was J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. tuning his guitar at full volume (which was LOUD) for what seemed like 10 minutes, and, in retrospect, getting to see pre-Foos Taylor Hawkins slam the skins for Alanis. I was like 23 at the time of that show and I wasn't planning on going, but a neighbour kid, who was maybe 15-16, asked me if I would take him. Our families were close, so his mom trusted me and I assumed this was the only way he'd be allowed to go. I wondered if he'd wind up meeting up with some no-good buddies and it would turn into a thing, but the only thing it turned into was a fun, hot, day of rock and roll.
But, seriously, what was the deal with people throwing bottles at that place? That was the one aspect of shows there that drove me insane.
Aug 15 1998 Beastie Boys and Biz Markie
I remember during the change over for the BB, it was just as the sun was setting everyone started throwing their empty water bottles in to the air. It looked like there were giant dragon flies going over the "pond" of humanity. A beautiful sight.
We were disappointed as it was supposed to be Tribe Called Quest in the Biz Markie spot but they cancelled at the last minute. Biz was like a drunken (Stoned?) uncle on stage. Want to see ladies lift their shirts as he careened around the stage doing weird raps and scratches.
Also at about 3am we ran out of gas on way home about 10k outside of Orangeville. Some guy was able to give us a couple litres from a jerry can to get us to the nearest gas station.
Aug 31 1996 Neil Young/ Oasis
Watching Liam Gallagher just get pelted with bottles during Oasis's set. He walked to the front of the stage and said something like "Fine you fuckers, FREE SHOT!" Bottles flew like a solid wall of plastic. If he got hit he didn't show it. It looked like he had a force shield around him.
July 10 1993 Lollapalooza
Lots of memories including Tool on the side stage, just before they go moved to the main. They were selling shirts after their set off the stage. I still have mine.
Gotta go with Pearl Jam in 1998. Yield is my favourite album of theirs and the setlist was incredible.
August 22nd, 1998. Everything about that day was incredible. From Cracker, to Hayden, to Cornell soundchecking and the fence almost coming down from the crowd trying to see from atop the hill, Pearl Jam in the dust bowl was one of the greatest shows I’ve ever seen.