Echo Beach

Growing up in Toronto, Ontario Place was a favorite spot for summer fun.  Faded memories of hot summer nights on the lawn of the old Forum easily flow back to the forefront of my mind – Jan & Dean with Mike Love of the Beach Boys, Air Supply, Teenage Head and the legendary Bruce Cockburn.  And who could forget CFNY 102.1’s Edgefest in the early 90's.   I loved the Forum and still miss it!  It was my first experience of not knowing how good you have it until it’s gone.

For those too young to remember, the Forum was an outdoor concert venue that was an architectural landmark torn down to make way for the Molson Amphitheatre. It featured covered seating under a unique tent-like, metal framed, solid roof, with extra seating on the open surrounding, grassy hills. While having only half the seating capacity of the current Amphitheatre, it offered a far more intimate theatre-in-the-round experience; featuring a rotating stage which gave every seat in the house, in turn, an excellent view. It also had the benefit of being generally free with park admission.  Free live music under the stars and nothing could beat that!

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Ontario Place is bringing back the Forum – well sort of.  It has opened Echo Beach, a 5,000-capacity venue featuring a real sand beach and offering guests a spectacular view of the downtown Toronto skyline.  Like the old Forum, it is a general admission venue with no reserved seating and allows fans that intimate concert feel al fresco.

This summer’s free concert line-up includes Platinum Blonde on July 23, Third Eye Blind on July 28 and Sloan on August 5.

I’m holding out for Martha and the Muffins playing Echo Beach sometime soon!

Ontario Place http://www.ontarioplace.com/

Echo Beach http://www.echobeach.ca/

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com