Featuring Haywire, Honeymoon Suite, Sam Robert Band, and Def Leppard
The Churchill Park Music Festival is one of the most anticipated outdoor music festivals each summer on the island of Newfoundland. The multi-day event features some big-name international acts, Canadian favourites, and amazing local talent.
The festival began on Friday, July 25th with an incredible line-up. Haywire took the stage first, bringing the energy to the field. Formed in Charlottetown, P.E.I in 1981, this rock band has sold more than half a million records, released a dozen hit songs, won international awards, lifetime achievement awards (Music P.E.I. and an ECMA) and played with some of the biggest names in Canadian music.
Haywire released their first EP, Haywire, in 1985. They followed up with their debut album, Bad Boys, in 1986. From this the band went on to have numerous top 40 hits including ‘Bad Bad Boy, ‘Fire’, ‘Short End of a Wishbone’, ‘Operator Central’, ‘Get Back’, and ‘Wanna Be the One’. Haywire rocked the stage with some of those hits, including their highest charting singles ‘Buzz’ and ‘Dance Desire’. They definitely set the mood for the night, as the field was packed before they left the stage.
Next up was Honeymoon Suite from Niagara Falls, Ontario. Forming in 1981, the band worked hard to get noticed, playing six nights a week and writing songs with high hopes. It wasn’t until 1983, when the band entered a demo of ‘New Girl Now’ in a contest headed by Toronto rock station Q107, that all their effort paid off. After winning the contest their future in Canadian music was solidified.
Honeymoon Suite released their debut self-titled album in July 1984. This album was an instant success and went on to sell over 300 000 copies in Canada alone. The band went on to create a total of nine studio albums with well over a million sold worldwide. The band added to their achievements by winning numerous awards for album sales, JUNO for Group of the Year in 1986, and having many of their songs played in films and TV shows.
In 2019, Honeymoon Suite released some new music, including ‘Tell Me What You Want’ and ‘Find What You’re Looking For’. This track ended up charting in the Billboard Top 30, their first top 30 hits for the first time in 19 years.
Honeymoon Suite spoiled their fans with many of their well-known singles such as ‘Burning in Love’, ‘Stay In the Light’, ‘Wave Babies’, ‘What Does It Take’ and ‘Love Changes Everything’. The band finished off with their crowd pleaser ‘New Girl Now’, which left the fans singing along to every word. I am sure it won’t be long before they are back on the rock.
Sam Roberts Band graced the stage next. Headed by Canadian rock singer-songwriter Sam Roberts, the band has seen great success over the years. Sam Roberts released his debut in 2002, which went on to be the best-selling independent EP in Canadian history. He followed up with his first full-length album in 2003, We Were Born in a Flame, which was Certified Double Platinum and won multiple JUNO awards (Album of the Year, Rock Album of the Year, and Artist of the Year).
Roberts found additional success with his 2014 release Lo-Fantasy. Singles from this album included ‘We’re All In This Together’ (which released the top of both Canadian rock radio charts), along with ‘Human Heat’ and ‘Shapeshifters’ (both top 10 hits).
The band played singles such as ‘Take Me Away’ and ‘Afterlife’. He also played some fan favourites such as ‘Brother Down’, ‘Don’t Walk Away Eileen’, ‘Where Have All The Good People Gone?’ and ‘Hard Road’. After such a wonderful set, the crowd on the field was ready for the headliners of the night.
For the first time since they rocked the rock in 1993, Def Leppard returned as the headliners for the first night of Churchill Park Music Festival. I remember that show in 1993, although I was too young to attend at the time. This was a band I grew up listening to because of my sisters and I knew this was a show that would not disappoint.
With over 110 million albums sold worldwide and two prestigious Diamond Awards in the US, 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Def Leppard can proudly boast a career that produces multiple ground-breaking albums that set the bar for generations.
Def Leppard formed in Sheffield, England in 1977. They established themselves as a part of the new wave of British heavy metal in the early 1980’s and continued on with commercial success into the 1990’s. Throughout their impressive career, Def Leppard have created numerous hit singles and ground-breaking multi-platinum albums. These albums include two of the best selling albums of all time, Pyromania and Hysteria. The band released their twelfth studio album, Diamond Star Halos, in 2022. This album debuted at #1 on the Apple and Amazon Music Charts.
Def Leppard are known for their hit singles ‘Rock of Ages’, ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’, and ‘Foolin’. Each of these hits were played, which caused the fans to erupt in cheers and sing along to every word. They also played hits such as ‘Bringin’ On the Heartbreak’, ‘Photograph’, ‘Hysteria’, ‘Armageddon It’, ‘Animal’ and ‘Love Bites’, all amazing tracks released in the 80’s. The 90’s saw hits such as ‘Let’s Get Rocked’, ‘Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad’ and ‘Two Steps Behind’, some of my favourites of the night.
Def Leppard truly did not disappoint. From their interaction with the audience to their catchy tunes and lyrics to their raw talent, it was surely a night to remember. They have set the bar high for the next three nights.
