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Virgin Festival facts for kids

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For the original rock festival held in England, see V Festival.
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Virgin Mobile Fest
Virgin Mobile Festival US.png
Virgin Mobile Fest logo
Genre Rock
Location(s) United States, Canada
Years active 2006 - 2013
Website virginfestival.ca

The Virgin Fest was a cool music festival that happened in the United States and Canada. It was like a sister festival to the famous V Festival in the UK. In North America, it was often called the Virgin Mobile FreeFest, especially in the U.S., to show that it was connected to the Virgin Mobile brand.

Just like the V Festival in other countries, these events were sponsored by Virgin Mobile.

On June 30, 2006, Richard Branson, who started the Virgin Group, announced the first festivals. The very first one was in Toronto, Canada, on September 9 and 10, 2006. It had over 40 different artists! A shorter, one-day festival also took place in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S., on September 23, 2006. Big bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Who played there.

In 2007, Virgin Festival went to Vancouver in May. It also returned to Baltimore for a bigger two-day event in August and to Toronto in September. More festivals were announced for 2008 in Calgary, Alberta, and again in Baltimore.

In 2007, Richard Branson was encouraged by actress Daryl Hannah to make the Baltimore festival more eco-friendly. They worked with groups to try and create very little waste at the event.

From 2009 onwards, the U.S. festival became known as the Virgin Mobile FreeFest. It was held at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. The amazing thing was that it was a free event! The festival returned to Merriweather in 2010 and 2011, still offering free tickets. In 2011, tickets were gone in just over five minutes! Some of the main performers in 2011 included Deadmau5, Cee Lo Green, and the Black Keys.

Festival Highlights by Year

2013 Lineup: Virgin Mobile FreeFest

This festival took place on Saturday, September 21st. Here are some of the artists who performed:

2012 Lineup: Virgin Mobile FreeFest

This festival was held on Saturday, October 6th. Check out some of the artists who played:

2011 Lineup: Virgin Mobile FreeFest

This festival took place on Saturday, September 10th. Here were some of the performers:

2010 Lineup: Virgin Mobile FreeFest

The lineup for the Virgin Mobile FreeFest on September 25th was announced on July 20, 2010.

2009 Lineup: Virgin Mobile FreeFest

The Virgin Mobile FreeFest was held at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. Virgin Mobile announced that tickets would be free because of the economy. They hoped people would donate $5 to help young people experiencing homelessness through their RE*Generation program. Sunday, August 30

  • Blink-182
  • Weezer
  • Taking Back Sunday
  • Jet
  • Franz Ferdinand
  • Mates of State
  • The Hold Steady
  • Wale
  • Public Enemy
  • The Bravery
  • St. Vincent
  • Girl Talk
  • The National
  • Danny Howells
  • Lee Burridge
  • Pete Tong
  • The Birthday Massacre

Virgin Festival Montreal (June 19 & 20)

Friday, June 19

Saturday, June 20

Virgin Festival Nova Scotia (July 4)

This festival took place at Citadel Hill in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Saturday, July 4

Virgin Festival British Columbia (July 25 & 26)

Saturday, July 25

  • The Roots
  • Our Lady Peace
  • Broken Social Scene
  • K-OS
  • Mutemath
  • Spinnerette
  • Plants and Animals
  • Chris Velan

Sunday, July 26

Virgin Festival Alberta (August 8th & 9th)

Saturday, August 8

Sunday, August 9

Virgin Festival Ontario (August 29th & 30th)

Saturday, August 29

Sunday, August 30

2008 Lineup

Virgin Festival Calgary (June 21 & 22)

Saturday, June 21

Sunday, June 22

Virgin Mobile Festival Baltimore Day 1 (August 9)

Virgin Mobile Festival Baltimore Day 2 (August 10)

Virgin Festival Toronto Day 1 (September 6)

Virgin Festival Toronto Day 2 (September 7)

2007 Lineup

Virgin Festival Vancouver Day 1

  • My Chemical Romance
  • Billy Talent
  • Rise Against
  • Mutemath
  • Stars of Track and Field
  • Jets Overhead
  • Enter Shikari
  • Pride Tiger
  • The Junction
  • TV Heart Attack (band)
  • The Bled
  • Hernan Cattaneo
  • Kevin Shiu
  • Andrew Pacey
  • Jesse James
  • Veer (band)
  • The Look
  • Neurosonic
  • Crowned Kings

Virgin Festival Vancouver Day 2

  • The Killers
  • AFI
  • Art Of Dying
  • Hot Hot Heat
  • Metric
  • Smoosh
  • You Say Party! We Say Die!
  • Marianas Trench
  • Mother Mother
  • illScarlett
  • Sebastien Grainger et les Montagnes
  • The Reason
  • MSTRKRFT
  • Tommie Sunshine
  • Desyn Masiello
  • John Morgan
  • Timeline
  • [yson V
  • Elizabeth
  • Superbeing
  • Yuca (band）

Virgin Festival Baltimore Day 1

Virgin Festival Baltimore Day 2

Virgin Festival Toronto Day 1

Virgin Festival Toronto Day 2

2006 Lineup

Virgin Festival Toronto Day 1

Virgin Festival Toronto Day 2

  • Broken Social Scene
  • The Raconteurs
  • The Strokes
  • Sam Roberts Band
  • Wolfmother
  • Lupe Fiasco
  • Thrice
  • Zero 7
  • K'Naan
  • Matt Mays & El Torpedo
  • The Diableros
  • José González
  • We Are Wolves
  • Mickey Avalon
  • MSTRKRFT
  • The Mooney Suzuki
  • Born Ruffians

Virgin Festival Baltimore

See also

  • Olympic Island Festival
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Virgin Festival Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.