Shortly after we heard this upcoming Tragically Hip tour-probably their last, given Gord Downie’s health issues-there was a groundswell of a public support for the CBC (or someone) to broadcast the final gig from Kingston. And after some meetings between the band and the CBC, all the details have been worked out.
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In recent weeks, fans have expressed frustration at not being able to get tickets, which sold out in seconds, and were then posted for resale at inflated prices by hungry scalpers.
There’s been huge interest in the tour following the announcement May 24th that lead singer Gord Downie has incurable brain cancer.
The public broadcaster announced the program as the band released its 14th studio album, “Man Machine Poem”, on Friday.
The CBC broadcast and streaming of the Kingston concert on August 20 will begin at 8:30 p.m. on CBC Television, Radio One, Radio 2, CBC’s YouTube channels, and cbcmusic.ca.
News of the broadcast will be a relief for frustrated fans who couldn’t get tickets.
But now, thanks to the CBC and the band, fans without tickets – or thousands of dollars in extra cash – can watch the show on TV or even YouTube.
Fans have been fuming about the exorbitant mark-ups on tickets being sold on secondary websites like StubHub and classified sites like Craigslist and Kijiji.
Members of the Hip also seemed to be displeased with how ticket sales went. Together since 1984, the group – guitarists Paul Langlois and Rob Baker, bassist Gord Sinclair, drummer Johnny Fay and Downie – said they would tour behind the new album, which was written and recorded before Downie’s diagnosis. “We want fans rather than the connected”.
The tour will launch July 22 in Victoria.
The 52-year-old father of four was diagnosed with glioblastoma in December after suffering a seizure.
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The Hip play in London on August 8th.
