‘Live 8′ music festival came to Barrie 20 years ago today

In this July 2, 2005, file photo, Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip (left) and Neil Young perform during the finale of the Canadian Live 8 concert in Barrie, Ont. (Aaron Harris / The Canadian Press via AP)

On a blisteringly hot day 20 years ago, around 35,000 people gathered in Barrie’s south end for the ‘Live 8′ music festival held at what was then called Molson Park, now known as Park Place.

The July 2, 2005 benefit concert in Barrie was one of 10 held simultaneously that day, alongside the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, United States, Japan, South Africa, and Russia.

The Barrie all-day free festival was hosted by Canadians Dan Aykroyd and Tom Green, and featured more than 20 performances, including Bad Company, Deep Purple, Mötley Crüe, Blue Rodeo, Gordon Lightfoot, The Tragically Hip, Great Big Sea, Bryan Adams, and Tom Cochrane. Neil Young closed the concert with “Four Strong Winds,” “Rockin’ in the Free World,” and a rendition of “O Canada.”

‘Live 8′ came two decades after ‘Live Aid’ - a 1985 music festival with legendary performances to raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief. The ‘Live 8′ festivals aimed to raise awareness of issues in Africa ahead of the G8 summit.

Before settling on the Barrie site, organizers considered various other venues in Toronto, including Downsview Park, Exhibition Place, and Molson Amphitheatre. Logistical and financial issues led to the selection of the Barrie venue.

For many residents and business owners, it was surely a day to remember, with sold out hotels, packed restaurants, and streets lined with fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the action.

The former Molson Park grounds hosted several concerts for roughly 20 years starting in 1987, including Edgefest, featuring Our Lady Peace, The Tragically Hip, Finger Eleven, Sloan and Fefe Dobson. Today, Park Place is home to several commercial retailers and eateries near Highway 400.