Hogs for Hospice concert acts announced

The waiting is over for the annual announcement by the Leamington Hogs for Hospice committee regarding the headliners and openers for this year’s Hogs for Hospice weekend concerts.

The Friday night rock and roll crowd will enjoy the opening act which is Canadian rock band Honeymoon Suite. The Niagara Fallsbased super group will be making their return to Leamington — they appeared at Roller Alley (now the Portuguese Club) in 1985.

With hits such as Feel It Again and New Girl Now, the group is expected to rock the Sunset Amphitheatre stage before headliner Scott Stapp of Creed takes the microphone to belt out such Creed hits as With Arms Wide Open and My Sacrifice.

Hogs committee spokesperson Joe Oswald is excited about the lineups.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring two rock eras together in Scott Stapp and Honeymoon Suite,” he said. “Very excited to bring Honeymoon Suite back to Leamington after all these years.”

Oswald said that the band search each year is a lot of work but they are always satisfied with their choices.

“It’s an ongoing search every year,” he said. “It’s five-to-six solid months of work to get everything arranged.”

On Saturday night, country music fans will welcome opening act A Thousand Horses, who

will then turn the stage over to Jake Owen. Owen, known for his songs Anywhere With You and Beachin’, has a large following among country fans.

“Jake Owen’s camp has been wonderful to deal with,” says Oswald. “In fact, they’ve all been wonderful to deal with.”

Oswald says all four acts are in tune with the theme of the weekend.

“They all understand our vision when it comes to the Hospice and they’re all on board with that.”

Oswald also says they are holding the line on ticket prices.

“In support of the economy, we are keeping our ticket costs the same as last year,” he said. “We are sensitive to how times are tough for some families.” Honeymoon Suite and Scott Stapp perform on Friday, August 4, while A Thousand Horses and Jake Owen take the stage on Saturday, August 5. Tickets are available by visiting hogsforhospice. com.

HONEYMOON SUITE

SCOTT STAPP

JAKE OWEN

A THOUSAND HORSES