Heatwave Festival - August 23, 1980 Mosport Canada - New Wave

On August 23, 1980 @ Mosport racetrack in Bowmanville Ontario Canada there was a New Wave concert that was dubbed a 'New Wave Woodstock'. Elvis Costello, Pretenders, B-52's and other acts (Teenage Head included -- Wikipedia the event for the line up and songs!)
Unfortunately this was the early days of New Wave.
The concert was an artistic success, but not a commercial success. This was a mystery to the media types that covered the event. So I will explain and load this message from Youtube back to those days (via time machine) because I knew then but had no way of communicating with the New Music (City-TV) show or Trouser Press Magazine and other music pundits--
this fact:
HOLY FUCK ALREADY --THE CONCERT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF FUCKING NOWHERE!!!! 50 FUCKING MILES FROM TORONTO!!!
Back in Punk/New Waver early days the fans were URBAN STREET KIDS --VERY YOUNG and DID NOT HAVE CARS OR ANY KIND OF OTHER TRANSPORT TO GET THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very simple fact that seemed to be lost on the Hippy crowd that made up the post Hippy music press!
Hippies were rich capitalists by this time you know.
Anyway, I was only 15 at the time and vacationing in Portugal (August to early September 1980), and that is my excuse for not stealing a bus to get over for this event.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Heatwave
• Festival
• 1980
• B-52's
• Planet
• Claire
• Pretenders
• Brass
• In
• Pocket
• Pete
• Farndon
• Chrissie
• Hind
• Elvis
• Costello
• Don't
• Want
• To
• Go
• Chelsea
• New
• Wave
• Punk
• concert
• beer
• police
• Mosport
• Park
• Ontario
• Canada
• Toronto

[toiroforcado]

Man oh Man thats one mean version of 'Planet Claire' - anybody got bootlegs of this show?

[iguana5500]

I was there also. The rumor was that Blondie was performing, and we heard that Deborah Harry was back stage that day. I was front and center when B-52's were on and they seemed like they were from outer space. I have never seen foootage before.

[porky6884]

@Pretzone The Ramones werent there. Were you under the influence of something that day?

[porky6884]

Thanks for this video! i was there and it is still a great memory. I know somebody filmed the whole thing but I have never seen any video released. I wish somebody wiould release the video. Rockpile stole the show in my opinion

[58Wheels]

There's a bootleg of Elvis Costello's show circulating. I was there and it was a tremendous weekend.

[Coffee45]

Oh man, this is fucking excellent! Do you have any more footage of the B-52's?

[scratchy45]

I was there too! It was my introduction to Nofuntario (the garbage skips & security checkpoints, dry festival, nuthin' but warm flat pepsi in dixie cups, no shade, f'n Pink Floyd alarm clock etc etc, and I was already bummed that The Clash cancelled after I got my ticket) For me what made it all worthwhile was Talking Heads, who just kept getting more numerous as the show went on, premiering their Remain in Light lineup w. Bernie Worrell et al. They were so good I hardly noticed EC afterwards

[joedimaggio44]

for any who are interested, wolfgangsvault(dot)com has got soundboard recordings of the festival. As of Nov 2011, you can stream (for free) or download mp3 or flac (for a fee) recordings of the Pretenders, B52s, Elvis C, and Rockpile. Supposedly recordings of the other performers are coming soon.

[TheDamned999]

man , iw ould of love to been here my kind of music

[audreyladell]

i was there, hitchiked with a drag queen and we had a blast. holy shit, i am OLD!

[DanstykMusic]

Thanks for this -- I was there, 31 years ago today. We got there the night before, slept on the lawn and awoke to Pink Floyd's "Time" being cranked on the PA, which begins with a series of alarm clocks going off. The Clash were on the poster, but either canceled or were held up at customs, not sure. An amazing weekend.

[LauritzH]

That was a hella party. I remember after the very strange procession to the entrance, walking in over the rolling hills and suddenly something from "Dark Side of the Moon" (which always showed up when I was tripping) was blasting across the meadows, and the day just kept getting more and more beautiful. EC played off the Clash thing at the beginning of his set, "Hullo, I'm The Clash". Nice to be able to show some people what I've talked to them about for years and years. Thanks!

[oldmusicrevisited]

This is my second account. I have a boot of The B-52's set and will upload some tracks from it if not the whole thing. I'm not sure The B-52's want it on Youtube though - They haven't released a live album yet - So if I don't have any tracks on it uploaded when you check or if my account is suspended you might have an idea why.

[justdoit226]

Thank you for this...I was there and it was unforgettable!

[101Volts]

@toiroforcado First, Thanks for uploading this. Second, Just Google "The B-52's Heatwave" And there will be a blog page that has a link to where you can download the whole show. However, Don't click on the first link. Look in the comments for the blog post and you'll find a second, Working link.

[olphands]

Pretzone, you're right on about the mounties. They took all our booze away. But I'm afraid the Ramones weren't there. We get older and we get shows mixed up. I'm sure you saw them. Just not at Heatwave.

[postmanbrian]

@olphands YES! doing acid, I remember thoses little bastard flying around all day and seeing traces off them! That's F in cool forgot all about them. thanks, came from Burlington Vermont. What a line up & show!

[Pretzone]

I was there, too! Why is no one mentioning THE RAMONES!?!? They were awesome! It was so f-ing HOT, and we were all in our black leather jackets! And yeah, it WAS in the middle of nowhere! And we had to park like a mile away and walk, only to be meta at the gate by mounties harassing us and taking our shit away!

[pfkj6]

I remember everyone staying because of the rumor the Clash were playing after EC

[pfkj6]

How about no one leaving because the Clash were doing a surprise set after Elvis Costello rumor

[torontoskater2]

Go Fred, Go!!!

Sadly, only Martin Chambers and Chrissie survived the madness of being in a rock and roll band....

[torontoskater2]

Go Fred, Go!!!

[olphands]

I was there, too. Anybody remember all the grasshoppers? I was picking them off my neck all day. Great, great show.