Country acts sign up for Magnetic Hill show

The Magnetic Hill concert site outside Moncton is putting on its cowboy hat for a big show in August featuring Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson, Sugarland and George Canyon.

Rumours about a big concert have been swirling for months, and on Wednesday, the city and promoters announced an all-star line-up.

Promoters are calling it the biggest country show ever to hit Atlantic Canada, though they're not expecting the same crowds attracted by last year's Rolling Stones show.

• FROM FEB. 7, 2006: Stones gig leaves Moncton black and blue

The "Country Rocks the Hill" show will be held at Magnetic Hill on Aug. 19.

Promoters are expecting about 30,000 people to buy tickets, but they say more tickets will be sold if there's enough interest.

City of Moncton special events organizer Ian Fowler believes lots of people will want to go. "If you look at the classic rock festival that was held at the site in the late '90s and you look at the concerts that have taken place in Shediac and things over the years, it's mainly a Maritime/New England draw and I expect that's where our prime market will be for this show."

Fowler says show organizers have learned big lessons from last year's Rolling Stones concert. He says traffic concerns will be handled better, and is hoping to avoid complaints about food prices inside the venue.

Rock fans are hoping for their own concert at the site this year, and Fowler says promotors are still talking to several big names, but a second show isn't a sure thing.