Calling him B次元官网网址渢his generationB次元官网网址檚 Cat Stevens,B次元官网网址� Vancouver Island MusicFest executive producer Doug Cox has announced Passenger as the next headlining act for this summerB次元官网网址檚 three-day festival at the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds.

Cox added it was B次元官网网址渢his generationB次元官网网址� that introduced him to Passenger.

B次元官网网址淚 kept hearing this wonderful music coming out of my (19-year-old) daughter CaileighB次元官网网址檚 bedroom,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淨uite often, she turns me onto whatB次元官网网址檚 going on with music B次元官网网址� as all my kids do. This was a couple of years ago now, but every time I heard her playing his music, I found myself asking her who it was, because I really liked him a lot.

B次元官网网址淚 found out that he had been interested in playing some of the festivals, so I put an offer in on him. When I told them he would be sharing the stage with Ry Cooder, not surprisingly, I heard back very quickly that he wanted to come.B次元官网网址�

Passenger will play on Saturday evening, July 14.

Passenger (Michael David Rosenberg) took his name from the band he fronted last decade. When the band, Passenger, disbanded in 2009, he opted to keep the band name for his solo work.

Passenger is well known for his impromptu busking performances, not only through the streets of London, but worldwide.

B次元官网网址淚 had no idea how huge he was until I started watching some of his videos, and there are some videos out there of him performing in front of 100,000 people at different events,B次元官网网址� said Cox. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really thrilled that we got him, and that we got somebody whoB次元官网网址檚 a younger performer, who will also resonate with the baby boomers.B次元官网网址�

The 33-year-old Englishman has already produced nine studio albums (including Wicked ManB次元官网网址檚 Rest, with the band), and his song, Let Her Go, was a chart-topper in countries around the world.

Although Cox has never seen Passenger in person, he comes highly recommended.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 played the Edmonton Folk Festival and I heard from the people that run that festival, and people who saw him there, and they all said he was incredible. The people I have talked to all said the show is fantastic.B次元官网网址�

With Walk Off The Earth headlining the Friday, July 13 lineup, and now Passenger on Saturday, Cox has made a concerted effort to reach as vast an audience as possible.

More Canadian acts announced

B次元官网网址淭here are also a lot of other young bands playing the festival this year,B次元官网网址� said Cox.

Recently announced acts include Canadian rockers The Royal North (from Prince Edward Island) and Nice Horse, a female country band from Calgary.

B次元官网网址淭he Royal North B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檙e like if the guys from Trailer Park Boys started a rock band,B次元官网网址� said Cox.

B次元官网网址淲hen you first see these guys itB次元官网网址檒l make you laugh. They look like a motorcycle gang. But then you listen to them and you realize that,B次元官网网址榃ow, these guys are really good,B次元官网网址� in the spirit of Rush, and Loverboy - classic Canadian rock bands.

B次元官网网址淎s for Nice Horse, I saw them at a conference and they kind of reminded me of a young Dixie Chicks.B次元官网网址�

Cox went to his reliable youth source for additional input on Nice Horse.

B次元官网网址淚 went home and I played it for all three of my daughters B次元官网网址� and they all said, B次元官网网址楤ook them immediately. TheyB次元官网网址檙e great.B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址�

SundayB次元官网网址檚 lineup is yet to be announced.

Weekend passes are available at the.