It was an Island show that showed the Island might just have found a new venue for large scale events.

West Shore Parks and Recreation administrator Linda Barnes said traffic was not a problem, and the fields survived with little to no damage.

B次元官网网址淚t was a really eye-opening experience in terms of working together on a large scale event. ItB次元官网网址檚 how things should work,B次元官网网址� Barnes said. B次元官网网址淓verybody was just happy and enjoying themselves. I think everybody left happy. ItB次元官网网址檚 a good feeling because I think we really showed that West Shore can really host this kind of event. We got all kinds of really good, positive feedback from the community.B次元官网网址�

The 12,000 people who packed in the lower fields at the West Shore Parks and Recreation complex were treated to an evening of great music, wild weather and top-notch traffic planning by concert organizers Atomique Productions.

The evening started slow, with a few thousand people and plenty of room for couples to lounge on blankets while listening to Victoria alt rockers .

The well travelled bandB次元官网网址檚 set included the hit single Heading for Nowhere.

Fellow Victorians followed up with their modern take on roots rock that got the crowd up and dancing as the dayB次元官网网址檚 heat hit its peak.

A dark cloud started its crawl across the West Shore sky as the picked up the pace. The crowd pressed toward the stage, forcing those who had been on blankets to stand or retreat further back.

A very light rain helped keep the packed crowd cool. But then the first of a series of lightning strikes split the sky, forcing organizers to pull the plug on RobertsB次元官网网址� set.

The wind whipped up the low lying clouds as the sun set over the makeshift stadium. As night fell, the crowd patiently waited out the storm. At one point, technicians took down lighting and sound equipment, causing some concern that the show might not go on

And then just as chants of B次元官网网址淲e want The HipB次元官网网址� started to carry a little louder through the restive crowd, the crew returned to restore the stage.

The large flat screens that flanked the stage were once again raised by cherry pickers and within minutes a cheer exploded as stumbled up to the microphone in his trademarked shuffle.

The Tragically Hip quickly won back the crowd. The show, which had been scheduled to shut down precisely at 11 p.m., carried on past curfew.

The RCMP and event organizers worked with Colwood bylaw officers to have the concertB次元官网网址檚 curfew extended by 45 minutes.

B次元官网网址淭hey paid a lot of good money and it was a good crowd and we got all the approval from everybody,B次元官网网址� said West Shore RCMP Sgt. Max Fossum. B次元官网网址淲hen thereB次元官网网址檚 a delay, if we can make it up thatB次元官网网址檚 perfect.B次元官网网址�

Check us out on for more photos from the show.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com