Sault-born and world-renowned Elvis tribute artist Tim “E” Hendry kicked off the first-ever concert at the newly developing Mill Square Outdoor Festival Grounds, dubbed “The Yard”.
During the concert 87-year-old super-fan Doreen Oldroyd surprised Hendry by gifting a scarf formerly owned by Elvis with an estimated value of $30-40,000.
After a night of performances that also included Tom Jones (by Lou Nelson) and Roy Orbison (by Matt King) the audience was treated to spectacular fireworks from the Independence Day celebrations across the river in Michigan which started going off just as Elvis was singing his last songs (An American Trilogy and Viva Las Vegas) around 10:30 p.m.
The night made history by marking the first concert in what developers describe as one of the biggest outdoor concert venues in Northern Ontario.
Paul Veldman, one of Mill Square’s developers, said the night’s event is the first of many progressively bigger events, “leading up to a 15,000, perhaps 20,000 people (country) festival in 2016."
Furthermore, Veldman announced the summer of 2015 is expected to culminate in a mysterious yet-to-be-announced band performing in September to more than 3,000 people.
The name hasn’t been released yet but, if acquired, will be a famous or “very big” pop-rock group that “in a Canadian context (are) very popular.”
Veldman said plans are that in 2016 a permanent stage will be built, the grounds will be landscaped, and almost every weekend there will be a big event.
Even though next year’s big festival will have up to 20,000 people, Veldman said he thinks a higher capacity is easily possible at The Yard, as anyone who has crossed the International Bridge knows, covers quite a bit of space.
The Mill Square is about 3/4 of kilometer long (from Huron Street to the International Bridge) and there are plans to add grass to most of the outdoor grounds and run the hub trail through it.
Mill Square plans to bring in a variety of music genres and events catering different demographics.
Upcoming events include the Cob and Cut in August, a snowcross event in the winter, and, says management, there is a possibility of bringing drive-in style movies back to the Sault.
Brandon Bowen, with Sound Events who has consulted with Mill Square on production issues, gave his opinions on The Yard and its potential to reshape Northern Ontario Entertainment.
“You’re in a really ideal spot (in the Sault) to have larger events because you have a large population in Northern Ontario that doesn’t want to go down to Toronto. (Also), you’re a border town so you have the draw from the States (and) Thunder Bay, Sudbury, and everywhere in between. The potential … is huge for tourism and more money to be generated for Sault Ste. Marie as a whole.”
Proceeds from “The Diamond Jim Memorial Concert,” went to the Canadian Cancer Society in memory of Diamond Jim, Hendry’s father, who succumbed to the disease eight years ago.
For Hendry this was his annual Sault Ste. Marie performance where he gets to come home and see his family.
The crowd, of mostly middle-to-golden aged fans included Hendry’s fan club president Barb Mason (who drove up from Nebraska) and two Elvis fan club president’s from the Sault, Maryanne Wood, 61, and Oldroyd (a former president).
Oldroyd decided to give Hendry the valuable blue scarf because she was moved by her love for his performances and because she wants to see her massive Elvis paraphernalia collection go into good hands as she ages.
Hendry accepted the heartfelt gift and thanked Wood in front of the crowd.
(PHOTO: Moved by her passion for Elvis impersonator Tim “E” Hendry, former Sault Ste. Marie Elvis fan club president Doreen Oldroyd, 87, gives Hendry a blue scarf formerly worn by Elvis that is estimated to be valued at $30,000 to $40,000. This was one of many highlights at the 2nd Annual Diamond Jim Memorial concert in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario on July 4, 2015. Jeff Klassen for SooToday)