CANADIAN MUSICIANS MIKE RENO AND PAT TRAVERS 'GOIN' HOME'

MIKE RENO

PAT TRAVERS

As the United States bakes in the dog days of summer, the Voices of Classic Rock will transport some of that "musical heat" northward next week with a three concerts in the "great white north" of Canada.

The band will depart on Monday for shows Tuesday (7/17) at the Windsor Racetrack in Windsor, Ontario; Wednesday (7/18) at the Fort Erie Racetrack in Fort Erie, Ontario; Thursday (7/19) in Canada's Capital of Ottawa, at the Ottawa Racetrack. Showtime in each instance is at 7:00 P.M..

"These concerts are part of a six-date Canadian Tour that the Agency Group booked for us with Paquin Entertainment and the Ontaria Gaming Corporation," noted Voices Manager Charlie Schmitt. "We played our first in Toronto at the Woodbine Raceway on June 19, and we're scheduled to return to Sarnia, Ontario and London, Ontario on August 16 and 17. All of the shows, with one possible exception, are on outdoor stages. It's beautiful as the sun sets, the music starts, and in some instances you can even see the Northern Lights."

July's concerts feature a powerful Voices of Classic Rock line-up including Canadian natives Mike Reno of Loverboy and Pat Travers of the Pat Travers Band. British brother citizens (so to speak) Spencer Davis of the Spencer Davis Group and Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath are also on the bill. And, the American influence is well-represented with John Cafferty of John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, Larry Hoppen of Orleans, Bobby Kimball of Toto, and Joe Lynn Turner of Rainbow and Deep Purple.

The August Concert dates will feature Peter Rivera formerly of Rare Earth and Alex Ligertwood of Santana, in addition to several of the aforementioned Voices.

Limited quantities of tickets for each event are available in advance via Ticketmaster, with the balance available at the door at each venue.

"It's like going home for me," said Pat Travers, "at the last show one of my neighbors that I grew up with and haven't seen in 20 years came backstage to say hellos. So hopefully, we'll all see lots of our Canadian fans and friends!"

Of course, American fans are more than welcome, as well, since both Windsor and Fort Erie are in close promiximity to major U.S. cities. Windsor is just through the tunnel from downtown Detroit and Fort Erie is less than five miles from downtown Buffalo via the Peace Bridge.