Classic Bowl Promotions chief Ed Sousa claims the constant reorganization of his McBowl Charity Concerts for Ronald McDonald House is akin to undergoing root canal surgery. But the 5th Annual Event has been rescheduled over two nights with the Rock Night set for Friday, May 13th, 2022 and an Alternative Techno Pop night scheduled for Saturday, May 14th, 2022.
Due to the ongoing pandemic problem, Sousa has been forced to re-schedule his event three times over the past two years but magically all but one of the original lineups has agreed to appear at the Mississauga-based complex in May.
The one casualty, Minneapolis-based Information Society, originally set for May 14th has been replaced by England’s Jesus Jones, who will make their solitary North American appearance for Saturday, May 14th, 2022 at Sousa’s McBowl event.
“We couldn’t get Information Society because of some internal problems with the band but Jesus Jones was No 2 on my list and I am delighted to announce that they have confirmed their McBowl appearance is their only appearance schedule for North America in 2022,” enthused Sousa. “Considering they haven’t played in the Toronto area since 1993, this announcement has already generated a lot of excitement on social media.”
Joining Jesus Jones on Saturday, May 14th, will be The Spoons and Images In Vogue with Vancouver’s Strange Advance also set to mark a re-launch at this event.
Honeymoon Suite will again headline the Friday, May 13th lineup with support coming from Winnipeg’s Harlequin and Saga. Tickets for each night are available for $45 plus a two-night ticket is $80.00 and can be obtained by linking to http://www.classicbowl.com/mcbowl/
Such is the support for Sousa’s Ronald McDonald event that many patrons who purchased tickets for the originally scheduled event, planned originally for May 2020 and rescheduled for May 2021 have declined to accept refunds. “They don’t want their money back, they just want to go to the shows,” marvelled Sousa. “Support for McBowl is that loyal.”
Sousa has claimed that he draws from his own personal musical tastes in selecting each year’s lineup which has grown from one night to two nights based on such a high demand for tickets. He is a big Euro techno pop fan and his savvy and enthusiasm have attracted such heavyweights as A Flock Of Seagulls, China Crisis, Farrington-Mann (formerly When In Rome) and now Jesus Jones, known for their 1991 smash hit “Right Here Right Now”.
Aside from his McBowl events, Sousa has also initiated a series of Rock and Bowl events that feature select bands performing stripped-down concerts to a limited number of 100 people in which the artists discuss the origins of their songs and take questions from the audience. These shows are automatically sold out the minute they are announced with Montreal’s The BOX Sunday, September 26th, The Grapes Of Wrath Sunday, October 10th, Strange Advance, Sunday, May 15th, and a special mystery band Sunday, May 29th, already sold out.
The Grapes of Wrath – Sunday – October 10, 2021
Strange Advance – Sunday – May 15, 2022
Secret Show – Sunday – May 29, 2022
For additional artists to be added to this lineup, link to http://www.classicbowl/rockandbowl/
Sousa has also initiated a series of Pop Up Show to be played to a restricted audience of 50 patrons with Images In Vogue launching these events on August 8th and The BOX, Sunday, September 26th with more shows to be announced.
For further information on McBowl please link to http://www.classicbowl.com
