Event Preview: Virgin Festival 2007 TORONTO ISLAND PARK - SEPT 8&9 - by Sandra Ferrari - Virgin Mobile's second annual Virgin festival will be bigger, greener and more efficient than Torontonians and visitors witnessed last year. V-Fest organisers have proclaimed this year a festravaganza, and it is just that. The Director of V-Fest, Andrew Bridge, proudly boasts that the focus of the concert series starts with the talent. It's going to be a fantastic balance of international and Canadian artists, as well as a multitude of up-and-coming musicians, held at our beloved Toronto Island Park. As well, it will be hosting a myriad of other events and activities, should you need a break from the various stages. But it's the music that is the big draw and the line-up is pretty incredible. Amy Winehouse's last minute drop-out sent organisers rushing to fill the void. As a result they were successfully able to augment their line-up by picking up hot-ticket artists such as our very own k-os. Between day one and two, musicians such as MIA, Mute Math, Interpol, Bjork, the Smashing Pumpkins, Metric, Stars, Explosions in the Sky, Blonde Redhead, the Cinematics, the Carps, Paolo Nutini and many others will be taking the stage. For the full line-up go to the Virgin Festival website. Other ways to spend your time (and money) include getting a tattoo; a massage; dancing your ass off in the Bacardi B-Live music tent with DJ Kevin Shiu, Tony Pantages and many others; or playing X-box with the stars backstage. Global Warming Chess, human chess that is, is just one example of how Virgin mobile is getting creative this year. That should be interesting. Think strategically everyone. This and more will be at your disposal — disposal being a key word for the weekend's events. Despite V-Fest's highly criticized flashy corporate logos, a huge focus for festival organisers this year is to be as efficiently green as possible while identifying and bringing awareness to causes such as the environment and the HIV epidemic, among many other worthy causes. Virgin mobile — specifically their charitable arm, Virgin Unites — will be attempting to educate people, as well as showing them a good time. Even though generators are a necessity, these ones will be using biofuel. "We're doing things in a way that is a bit different," says Bridge. Much respect goes out to Virgin Mobile: a portion of tickets sales will be going to Virgin Unites charitable affiliates. On top of that, they plan on leaving the place looking better then when they got there. They're going to be planting some trees for us, folks. All they're asking is that you do your part. Any and all questionable, but recyclable, items should go into the allotted bins. You can pick up tickets at all ticket Master locations, Rotate This and some future shop locations. Check out the very handy website for locations as well as a list of all of things that you can and can't bring. No one needs the hassle of being denied entry. Check back for SoundProof's coverage.