N.B. artists lobby to play with U2

New Brunswick musicians are lobbying to get spots as opening acts in this year's Magnetic Hill Music Festival, which is expected to be headlined by legendary Irish rockers U2.

Concert promoters and the city of Moncton will hold a media conference on Monday to announce the headliners of the outdoor music festival.

Sources have told CBC News that the main act of the festival will be U2, with Montreal's Arcade Fire also to make an appearance.

Jeff Liberty, who runs an artists' management company in New Brunswick, said it takes a combination of factors to get an act on the bill of a big concert.

One of Liberty's clients is New Brunswick blues artist Matt Andersen, a multiple winner of Maple Blues Awards.

"There's that aspect of luck involved. With ... knowing the right people. Making sure that the right people get to hear it and knowing that it's a good part of the bill too," Liberty said. "I'd obviously like to see Matt on it."

Liberty plans to pitch U2's management with DVDs of his client in performance.

He said he's hoping Paul McGuinness, the band's manager, and the members of U2, who make the ultimate decision, like what they see.

Liberty said it's a huge opportunity to play on the same ticket with U2.

"When we're trying to get on bigger things, and when we're working the new album and trying to get [the David] Letterman [Show] or big shows like that, it really helps that we played with U2," Liberty said.

No guarantees

There are no guarantees that local musical acts will get on the stage with U2 at the summer music festival in Moncton.

Jean Surette, the executive director of Music New Brunswick, said he is hoping the city of Moncton goes to bat for homegrown musicians so they can have the experience of playing with one of the world's most famous music groups.

"The city might have a say in the sense of, 'Well, we'd like at least one group to be local,'" Surette said.

"So, very, very soon there'll be some sort of committee put together, I'm sure.

Some of the supporting acts are expected to beannounced on Monday with more to be added later.

Moncton's Magnetic Hill outdoor concert venue has hosted several high-profile concerts in recent years.

The Rolling Stones were the first major band to headline a summer concert at the outdoor concert facility. The Rolling Stones drew roughly 78,000 fans to the concert.

Australian rockers AC/DC were the latest band to draw roughly 70,000 fans to Moncton.