2007 Virgin rock festivals slated for Vancouver, Toronto

The Virgin Festival concert series adds a new stop in Vancouver this year, with a lineup that includes the Killers, My Chemical Romance, Billy Talent, Muse, AFI and Victoria's own Hot Hot Heat.

The first Canadian Virgin festival, dubbed VFest, was held in Toronto last year.

The rock festival, which originated in Britain and features a discount ticket and high-profile rock acts, is backed by Virgin Mobile and its president Richard Branson.

This year the event will run May 20-21 in Vancouver and Sept. 8-9 in Toronto.

Virgin says more artists will be announced in the coming weeks for the Vancouver Vfest at University of British Columbia's Thunderbird Stadium.

Tickets go on sale Feb. 3.

Talent for the Toronto event, held on Toronto Island, has not yet been announced. Last year's festival featured Gnarls Barkley, the Flaming Lips and the Raconteurs, but the headline band Massive Attack had to pull out after failing to get U.S. visas.

Money from ticket sales and fundraising goes toward Virgin Unite, a charity that focuses on youth-related issues and HIV.