Welland Concerts on the Canal kick off with U2 tribute band this week

The Welland Concerts on the Canal series kicks off on Friday night (June 23) with one of the best U2 tribute bands around.

Out of Hamilton, Desire: U2 Tribute is considered one of the Irish band’s best imitators out there at the moment striving to create “the most authentic U2 sound possible while capturing the passion and energy of their live performances.”

Much like U2, the four members all met in high school and have spent years getting the Dublin sound down. Lead by frontman and singer, Tim Shaughnessy, the guitar is handled by David Dellavalle with Just Faragher handling the bass and Gord Sobota in the back on the drums.

The opening act will be the Back To The 80s bands, playing all the hits from the popular decade.

The free Concert on the Canal series is sponsored by the Welland Downtown BIA and an average of about 3,000 people hit the hillside and bleachers near the floating stage at Merritt Park in Welland in 2022 and earlier.

It was, of course, cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

There will be a licensed area, as there has been in previous years, a fenced-off section at the top of the hillside where concertgoers must remain to consume alcohol. It will hold roughly 100 people.

All concerts starts at 7 pm each night with food and drink available from 6 to 9 pm. Seats are first come, first served.

Here’s a sample of Desire: U2 Tribute playing Where The Streets Have No Name.