Heatwave was a rock festival August 23, 1980, outside of Toronto

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

 at Mosport Park

Mosport

Mosport International Raceway is a multi-track facility located north of Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. The facility features a , 10-turn road course; a half-mile paved oval; a 2.4 km advance driver and race driver training facility with a quarter-mile skid pad Mosport International Raceway...

, Bowmanville, Ontario

Bowmanville, Ontario

Bowmanville is the largest community in the Municipality of Clarington in Durham Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario about 75 km east of Toronto and 15 km east of Oshawa along Highway 2...

. The slogans used to promote the show were variously the "Punk

Punk rock

Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...

 Woodstock

Woodstock Festival

Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...

", the "New Wave

New Wave music

New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...

 Woodstock", or "The 1980s Big Beat Rock and Roll Party".

The festival was noteworthy because of the importance of the headliner bands that played and the timing in the evolution of New Wave music, and from the size of the crowd. Tickets were $20 ($25 at the gate), 85,000 people attended but at 5 pm Dan Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd

Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...

, in character as Elwood Blues, during a live radio interview from backstage with friend and festival promoter John Brower, asked Brower if he could invite everyone listening to come out and be on his guest list. Brower immediately agreed and within 90 minutes another 15,000 people poured into the park swelling the crowd to almost 100,000 just as Talking Heads

Talking Heads

Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...

 took the stage as the sun set. The crowd inched forward to accommodate the "guests" and a sense of wonder swept over everyone as no one other than Brower and Aykroyd and the radio audience was aware of the last minute free invitation. Scandal plagued the event with accusations tossed back and forth between the backers and park management the latter claiming to have thrown away all the ticket stubs as "no one told them to keep them" The event reportedly lost a million dollars. Despite the fact that no rights agreements were signed, the entire concert was recorded professionally. The tapes surfaced sometime later that year and were secured by Brower after being turned over by the studio whose recording truck had been on location to record Teenage Head

Teenage Head

Teenage Head can refer to:* Teenage Head , a 1971 album by The Flamin' Groovies* Teenage Head , the title track from that album...

. In the mid 90's the tapes were handed over to Canadian independent record executive Jan Haust by Brower to ensure their professional restoration and safe keeping.
At the time of the festival, a New Wave/punk festival seemed a novel idea to many, especially as many of these bands typically played at night, in clubs--not outdoors in the hot summer sunlight. Rock magazine CREEM

Creem

Creem , "America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine," was a monthly rock 'n' roll publication first published in March 1969 by Barry Kramer and founding editor Tony Reay. It suspended production in 1989 but received a short-lived renaissance in the early 1990s as a glossy tabloid...

 published an overview of Heatwave from that point of view, using a few words of parody in comparison to Woodstock.

It may bear further verification, but some remember Ramones as being initially announced for the festival.

Groups

The groups were:

• Vladymir Rogov (opening artist) with his band ARKITEX (not on poster)
• Teenage Head
  Teenage Head (band)
  Teenage Head is a Canadian rock group from Hamilton, Ontario and was one of the most popular Canadian punk rock bands during the early 1980s....
  
   (not on poster)
• BB Gabor (not on poster)
• Holly and the Italians
  Holly and the Italians
  Holly and the Italians were a short-lived American pop punk band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1978 by Chicago born singer and guitarist Holly Beth Vincent, bassist Mark Sidgwick, and drummer Steve Young...
  
   (not on the poster)
• Rockpile
  Rockpile
  Rockpile were a British rock and roll group of the late 1970s and early 1980s, noted for their strong rockabilly and power pop influences, and as a foundational influence on new wave...
  
   featuring Dave Edmunds
  Dave Edmunds
  David 'Dave' Edmunds is a Welsh singer, guitarist and record producer. Although he is primarily associated with Pub rock and New Wave, and had numerous hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always been towards 1950s style rock and roll.-Early bands:As a teenager Edmunds first...
  
   and Nick Lowe
  Nick Lowe
  Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
  
  
• The Rumour without Graham Parker
  Graham Parker
  Graham Parker is a British rock singer and songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the popular British band Graham Parker & the Rumour.-Early career :...
  
   (just after he'd gone solo) (not on poster)
• The B-52's
  The B-52's
  The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
  
  
• Talking Heads
  Talking Heads
  Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
  
   (at sundown)
• The Pretenders
  The Pretenders
  The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
  
  
• Elvis Costello
  Elvis Costello
  Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
  
   and the Attractions
• The Kings
  The Kings
  The Kings are a Canadian band formed in the 1970s, best known for their 1980 North American hit "This Beat Goes On/Switchin' To Glide".-Recording history:The Kings were formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Oakville, Ontario in the late 1970s...
  
  

The Clash

The Clash

The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...

 were originally booked, and were on the poster, but cancelled or, by another story, were held up at the border due to customs.

A partial order of appearance was: Teenage Head (opened at 11:00 am), The Rumor, Rockpile, Holly and the Italians, Pretenders, B-52's, Talking Heads (sunset), Elvis Costello, and the Kings (midnight).

Teenage Head set list

The reviewer saw "two scraggly guys playing guitar and bass, and a crop-haired singer in long-tailed livery coat and eyeliner. ... good ol' head-banging ramalama punk rock. A large and vocal following cheers them on, and they play with confidence, as if they belong up front of all those people." A year or so later, Teenage Head's live album had a picture from their Heatwave set on the cover. Their set included "Wild One" (from the Frantic City album).

1. Top Down
2. Wild One
3. Picture My Face
4. Some Kinda Fun
5. Alimony
6. Everybody's Growin' Old
7. Let's Shake
8. Lucy Potato
9. Brand New Cadillac
10. You're Tearing Me Apart
11. Somethin' Else
12. Kissin' The Carpet
13. Disgusteen
14. C'mon Everybody

The Pretenders set list

The Pretenders played a full set at Heatwave photo and ticket.

1. Precious
   Pretenders (album)
   Pretenders is the debut studio album by the British New Wave band The Pretenders, released on 19 January 1980 on Real Records . A combination of rock, punk, and pop music, this album made the band famous...
   
   
2. The Adultress
3. Kid
4. Space Invader
5. Private Life
6. Brass in Pocket
   Brass In Pocket
   "Brass in Pocket" is a single by The Pretenders. It was written by Chrissie Hynde and James Honeyman-Scott, and produced by Chris Thomas.-Release:...
   
   
7. Stop Your Sobbing
8. The Wait
9. Louie Louie
   Louie Louie
   "Louie Louie" is an American rock 'n' roll song written by Richard Berry in 1955. It has become a standard in pop and rock, with hundreds of versions recorded by different artists...
   
   
10. Porcelain
11. Tattooed Love Boys
12. Up the Neck
13. Audience
14. Mystery Achievement

The B-52's set list

Performing the strongest material from their first album and debuting much of the Wild Planet

Wild Planet

Wild Planet is the second studio album by The B-52's, released in 1980. It contains the band's first experiments using electronic drum machines....

 material before the largest live audience they had experienced up to this point.

1. Planet Claire
2. 6060-842
3. Devil In My Car
4. 52 Girls
5. Quiche Lorraine
6. Dirty Back Road
7. Lava
8. Give Me Back My Man
9. Strobe Light
10. Private Idaho
11. Runnin' Around
12. Rock Lobster
13. Dance This Mess Around
14. Party Out Of Bounds

Talking Heads set list

The band that toured for the Remain in Light

Remain in Light

Remain in Light is the fourth studio album by American New Wave band Talking Heads, released on 8 October 1980 on Sire Records. It was recorded at locations in the Bahamas and the United States between July and August 1980 and was produced by the quartet's long-time collaborator...

album, including Adrian Belew

Adrian Belew

Adrian Belew is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer...

, performed for the first time at Heatwave as the sun was setting. Their segment began with the four original members and then as the songs progressed, they added musicians and vocalists, including Nona Hendryx

Nona Hendryx

Nona Hendryx is an American vocalist, producer, songwriter, musician, author, and actress.Hendryx is known for her work as a solo artist as well as for being one-third of the trio Labelle, who had a hit with "Lady Marmalade." Her music has ranged from soul, funk, dance, and R&B to hard rock, art...

 (vocals), Busta Jones, Steve Scales, Dolette McDonald, and Bernie Worrell

Bernie Worrell

George Bernard "Bernie" Worrell, Jr. is an American keyboardist and composer best known as a founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic and for his work with Talking Heads. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic...

 (keyboards).

1. Take Me to the River
   Take Me to the River
   "Take Me to the River" is a 1974 song written by singer Al Green and guitarist Mabon "Teenie" Hodges. Hit versions were recorded by both Syl Johnson and Talking Heads...
   
   
2. Psycho Killer
   Psycho Killer
   "Psycho Killer" is a song by American New Wave band Talking Heads from their 1977 album Talking Heads: 77, written by David Byrne, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. The band's "signature debut hit" features lyrics which seem to represent the thoughts of a serial killer. Allmusic calls it a...
   
   
3. Warning Sign
   Warning Sign (disambiguation)
   Warning Sign may refer to:* Warning sign, a traffic sign indicating hazard.* "Warning Sign", a song by Coldplay from the album A Rush of Blood to the Head...
   
   
4. Stay Hungry
5. Cities
6. I Zimbra
7. Once in a Lifetime
   Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads song)
   "Once in a Lifetime" is a song by New Wave band Talking Heads, released as the first single from their fourth studio album Remain in Light. The song was written by David Byrne, Brian Eno, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, and Tina Weymouth, and produced by Eno...
   
   
8. Houses in Motion
9. Born Under Punches
10. Crosseyed and Painless
11. Life During Wartime
    Life During Wartime (song)
    "Life During Wartime" is a song by New Wave band Talking Heads, released as the first single from their 1979 album Fear of Music in 1979. It peaked at #80 on the US Billboard Pop Singles Chart....
    
    

Elvis Costello set list

The Heatwave festival was the only 1980 live concert in North America by Elvis Costello and the Attractions.

1. Shot With His Own Gun (sometimes listed as "How does it Feel"), accompanied only by Steve on piano *
2. Accidents Will Happen
3. The Beat
4. Temptation
5. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding
   (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding
   " Peace, Love, and Understanding" is a 1970s song written by English musician Nick Lowe and recorded in the best-known version by Elvis Costello....
   
   
6. Mystery Dance
7. Green Shirt
8. You'll Never Be a Man
9. (I Don't want To Go To) Chelsea]
10. Secondary Modern
11. Pump It Up
12. Lover's Walk
13. Less Than Zero
14. Big Tears
15. High Fidelity *
16. Lipstick Vogue *
17. Radio Radio
18. I Can't Stand Up (For Falling Down)
19. Alison
20. Clubland
21. Oliver's Army
    Oliver's Army
    "Oliver's Army" is a song written by Elvis Costello, originally performed by Elvis Costello and the Attractions and appearing on the album Armed Forces in 1979. It remains his most successful single, spending four weeks at Nº2 in the UK singles chart....
    
    
22. Watching the Detectives
23. You Belong to Me *

Recorded and available as a two LP disk album. "Sounds like an audience recording..."

The Kings

Their set started about midnight, and they played an hour long show which included "This Beat Goes On/Switchin' to Glide".