Getaway Your Way Raffle

TICKETS: NLFB Office, 19 Grey St. Suite 3, 705-674-5512; SSO Office, 303 York St. 705-673-1280

The Northern Lights Festival Boréal and the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra invite you to Getaway Your Way and support two of Sudbury’s music-based charities in the process. From May 11 to September 28, purchase a ticket from either organization for your chance to win your choice of the Grand Prize:

Napa Valley Wine Country Experience (Retail Value: $7,644)

• 3-night stay in a standard guest room at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa Valley, including daily breakfast for 2
• 6-hour chauffeured limousine service within Napa and Sonoma counties, courtesy of Beau Wine Tours and Limousine Service
• 3-hour gourmet dinner for 2 on the Napa Valley Wine Train
• Round-trip coach class airfare for 2 from Toronto to San Francisco, CA
• Complimentary Booking

Note: minimum legal drinking age is 21.

OR

New Orleans Jazz & Dining Experience (Retail Value: $7,192)

• 3-night stay in a standard guest room at the Renaissance Pere Marquette in New Orleans
• Daily breakfast for 2
• VIP admission for 2 including skip-the-line status to the Preservation Hall of Jazz
• 6-course dinner with wine pairings for 2 at Commander’s Palace Restaurant
• Round-trip coach class airfare for 2 from Toronto to New Orleans, LA
• Complimentary booking

OR

Pro Sports Fan Getaway (Retail Value: Priceless)

• 2 lower level seats to your chosen regular season MLB, NBA, NFL or NHL game, or 2 grounds passes to a non-major PGA Golf Tournament*
• 2-night weekend stay in a standard room with deluxe accommodations, such as Hyatt, Marriott, Sheraton, Wyndham or comparable
• Daily breakfast for 2
• Round-trip coach class airfare for 2 from Toronto to the 48 contiguous U.S. states and Canada
• Complimentary booking

*: Excludes the U.S. PGA Championship, Masters, U.S. Open, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup Note: Game date must be on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Other prizes include:

A Fabulous Day (or Two) at the Spa, courtesy of the Spa at 61 Elm (Retail Value: $750) 2 Season Subscriptions to the Sudbury Symphony’s 13.14 Season (Retail Value: $394) 2 VIP Packages to the 2014 Northern Lights Festival Boréal (Retail Value: $200) A 3-course dinner for two, cooked in your home by a professional chef (Retail Value: $200) 2 tickets to the SSO’s February 8 Gala Event (Retail Value: $200) A gift basket of natural beauty products, courtesy of Arbonne (Retail Value: $200)

Tickets are 1 for $20, or 3 for $50 Purchase yours by calling NLFB at 705-674-5512

  Proceeds to benefit the Northern Lights Festival Boréal (CRA Charitable No. 119060036RR0001) and Sudbury Symphony Orchestra (CRA Charitable No.119205144RR0001). Winning tickets will be drawn on September 28, 2013 at 9pm at Glad Tidings Auditorium, 1101 Regent Street South, Sudbury. Prizes must be accepted as awarded. No cash value. Some blackout dates for travel & restrictions may apply. Grand prize must be booked a minimum of 60 days in advance. Airfare will expire one year from date of draw. Any airport departure taxes, fees or fuel surcharges (if charged) are the responsibility of the prize winner. Ground transportation is not included unless where specified. Odds of winning a prize are 1/143. Winners need not be present at the draw and will be contacted by phone. Employees and Board members of the NLFB and SSO, and their family members are not eligible to enter. Lottery License Number: 710083.

Northern Lights Festival Boréal (NLFB) is currently accepting
vendor/crafter/artisan applications for the 2013 festival. The festival will take place July 5th, 6th and 7th at Bell Park, Sudbury. The festival traditionally hosts numerous food vendors, artisans, crafters, retailers, as well as non-profit and environmental exhibitors. The festival usually attracts anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 patrons from Northern Ontario and beyond, and is host to 40+ musical acts. Vendor application forms and information regarding fees, logistics and more can be found online
at: www.nlfbsudbury.com/vendors.

Vendors will be selected through a formal application process and can expect to hear back by May 31, 2013 at the absolute latest. Originality is certainly an asset, as NLFB organizers seek to preserve the eclectic and diverse atmosphere the festival has become known for. “We had a great diversity of vendors and non-profit displays last year, and we seek only to expand on this for 2013,” says Max Merrifield, Executive Director of the festival.

NLFB is Canada’s longest continuous running music festival and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2011. Over the years NLFB has grown from a one day event called the ‘Northern Lights Folk Festival’ into a seasoned presenter of Canadian roots and modern music. The modern NLFB experience can be described as, ‘a roots music festival that loves modern music,’ or ‘a modern music festival that’s in love with its roots.’ For more information, please contact the Northern Lights Festival Boréal office at nlfbmarketing@gmail.com / 705-674-5512

___

Jessica Lovelace
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Northern Lights Festival Boréal
nlfbmarketing@gmail.com
Phone: 705-674-5512
Fax: 705-222-9574

 Caracol is a Montreal-based singer-songwriter. Her music is filled with raw emotion, in a style that includes pop-folk-indie-vintage with a retro soul influence. She writes in both French and English and is equally comfortable in both languages. She has received several top prizes for both show and album from Radio-Canada, Bourse Rideau, Prix Miroir, Adisq, as well as nominations at the Junos and Canadian Folk Music  Awards. She made an intense impression on Sudbury audiences in 2011, and is back to make her Festival Boréal debut.

 Adopted at birth by an Inuit family Elisapie was raised in Salluit, Nunavik, immersed in Inuk culture. For Elisapie, the North is not the end of the earth; rather, it is the centre. With the duo, Taima, she won a JUNO in 2005. This Montreal singer, composer and filmmaker returns with her sophomore solo album “Travelling Love”. Skipping across languages and genres she easily shifts from English and French to Inuktitut and from quiet acoustics to synthy electronics. She has gained a major following worldwide, and will no doubt continue that trend at NLFB 2013.

 Marie-Claire et les Hula-Hoops is a new, local francophone group, surrounding the songwriting of Marie-Claire Cronier, and blending the sounds of 50s rockabilly with 60s French pop. All of this is accented by an intriguing selection of atmospheric guitar textures.  NLFB Artistic Director Paul Loewenberg says: “They are certainly one of the most exciting new groups in town, not only in the francophone scene, but in general”.

 The francophone roster is certainly not limited to these artists. In addition, patrons can expect to see: D’Harmo, a virtuoso harmonica quartette from Québec; Swamperella, a Cajun infused band singing in English, French and Creole; Mike Ford, a renowned songwriter promoting his first French language album; and more. NLFB has also recently added family performers such as Cindy Cook, best known for her work with TVOntario’s ‘Polka Dot Door’.

In addition to the musical elements of the festival, patrons can expect: a highly interactive edition of NLFB’s visual Arts Village; a diversity of crafters and artisans, instrument builders, and more; a selection of food vendors covering various tastes and cultures; and so much more. Tickets for the 2013 festival (July 5-7) are currently available at www.nlfbsudbury.com.

***

For NLFB 2013 information or to schedule interviews, contact:

Northern Lights Festival Boréal, 705-674-5512
nlfbmarketing@gmail.com | www.nlfbsudbury.com

COAST REDWOOD (Photo: Matt Wiewel)

Although every act who played delivered a quality performance, the judges were faced with the task of choosing two winners: one in the solo category, and one in the band category.  After much deliberation, the judges selected Sam Cassio as the winner in the solo category. Cassio plays a mix of roots music, blues and rock, often producing songs that are uniquely Northern Ontarian. In the band category, local indie-rock group Coast Redwood were identified as the winners. They look forward to releasing their first full-length album this summer, following a self-titled EP released last year.

SAM CASSIO (photo supplied)

Kim Schmidt (judge and former Meltdown winner) said, “It was quite a task to select a winner, with such an assortment of interesting performers. But in the end, we’re here to think about performance quality, stage presence and suitability to the festival: the winners were selected based on these factors.”  The competition`s winners will gain valuable exposure performing at the festival, while also getting experience playing with seasoned veterans in workshops.

NLFB announced their lineup last week, which includes such artists as: Serena Ryder, Buck 65, The Good Family, Elisapie, New Country Rehab and many more. Tickets are currently on-sale at www.nlfbsudbury.com. NLFB plans to announce more regional and francophone artists in the coming weeks.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

For 2013, NLFB is presenting one its most dynamic lineups yet, ranging from hip-hop to roots rock and everything in between. The music certainly reflects the eclectic atmosphere NLFB has become known for, but the calibre and acclaim of the talent for 2013 is undoubtedly on par with some of the largest music festivals in Canada. In addition to today’s announced list of featured artists, more regional and local artists’ names will be announced in the coming months, along with more information on Family Stage and Greenville activities, artists and artisans.

Mark your calendar now for the weekend of July 5-6-7, and get your tickets, on sale now at:  http://www.ticketbreak.com/nlf

The Headliners…

Serena Ryder returns to the festival after a great packed concert in 2009.  The recipient of three JUNO Awards and two gold albums, this year Ryder unveiled her most personal and ambitious album yet.  The result is ‘Harmony’ – robust, passionate, optimistic, adventurous, haunting and addictive.

Serena ended up working with two different producers on this album – Emmy/Grammy nominated producer/songwriter/musician Jerrod Bettis (Gavin Degraw, Better Than Ezra) and producer/songwriter/musician Jon Levine (K’naan, Nelly Furtado).  Serena, Jerrod and Jon play most of the instruments on the album.  By recording much of ‘Harmony’ at her own home studio The Cottage, the essence of the songs were able to properly flourish.  They also recorded at Guest House Studios in Los Angeles and Synagogue in Hollywood, then the album was mixed by Joe Zook (Modest Mouse, Katy Perry).  “Harmony” is my journey…my past, my present, my future and all the ugly and beautiful things that I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing so far in my short life here,” shares Serena.

The Good Brothers have gained a worldwide audience over the course of their accomplished career. Twins Bruce and Brian, along with kid brother Larry, knew they were destined for something bigger than their suburban Toronto roots. Formed in the early 1970s from Kinfolk and then a stint with James Ackroyd, the Good Brothers’ first gig was at legendary Toronto club The Riverboat, on May 14, 1974. They played simple music, straight from the heart that encompassed country, bluegrass, folk, and the occasional taste from the rock and roll songbook. Fiddle tunes flowed as did cover songs, highlighted by Larry’s banjo breaks, Bruce’s autoharp, their unique sibling harmonies, and enough on-stage energy to burn down the cornfield. They also played that summer at the 3rd Northern Lights Folk Festival.  Forty years later, with platinum records, eight straight Junos for

Country Artist of the Year and acclaimed tours on every continent, The Goods finally recorded an album this year with their entire family.

Although they have often been accompanied by The Sadies’ Dallas and Travis Good, 2013 marks the first record of all The Sadies and The Good Brothers performing together. This will no doubt be a dynamite show, returning the Sadies to the Festival for the 3rd time and the Goods first appearance in Sudbury since 2003.

Rich Terfry is Buck 65. He’s from Mt. Uniacke, Nova Scotia, which qualifies technically as the middle of nowhere. When he started making music, he was terrified that his friends would find out about it and kick his ass. That was a long time ago. In the last 20 years, he has released and given away more than 20 albums and countless other stray songs.

Buck 65 travels the world alone and collects books and movies and stories that haven’t been told yet. Buck 65’s music started out as hip hop, and there’s still a strong whiff of that tradition, but it has evolved into something else. Sometimes it sounds rural. Sometimes it sounds like something fished out of a drain pipe. He wishes it sounded like a Terrence Malick film or a Max Ernst painting. Now no one knows what to call it.  Buck 65 raps, sings, makes beats, plays instruments and DJs, but is best known for his dancing. He is also the wildly popular host of CBC Radio 2’s great afternoon show, Drive.

 Some of these acclaimed headliners are acts Sudburians have seen before, but are back in full force with fresh material and brand new sounds. Others have thrilled crowds across the country and are ready to make their debut in the nickel city. As a community festival, NLFB has also maintained a tradition of presenting music that reflects the cultural richness of Northern Ontario, including a highly dynamic and engaging Aboriginal and Francophone artist roster. With artists such as d’Harmo and Elisapie, this year is no exception. The NLFB team has truly searched far and wide, in order to find the finest in emerging talent from across the continent. As NLFB founder Scott Merrifield says, “The headliners may be the heart of the festival, but the emerging artists and the workshops are the soul of the event”.

Enhancements to the Festival experience…

Friday evening will have an opening ceremony in mid-evening to welcome everyone to the 2013 Festival, followed by a joyful musical kickoff to the weekend. Saturday will be business as usual… just better: 6+ stages of music, a diversity of interesting foods, artisans, crafters, retailers, green exhibitors, and the list goes on and on. NLFB may be the only summer festival where you can find such a selection of music, instrument building, interactive visual arts workshops, creative activities for kids and much more!

Swing into Spring at Meltdown 2013!

Saturday April 6^th, NLFB will host one of Northern Ontario’s most diverse musical competitions, complete with a swingin’ concert for music lovers. NLFB’s annual Meltdown competition gives regional, emerging artists a chance to compete in a friendly competition for paid spots at festival 2013. Not only is it a great showcase of amazing, new talent, it is also a chance to witness some of the finest artists the region has grown to love. Sudbury music veteran and guitar aficionado Paul Dunn joins forces with gypsy swing sensation Hugh Jazz, to deliver a show that is guaranteed to make you move. The event will be held at the newly renovated Theatre Cambrian, 40 Eyre St. The competition starts at roughly 2pm, and the concert starts at 8pm. Further details can be found here.

See You at the FEST!      

For more information, please contact:

Max Merrifield or Ashlyne Botelho

Northern Lights Festival Boréal

(P) (705) 674-5512

(F) (705) 222-9574

nlfbofffice@gmail.com

www.nlfbsudbury.com

Serena returns to the festival after a great packed concert in 2009. The recipient of three JUNO Awards and two gold albums, this year Ryder unveiled her most personal and ambitious album yet. The result is ‘Harmony’ – robust, passionate, optimistic, adventurous, haunting and addictive.
Serena ended up working with two different producers on this album – Emmy/Grammy nominated producer/songwriter/musician Jerrod Bettis (Gavin Degraw, Better Than Ezra) and producer/songwriter/musician Jon Levine (K’naan, Nelly Furtado). Serena, Jerrod and Jon play most of the instruments on the album. By recording much of ‘Harmony’ at her own home studio The Cottage, the essence of the songs were able to properly flourish. They also recorded at Guest House Studios in Los Angeles and Synagogue in Hollywood; then the album was mixed by Joe Zook (Modest Mouse, Katy Perry). “Harmony” is my journey…my past, my present, my future and all the ugly and beautiful things that I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing so far in my short life here,” shares Serena.

The Good Family is… (Saturday)

(The Good Brothers http://www.thegoodbrothers.com)

(members of The Sadies http://www.thesadies.net/band.htm)

The Good Brothers have gained a worldwide audience over the course of their accomplished career. Twins Bruce and Brian, along with kid brother Larry, knew they were destined for something bigger than their suburban Toronto roots. Formed in the early 1970s from Kinfolk and then a stint with James Ackroyd, the Good Brothers’ first gig was at legendary Toronto club The Riverboat, on May 14, 1974. They played simple music, straight from the heart that encompassed country, bluegrass, folk, and the occasional taste from the rock and roll songbook. Fiddle tunes flowed as did cover songs, highlighted by Larry’s banjo breaks, Bruce’s autoharp, their unique sibling harmonies, and enough on-stage energy to burn down the cornfield. They also played that summer at the 3rd Northern Lights Folk Festival. Forty years later, with platinum records, eight straight Junos for Country Artist of the Year and acclaimed tours on every continent, The Goods finally recorded an album this year with their entire family.

Although they have often been accompanied by The Sadies’ Dallas and Travis Good, 2013 marks the first record of all The Sadies and The Good Brothers performing together. This will no doubt be a dynamite show, returning the Sadies to the Festival for the 3rd time and the Goods first appearance in Sudbury since 2003.

Buck 65 http://www.buck65.com/ (Friday)

Rich Terfry is Buck 65. He’s from Mt. Uniacke, Nova Scotia, which qualifies technically as the middle of nowhere. When he started making music, he was terrified that his friends would find out about it and kick his ass. That was a long time ago. In the last 20 years, he has released and given away more than 20 albums and countless other stray songs.

Buck 65 travels the world alone and collects books and movies and stories that haven’t been told yet. Buck 65’s music started out as hip hop, and there’s still a strong whiff of that tradition, but it has evolved into something else. Sometimes it sounds rural. Sometimes it sounds like something fished out of a drain pipe. He wishes it sounded like a Terrence Malick film or a Max Ernst painting. Now no one knows what to call it. Buck 65 raps, sings, makes beats, plays instruments and DJs, but is best known for his dancing. He is also the wildly popular host of CBC Radio 2’s great afternoon show, Drive.

Sheesham and Lotus and Son http://www.sheeshamandlotus.com/

An important moment of reckoning between Lotus Wight and Sheesham Crow was when they realized that they had the common experience as children brushing their teeth to the fiddle tune “Turkey in the Straw”, using the shape of their mouths to manipulate the melody of the tune. It was this kind of idle, yet innate musicality which followed them as youngsters. They came together in 1998 in the group Flapjack, traveling for seven years, mastering traditions of fiddling and old time music across the continent. Since founding as a duo in the wake of Flapjack, Sheesham and Lotus have become a welcome mainstay at the Northern Lights Festival Boréal. Whether holding court on the grassy knoll, family stage, workshops or the mainstage, Sheesham and Lotus and Son have embodied the heart and soul of our weekend.

Lynn Miles http://www.lynnmilesmusic.com/

Lynn Miles is one of Canada’s most accomplished singer/songwriters. With eight albums to her credit, the winner of multiple Canadian Folk Music Awards and a 2003 JUNO Award for Roots & Traditional Solo Album of the Year, she has certainly found her strength over time. Through a career that has seen her move from Ottawa to Los Angeles and back again, with stops in Nashville and Austin, she has always written music with unbridled feeling and vulnerability. Miles has consistently been unflinching in putting herself out there. On er latest album, “Fall For Beauty”, the voice of her experience has truly elevated her songwriting to its richest depth of emotion. While her melodies undulate between traditional country and folk roots, it’s her sensitivity to the world around her that pours itself directly into Miles’ music to make it stand out.

Socalled http://www.socalledmusic.com/

Genre-defying maestro Socalled is a musician, producer, composer, arranger, magician, filmmaker, photographer and visual artist based in Montreal. Born in Ottawa and raised just north of there, in Chelsea, Québec, he grew up taking piano lessons and loving funk and hip hop. When Socalled first heard klezmer music on an old Yiddish record, he was fascinated by the cool sounds he could sample to make hip hop beats. Then he realized that integrating this Jewish music from the 1930s into his songs was a way of representing himself and his cultural heritage. It enabled him bring something of his own to funk and hip hop, giving him what he calls “a real reason to make music.” Socalled has performed all over the world, has released three CDs and recorded with Yiddish singer Theodore Bikel, lounge pianist Irving Fields, musician and producer Gonzales, master clarinetist David Krakaeur, country singer Katie Moore, rapper C-Rayz Walz, and funk trombone legend Fred Wesley, among others.

Caracol http://www.caracolmusique.com/

Caracol is a Montreal-based singer-songwriter. Her music is filled with raw emotion, in a style that includes pop-folk-indie-vintage with a retro soul influence. She writes in both French and English and is equally comfortable in both languages. She has received several top prizes for both show and album from Radio-Canada, Bourse Rideau, Prix Miroir, Adisq, as well as nominations at the Junos and Canadian Folk Music  Awards. She made an intense impression on Sudbury audiences in 2011, and is back to make her Festival Boréal debut.

Elisapie http://www.elisapie.com/

Adopted at birth by an Inuit family Elisapie was raised in Salluit, Nunavik, immersed in Inuk culture. For Elisapie, the North is not the end of the earth; rather, it is the centre. With the duo, Taima, she won a JUNO in 2005. This Montreal singer, composer and filmmaker returns with her sophomore solo album “Travelling Love”. Singer-songwriter Jim Corcoran co-wrote six tracks on the album, which also features Brad Barr (The Slip, Barr Brothers), Robbie Kuster (Patrick Watson) and Simon Angell (Patrick Watson). Skipping across languages and genres she easily shifts from English and French to Inuktitut and from quiet acoustics to synthy electronics. Describing the album title she explains “Love cannot be owned. It is something that is always moving, always flowing. That’s what I mean by ‘Travelling Love’.”

New Country Rehab http://www.newcountryrehab.com/

New Country Rehab is a tasty and eclectic brew. Driven by John Showman (seen at NLFB with Creaking Tree String Quartet), James Robertson, Roman Tome and Ben Whiteley (of the famous Whiteley family… his cousins were in the Junior Jug Band!), the band’s unique sound at once channels time-out-of-mind Hank Sr. as it deftly flirts with the edge of indie-rock. Add Showman’s keenly observed, street-smart tales of love and loss, and the effect is as compelling as it is resonant.

The Weber Brothers http://www.weberbrothers.com/

“If I had The Weber Brothers with me in 1952, Elvis would’ve been my roadie.” –Ronnie Hawkins.

The baddest band in the land. Ryan and Sam Weber left their Baltimore home as teenagers to meet rockabilly legend Ronnie Hawkins. They became full-fledged members of “The Hawks”. By the ages of 18 and 21 they had already performed alongside Kris Kristofferson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Jeff Healey, David Wilcox and, in 2012, with Merle Haggard and Chuck Berry. They’ve recorded eight albums and toured extensively in the US, Canada and Europe, joined by keyboardist Shai “Cookie” Peer and drummer Marcus Browne. A reputation as an awe-inspiring band now precedes them.

D’harmo http://dharmo.ca/

D’Harmo is composed entirely of harmonica players. This type of band, rarely seen and heard, truly offers a one-of-a-kind show. D’Harmo performs an original roster of songs composed by its members and played using various types of harmonicas (diatonic, chromatic, bass and chord). The harmonicists, Pascal “Per” Veillette, Samuël Caron, Cédric Houdayer and Lévy Bourbonnais, are among the most talented in Canada. Winners of Le Conseil des arts de Montréal “Prix de la Diversité 2011” and Prix Roseq/Rideau 21012, their music is inspired from klezmer, Québec folklore, jazz and classical music, and combines modernity and tradition, eclecticism and pop.

Rosie and the Riveters http://www.rosieandtheriveters.ca/

First appearing on a WWII poster, Rosie the Riveter has been immortalized as a symbol of the strength and power that lurks inside every woman. This force drives and inspires Rosie and the Riveters. They are four fiercely talented women inspired by Rosie and the fashion and music of the 1940s. Seductive vocal arrangements, percussion, acoustic instrumentation, scintillating choreography, inviting humor and a whole lot of charm! Their show consists of traditional African American spirituals, toe-tapping bluegrass numbers, contemporary folk songs, and original material. Audiences will be left awestruck as The Riveters revisit the spirit of gospel music with folk and jazz.

Swamperella http://www.swamperella.com/

After 15 years of partying up crowds, Swamperella has deserved its acclaim as a guaranteed good time. The original mandate of Swamperella, “to honour the Cajun music tradition”, has never been compromised. The integrity of the traditional form is always maintained even as originals and Zydeco began seeping into the repertoire of Sweet Cajun ballads, knock-out two steps and Creole. In February 2013, Swamperella released their 4th CD, “Leopard Skin Coat”, which features rocking Swamperella originals, some classic Cajun and Creole favourites.

Grievous Angels http://music.cbc.ca/#/artists/Charlie-Angus-and-the-Grievous-Angels

Through six albums, The Grievous Angels chronicled the Canadiana life like few since Stompin’ Tom. After Charlie Angus returned to the North in 1992, the band’s last four albums centered on Northern Ontario… mining and rural life. In 2004, Charlie Angus entered parliament as the MP for Timmins-James Bay and has brought his passion for the north to the tables in Ottawa. Charlie, with Peter Jellard, Tim Hadley and Dave Patterson, remain the top chroniclers of what it is to live in the north. Charlie was the 1999 recipient of the Jackie Washington Award.

Mike Ford http://www.mikeford.ca/

Mike is a Juno-nominated Franco-Ontarian with four acclaimed albums of Canadian history-inspired songs, described as being “rabble-rousing and Pythonesque” and “essential listening” by the Globe & Mail, toured as a swing member of The Arrogant Worms, performed and EmCeed at festivals coast-to-coast. Mike’s new album, his first en français, is now available! “Le retour d’étienne brûlé” is an original 12-song journey from 17th century Wendake/Huronia to 21st century Toronto. Mike is known to many for his former life in the folk/rock/vaudeville Moxy Früvous, with whom he headlined all across North America and Europe.

Silver Birch String Quartet http://silverbirchstringquartet.com/

Named after the trees inhabiting the area, Sudbury’s JUNO-nominated Silver Birch String Quartet is one of Canada’s most innovative young quartets. String Quartet-in-Residence at LU, performing has taken them across North America, to performances and masterclasses at QuartetFest at Wilfrid Laurier University, the Ottawa International Jazz Festival, the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Stanford University Summer Chamber Music Festival, and Music by the Sea. The quartet has collaborated with the finest chamber musicians, including octets with the Penderecki String Quartet, quintets with pianist Peter Longworth, accordionist Joseph Petric, and cellist Simon Fryer.

24th Street Wailers http://the24thstreetwailers.com/

The 24th Street Wailers have quickly made a name for themselves in Blues and Rockabilly scenes. They won both the Relève en Blues and the Bourse Air Transat/Blues Sur Seine competitions at FestiBlues International de Montréal and were nominated for New Artist of the Year at The Maple Blues Awards, and Blues Group/Duo of the Year at the Sirius XM Indie Awards. The release of “Unshakeable” has brought The 24th Street Wailers much deserved recognition around the world. Boisterous. Swinging. Unshakeable!

Silas Lowe http://www.silaslowe.com/

Silas Lowe has been based out of Austin, Texas since 2006. His most recent project was with Bad Livers founder Mark Rubin in the Atomic Duo. Silas has performed at The Kennedy Center, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival and many more. His rabble-rousing songs will illuminate political perspectives and his quick turn of a phrase is signature of the Austin music scene.

Alfie Smith http://www.alfiesmith.org

Alfie Smith is a true modern day Blues Man, blending hard-edged rock and roll, gospel, folk and jazz with pure primal blues to create his own unique sound. He is adept at many instruments including 7-string slide guitar, banjo, guitar, 12-string guitar and lap steel. Alfie is a deep, passionate, brooding baritone in the vocal tradition of the old Blues shouters. He has released several albums, independently and through Busted Flat records.

Horables http://www.thehorables.com

A Hora is a musical form in Jewish music; it could be a slow walking tune in 3/4 time or a fast dancing tune. The Horables do it all – Klezmer, Django-style jazz, polkas, Gypsy dance tunes, rags and the occasional Cajun tune just to scare the horses. They rose from the all woman Klezmer band Pomegranate. Rachel Melas and Conny Nowe also play in Swamperella. Rachel Shenin is a lifelong violinist and leads the Bulgars and Freylachs fearlessly, solos effortlessly and sings in Yiddish. Michael Kaler has recently joined The Horables on upright bass.

Kate Maki http://www.katemaki.com

Kate Maki is a hardy country type of pioneer woman. Her guitar picking rhythm is like a drum, and she can belt out, even when she is quiet, like a storm. Her music carries its own necessity of illuminating and her songs represent a real natural talent for writing tunes that feel like a friend you’ve never met, but that you’ve known forever. Born and raised in Sudbury, Kate has been recording and touring since quitting her day job as a grade-school teacher in 2003. She has released five solo albums and has established a solid international fan base. A frequent collaborator, Kate has worked with Howe Gelb, Ruth Minnikin, Dale Murray, the Levecque brothers and most recently with her husband, Fred Squire. After touring the country together in 2011, Kate and Fred decided to take a break from the road and settled down in Copper Cliff to start a family.

Fred Squire http://music.cbc.ca/#/artists/frederick-squire

Fred is Canada’s favourite elusive songwriter. His newest album is “Sings Shenandoah…and other popular hits”. ‘Shenandoah’ is a traditional folk ballad of obscure origins. Echoing this classic narrative form, Squire leads the listener through forgotten moral territory with a set of exceptionally written songs primarily about forgiveness. Frederick Squire has been long active in the music community, initially as co-founder/songwriter of Shotgun & Jaybird (2003-08), and lately has been found collaborating with Calm Down It’s Monday, Mount Eerie, Daniel (Romano), Fred & Julie (Doiron) and most recently with Kate Maki.

Anne Feeney http://www.annefeeney.com

Based in Pittsburgh, Anne uses music to carry the message of solidarity to working people. After two decades of community activism and regional performances at rallies, Anne took to the road. Since 1991, she has traveled to the frontlines in 42 states, Canada, Mexico, Denmark, Ireland and Sweden. Her anthem, “Have You Been to Jail for Justice?” is being performed by activists everywhere. Anne is “the best labor singer in North America” according to Utah Phillips. In 2005, Anne received the Joe Hill Award from the Labor Heritage Foundation. Past recipients include Cesar Chavez, Pete Seeger, Faith Petric and Hazel Dickens.

darlenYa http://www.darlenya.com

One of our festival favourites returns! Widely multitalented, darlenYa is adept at every known stage skill except, perhaps, ventriloquism. She is apt to play one tune on a child’s toy accordion and, on the next, accompany herself with a didgeridoo. Along the way, darlenYa has expanded her vocal skills to encompass just about any kind of keening or chanting or ululation, from operatic soprano to mariachi to Finnish yoiking to throat singing to yodeling or even barking like a dog. She will be accompanied this weekend by Captain Dirt and the The Skirt and Dede.

Captain Dirt and the Skirt http://www.dirtandskirt.com

This is a collaboration between singer-songwriter-guitarist Kristin Sweetland and bassist-violinist Lyndell Montgomery, and they are currently recording their debut album “The Adventures of Captain Dirt & The Skirt” with multiple JUNO award-winner David Travers-Smith (Wailin’ Jennys, Oh Susanna). Coming from their own independently successful music careers, Sweetland and Montgomery are seasoned road-warriors. The new album will showcase their skills as composers, arrangers, and instrumentalists. The songs are diverse in style, drawing from traditional folk, Eastern-European folk, bluegrass, hymnal, Parisian café music, gypsy-jazz, and pop-rock.

Marie-Claire et les Hula-Hoops http://marie-claire.bandcamp.com

Think 60′s French yéyé meets psychedelic space rock with a splash of surf guitar and you’ll find Marie-Claire et les Hula-Hoops. This refreshing new band from Sudbury is made up of Marie-Claire Cronier, winner of Ontario Pop in 2012 and semi-finalist at the Festival International de la chanson de Granby next September, Jeff Houle and Mitch Houle (Strange Attractor, Statues, Varge) and Eric Hoop (UV Ray, Strange Attractor). Marie-Claire et les Hula-Hoops’ atmospheric grooves with a friendly punk attitude will take you to space and maybe back again.

Kill the Autocrat http://www.killtheautocrat.com

History shows us that music has the power to unify against incredible odds, and that every revolution needs a voice of reason. That is exactly what Sudbury-based Kill The Autocrat has become for a new-age labor movement that is taking North America by storm. They are putting the power behind “new generation protest music”, with a unique blend of hip-hop, rock n’ roll and indie. “We use music as a tool to express the need for human change,” says front man OB. “People deserve a fair shot in life and we keep getting hammered.” He has performed at rallies across the continent including the Wisconsin General Strike.

Low Animal http://lowanimal.bandcamp.com

Formerly called Muleskinner, Damien and Matt were 2/3rds of the Sudbury band Elephanta several years ago. Too often, critics try to praise two-piece bands by saying it sounds like there are more than two people onstage. Low Animal doesn’t sound like there are more than two people onstage; they sound like there are two giants onstage. Landing in territory varying from post-rock blues to folk and outlaw country, embrace the growth of Low Animal.

Dale Pepin

Dale is a past recipient of the Jackie Washington award for his dedication to the arts in our community. A lifelong educator, storyteller at festivals and schools and actor and supporter of community theatre, Dale has given his life to cultural development at the grassroots level. Storysocks is his storytelling hat for working with younger children. He has toured all over Ontario telling stories in classrooms, libraries, festivals and education conferences.

Tuba Boy

Music from most of the 20th century… songs about gambling, rambling, loving and losing. It’s all presented with tongue in cheek and a big a$$ brass horn called The Tuba, along with guitar and percussion. Always fun for all ages.

Sam Cassio (Meltdown Winner 2013 – solo)

A regular performer at Sudbury’s  Townehouse Tavern, Sam mainly plays of mix of roots music and rock. Sam also plays in Coast Redwood, who appeared at the River & Sky festival last year. He is also one half of ‘Murder Murder’, which is project that pays tribute the old time murder ballads often heard in roots country and folk music. Sam writes and performs with a maturity not often seen in performers his age.

Coast Redwood (Meltdown Winner 2013 – band) http://coastredwood.bandcamp.com/

Coast Redwood are an indie-rock band. They write heavy songs without being heavy, pretty songs without being prissy. Each of them have been playing in all kinds of bands locally for years, from the slacker rock of Singapore, to the indie-pop of Willett, and the outlaw country of Murder Murder, with other groups along the way. They were awarded an Ontario Arts Council grant in the last season, and look forward to releasing their first full-length album in August, following a self-titled EP released last summer, on Cosmic Dave’s Record Factory.

BUY TICKETS HERE (all tix picked up at the door):

Choose Admission Type

Admission with NLFB Membership $25.00 CAD Admission without NLFB Membership $10.00 CAD

(All tickets picked up at the door)

Free for NLFB members

$25 = Admission +NLFB Membership (voting rights at AGM, discounts on passes and merch. + more)

$10=Admission only

FINAL SCHEDULE (No more changes will be made):
COMPETITION
2:00pm-2:20pm Run it by Steve (band)
2:30pm-2:50pm Sea Perry (band)
3:00pm-3:20pm My Cousin Karma (band)
3:30pm-3:50pm Pomme Plastique (band)
4:00pm-4:20pm Andy & The Mountain (solo)
4:25pm-4:45pm Jessy Brunette (solo)
4:50pm-5:10pm David Laronde (solo)
5:15pm-5:35pm Sam Cassio (solo)
5:40pm-6:00pm Raspberry Man (solo)
6:10pm-6:30pm Peace Clock (band)
6:40pm-7:00pm The Willow Wren (band)
7:10pm-7:30pm Horned Ace (band)
7:40pm-8:00pm Malakai (band)
8:10pm-8:25pm Coast Redwood (band)
CONCERT
8:35pm-9:15pm Hugh Jazz
9:25pm-10:05pm Paul Dunn

Northern Lights Festival Boréal’s annual Meltdown competition/concert is back once again! The event, scheduled for April 6th, gives emerging musicians the chance to compete for a paid booking at Northern Lights Festival Boréal 2013, which will take place July 5^th, 6^th and 7^th in Sudbury’s Bell Park. This is an excellent opportunity for emerging artists to gain valuable exposure. This year, NLFB has decided to make Meltdown a big event, with a high energy headlining performance from local swingin’ sensations HUGH JAZZ (gypsy jazz), along with some festival favourites such as Paul Dunn and more.  The event will include a balloon raffle and other fun activities as well. The tentative venue for the event is the newly renovated Theatre Cambrian at 40 Eyre St.

The event will be divided into two portions: Acoustic acts, singer-songwriters and spoken-word artists will perform between roughly 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm, while bands and larger ensembles will perform between roughly 4:00pm and 8:00pm. These times may be subject to change.  The event will conclude in a concert from Hugh Jazz. The general public can purchase a membership to NLFB for $25 and get free admission, or pay $10 to watch the competition and show.  Members gain voting rights at the Annual General Meeting of NLFB, discounts on concerts and merchandise, and more.

The registration fee for performers is $25 per act, and includes a one year membership to NLFB. Performers are each assigned a 20 minute time slot (3 or 4 songs). Participants must be registered by April 4th at the absolute latest.

NLFB is Canada’s longest running outdoor music festival and celebrated its 40^th anniversary in 2011. The festival attracts anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 people per year. Over the years NLFB has grown from a one day event called the ‘Northern Lights Folk Festival’ into a seasoned presenter of roots and modern music. The modern NLFB experience can be described as: ‘a roots music festival that loves modern music,’ or ‘a modern music festival that’s in love with its roots.’

For more information, please contact the Northern Lights Festival Boréal office at nlfbdirector[at]gmail[dot]com / 705-674-5512

2012 NLFB Meltdown winners The Almighty Rhombus perform in the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre at Northern Lights Festival Boréal 2012. CREDIT: Erik Lovin