The full line-up — ranging from pop to punk-rock and from folk to psych — has been released for the River & Sky Music/Camping Festival, taking place July 20-23 on the Sturgeon River, between Sudbury and North Bay.
Heading into its ninth year, R&S is set on the grounds of Fishers’ Paradise in the community of Field, West Nipissing, and features emerging indie musicians. Much like Northern Ontario itself, the festival melds the urban and the rural: the best in new live music experienced outdoors in nature's concert hall.
Last month, the festival announced its headliners — East-Coast Juno winners Wintersleep for the Thursday night, two-time Polaris Prize-nominee Timber Timbre on the Friday, punk-rockers PUP for the Saturday night, and closing out the festival on the Sunday, rock quartet Weaves.
“Since then we’ve slowly been releasing the rest our lineup through social media,” said festival director Peter Zwarich.
“Our music committee is made up of members living throughout the province – myself, Kallie Berens, Shawn Kosmerly, and Isabella Scola-Lawryshyn in Sudbury, Brett Greene and Holly Cunningham in North Bay, Brendan Lehman in Toronto, and Rachel Weldon in Ottawa.
“Together we’ve collaborated to present four days of music set to nature. Our four stages — Main, Beach/Campfire, Coffeehouse, and new late night Dance Party, set deep in the forest — run one after each other, so no agonizing music choices need be made.”
Bands with regional ties include post-punkers Casper Skulls and Pony, (both from Sudbury, now based in TO), trendy-funsters Tofino (Sudbury), the outlaw-bluegrass of Murder Murder (Sudbury), the 1970s punk of Tommy & the Commies (Sudbury), grunge-inspired Mike Mikus (Sault Ste. Marie), the cutie-pop of the Lazy Daisies (Sudbury), the old time Appalachian strummings of Hannah Shira Naiman (North Bay), synth trio Telecolor (Sudbury), as well as singer-songwriters Jackson Reed (Goulais River), Chanelle Albert (Verner) and Jennifer Holub (Sudbury).
Travelling from across the country and beyond to R&S are Partner (Sackville, NB), New Swears (Ottawa), Heat (Montreal), Lonely Parade (Peterborough, ON), Germaphobes (Toronto), Billy Moon (Hamilton), Un Blonde (Montreal), Little Scream (Montreal), Hooded Fang (Toronto), The Blisters (Chicago, USA), Pick A Piper (Toronto), Ever-Lovin’ Jug Band (Waterloo, ON), and Richard Laviolette (Guelph, ON),
Bringing all the W’s … The Wilderness of Manitoba (Toronto), Skye Wallace (Vancouver, BC), Walrus (Halifax, NS) and Weather Station (Toronto). And don’t forget Weaves.
Bands who’ll rock the Francophonie at the festival … psychedelic-surf of the Vulvets (Montreal, QC), trippier than thou Corridor (Montreal, QC), and the art rock of Fet. Nat (Hull, QC).
You can bike, paddle or drive to River & Sky, located at Fishers’ Paradise in the community of Field (West Nipissing), between Sudbury and North Bay.
- 4-Day Advance Passes: Arrive July 20 and stay until July 23. $185.
- 3-Day Advance Passes: Arrive July 21 and stay until the evening, July 23. $140.
- Full Day Passes (advance): Friday $65, Saturday $65, Sunday $35.
- Night Passes (advance): Thursday, Friday, and Saturday - $45.
- Children 16 years and younger with their families get in for free.
Dogs welcome on leashes.
Sauna and Swimming – yes, but always at your own risk.
No Beer tent: BYOB at your campsite.
Camping available in field and forest area on the property. Cost of camping (in a tent) included in the price. Trailers/RV’s will pay a fee of $25 or $50, depending on the size.
Volunteers: arrive July 19 for orientation and a party with more live regional music. Membership ($25) required.
Regional Artist Development Workshop: emerging regional acts are paired with mentors from our festival lineup to receive feedback on their music.
More info and tickets at RiverandSky.ca.
