Posted by Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Bill Bradley 
Are you an emerging band or musician?
Northern Lights Festival Boreal wants your talents for their annual Meltdown event Friday April 3 and Saturday, April 4.
"Meltdown is Northern Lights Festival Boreal's (NLFB) annual search for emerging northern Ontario artists, who compete for a chance to participate in the festival," said Sandra Harris, NLFB executive director.
NLFB has been an ongoing musical event since the early 1970s and is one of the longest continuing music festivals in Canada. Held the weekend after Canada Day in Bell Park, the festival is one of the city's largest festivals in the summer season.
"New groups, musicians, singers, songwriters and spoken word artists can apply for the auditions for a chance at a paid gig at the festival."
Auditions for bands and large ensembles will be held Friday, April 3 from 8 to 11:30 p.m. at the Townehouse Tavern on Elgin Street. Performers of any age are welcome; however, members of the audience must be 19 years or older.
There will be a $5 admission fee that night. Following the auditions, the Merchants of Solace, a local group, will perform.
Auditions for acoustic groups, singer/songwriters and spoken word artists will take place Saturday, April 4 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the NLFB office, located behind the Townhouse Tavern, on Grey Street.
There is no admission.
Though the Northern Lights Festival Boreal is known for being plagued by rain, last year the festival enjoyed three solid days of sunshine, despite most weekends in the summer being rained out.
Headliners this year have yet to be officially announced. Organizers have hinted ticket prices may be reduced in response to the recession the city is experiencing.
Final ticket prices for weekend passes and day and evening pases should be known by mid April.
The festival has a reputation for offering an eclectic variety of music from traditional to modern, Francophone, aboriginal, world-beat, bluegrass, alt-country, jazz, blues, folk, reggae, ska and more.
For more information, phone 674-5512, or e-mail [email protected] or visit www.nlfbsudbury.com .
