Durham Social, NLFB team up for 'tapas and a show'

Northern Lights Festival Boréal, in collaboration with Respect Is Burning and Muskoka Brewery, presents Jason Collett on May 7 at the Durham Social in downtown Sudbury.

Much more than a simple pub show, the evening will be the first of its kind to take place in the recently renovated upstairs room of one of Sudbury’s "most renowned restaurants and feature delicious shareable food, as well as a laid back yet classy atmosphere."

A veteran of the Toronto roots and folk rock scene, Jason Collett has been involved in countless notable collaborations, residencies, and songwriting projects over the years, but he's most recognizable perhaps for playing guitar with pioneering indie-rock collective Broken Social Scene.

His new album, "Song and Dance Man," produced by Afie Jurvanen (of Bahamas) features a blend of rock and roll and 1970s style smooth disco, brought together by Jurvanen’s soaring production.

He is hitting the road this spring to share this latest effort with Canada, and has enlisted his long time collaborators, "Canada’s premiere modern classic rock band," Zeus, to back him.

Joining him on tour as the opening act is Polaris and Juno-nominee — and Sault Ste Marie native — Kalle Mattson. For the Sudbury show, past NLFB Meltdown winner Eric Clancy will kick off the evening, incidentally the only Northern Ontario stop on the cross-country tour.

Organizers said in a news release the "tapas and a show" evening will be unlike anything Sudburians are used to.

After a devastating fire, Respect Is Burning — one of downtown Sudbury's cooler joints — was reborn last fall as a three-bar facility, with the upstairs room being rechristened The Durham Social.

The event will also feature a white table silent auction that will serve as a fundraiser for the 45th edition of Northern Lights Festival Boréal (http://nlfbsudbury.com), to be held July 8-10 in Bell Park.

Advance tickets are $30 ($35 at the door) and covers the food. They can be purchased by following the links here, at the NLFB office at 19 Grey Street, and at Respect Is Burning, 82 Durham St.