Northern Lights Festival Boreal is down but definitely not out.
Thursday night the venerable music festival hosted its annual general meeting at the Quality Inn.
Though the outdoor music festival is over 35 years old it still has financial difficulties, in part due to being at the mercy of the weather, said auditor Eric Moles.
"Due mostly to poor weather at the July festival at Bell Park, the festival lost $30,000 vs an $11,000 profit made last year," said Moles.
That caused the overall deficit for the festival to total near $40,000 up $7,000 from last year said Moles. Ticket sales were down by 50 percent from the year before as were sales from concessions and beer said Moles, again blamed on the wet cold weather.
On the bright side, corporate sponsorships were up, as were NLFB equipment rentals to other groups and festivals as well government grants. A Trillium grant for example has allowed for the hiring of an executive director for two years and federal HRDC grants paid for summer office staff to coordinate media and volunteers.
Chair of the board of directors, Mike Bellmore, a long time volunteer and winner of the Bernie Melanson Volunteer Award this year stepped down. Five new board members were elected and the room was filled with long time NLFB members as well as new faces.
Artistic Director Paul Loewenberg stepped down to join the board.
The new board will elect an executive next Thursday at 7 pm.
He also stressed the incredible value of the upcoming Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (BARK) NLFB show this Monday night at the Sheridan Auditorium at 7:30 pm. The all star trio includes Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden and Tom Wilson.
"People are coming from all over northeastern Ontario to see this show because it also includes Tri-Continental..another guitar trio consisting of Bill Bourne, Lester Quittzau and Madagascar Slim," said Lowenberg.
Tickets are $25 advance, $32 at the door at Black Cat Too, Records on Wheels, Jett Landry Music, Walden Home Hardware, Gloria's Convenience and A & J Home Hardware. Try on-line at www.tix.com or call the festival office at 674-5512.
