Yes, we know, it's January, but you can warm up with some thoughts of summer, in particular July, when Northern Lights Festival Boréal takes over Bell Park.
Nickel City's long-running folk and roots music festival unveiled a handful of the acts who will be entertaining the crowds on the shore of Ramsey Lake this summer.
Rising Montreal singer-guitarist-banjo player Lisa LeBlanc will be one of the headlining acts at this year's Northern Lights Festival Boréal. Jane’s Party will also join the 2018 lineup, alongside Mama’s Broke, and festival mascots Sheesham & Lotus & ‘Son.
Lisa Leblanc's latest album, "Why You Wanna Leave, Runaway Queen?" was short-listed for the Polaris Prize last year. The New Brunswick native has described her overall sound as "folk-trash," a combination of heart-wrenching lyrics in French and English that marry themselves with sassy banjo chops and an energetic explosion of a live show.
Her style has been described as being somewhere between Bob Dylan and Dolly Parton. She’s been nominated for two Junos, and has won an Indie award for best singer-songwriter.
Northern Lights has gained a reputation for diverse, eclectic programming that touches on folk/roots, indie, rock, world and numerous other styles. This diversity is evident in the multitude of sounds and played instruments that will be brought to the stage by folk duo Mama's Broke.
Expect to hear banjo, guitar, mandolin and fiddle, and also to see traditional dance and foot percussion when Mama's Broke hits the stage. Their two strong voices blend to create haunting harmonies that draw from old-time Quebecois, blues, punk, Celtic, Balkan and doom metal. They won Canadian Folk Music Award for Ensemble of the Year in 2017.
Jane's Party is a Toronto-based pop-rock quartet that has toured alongside the likes of Blue Rodeo, Sam Roberts Band,The Arkells, LIGHTS and Stars. Organizers are confident festival-goers will be captivated by their energy and confident musicianship.
Sheesham & Lotus & ‘Son return to the festival with their modern innovations on antiquity. Their core combo of fiddle, banjo and sousaphone is augmented at times by beautiful horns, jaw-harps and harmonicas. Expect driving rhythms and soaring sibling harmonies that have made them an unusual and highly prized asset to festival stages.
Since 1972, Northern Lights Festival Boréal has grown into a seasoned presenter of Canadian roots and modern music, and a lightning rod for the energy of Northern Ontario’s artistic community.
This announcement is just the tip of the musical ice berg, really. Another 40-45 artists for the 2018 version of NLFB will be announced in the coming months.
Weekend passes are now on sale at more than 30 per cent off the gate price. Find them online at NLFB.ca, or in person at A & J Home Hardware (469 Bouchard St.), Old Rock Coffee (212 Minto St.), Jett Landry Music (1119 Lasalle Blvd.), the NLFB office (19 Grey St., downtown), and in North Bay at The Farm (154 Main St. West).
