Posted by Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Matt Moskal
The Northern Lights Festival Boreal which runs July 3, 4 and 5 in Bell Park, will feature artists Serena Ryder, Joel Plaskett and Hawksley Workman.
The announcement was made April 14 by festival staffers.
On July 3, Plaskett will bring songs from his three solo albums, three albums with the Joel Plaskett Emergency and his new three disc album, Three, to the festival stage.
Plaskett has been decorated with many East Coast Music Awards, and has had commercial success with his singles "Nowhere With You" and "Fashionable People."
"Joel is reaching into the veteran artist plateau," said Paul Loewenberg, Northern Lights Festival Boreal artistic director. "He's considered one of the greatest songwriters in the country."
On July 4, Huntsville native Hawksley Workman will grace the main stage.
Workman has been active as a solo artist for the past decade and has had success over Canadian radio stations with hits "Anger as Beauty," "Jealous of Your Cigarette," "Striptease" and "Piano Blink."
"We've been interested in getting Hawksley since the first day he started making music," said Loewenberg.
Headlining the main stage on July 5 is up-and-coming Canadian singer and songwriter Serena Ryder. Her most recent album, Is It O.K., recently won the Juno for Adult Alternative Album of the Year.
Ryder made a surprise appearance on the Sunday of last year's festival on stage with Great Lake Swimmers and Elle Q Dance Factory. This year Ryder will be closing off the festival on the very same stage.
Along with the announcement of the headliners, this year's Northern Lights Festival Boreal Meltdown audition winners were revealed. Local band Willett and acoustic performer T-Bear won over the judges and will be playing the festival in July.
Other acts announced for this year's festival include JP Cormier, Kevin Breit and Folkalarm, Mr. Something Something, Aline Morales, Bambara Trans, Les Chauffeurs a Pied, Elliott Brood, The Marigolds, Mad Moizelle Giraf, Jon and Roy, Jenn Grant, Norman Foote, The Wild Turkeys, Dent DeLion, Blind Mule, Sarah Craig, The Puppet Tamer, Chuck and Catherine Roberts, Dale Pepin and Jess Lee.
Tickets prices have been reduced since last year's festival. Friday evening passes are $20, day passes are $10, day and evening passes are $30, and weekend passes are only $55.
"These are hard times for a lot of people," said Sandra Harris, festival director. "The media has been talking about people staying home instead of going on vacation. We've planned a fun weekend for people at home."
