Northern Lights Festival Boréal is on the horizon! In just a few more days Sudburians will be treated to not three but FOUR jam packed days of fun in the sun at Bell Park! But the fun doesn’t end at the park. The William Ramsey will be ready for boarding on Saturday and Sunday afternoon if you feel like cooling off on the water and a slew of after hours shows will keep you out well into the night (if you think you can handle it). From hip-hop to acoustic and even surprise performers there’s almost as much to do out of the park as there is in (almost). If you haven’t planned out your weekend yet what are you waiting for? Download the NLFB app for festival updates straight to your phone and never miss a show! To make sure you make the most of your weekend we’ve put together a list of off-venue events to check out over NLFB July 5^th-8^th.

Thursday July 5th

THURS. After Hours ft. King Abid and Doctor Nativo – Townehouse Tavern, 11PM – 2AM

KING ABID
Rhythms of interbreeding, both of cultures and languages, Heythem Tlili’s reggae-dancehall (alias King Abid) is well anchored in our century where physical and artistic borders become one. From his Tunisian origin, his passion for Jamaica and love for his adopted homeland Quebec, ‘The King Slave’ presents us with an authentic electro beat encouraging us to get together in festive movement. The King brings together an impressive range of artists, each collaborating in their own way, creating a world of sounds never heard before. It’s an uncommon blend of African and American traditions with a flavourful and modern touch that King Abid offers on his trendsetter album.

DOCTOR NATIVO
Doctor Nativo is one of Central America’s most exciting new talents. His music explores themes of Mayan spirituality, social justice and folk wisdom, punctuated by an explosive sound combining reggae, cumbia, hip hop, and Mayan traditional music. His first solo album, Guatemaya, is out in June of 2018. The album’s title track is something of a folk hit in Guatemala, contributing to a renewed sense of identity among youth in the country, while inspiring audiences around the world to sing along with the catchy hooks.

Friday July 6^th

FRI After Hours (Acoustic) ft. Mama’s Broke, Binaeshee-Quae and more – Alibi Room, 11PM – 1AM

MAMA’S BROKE
Mama’s Broke is a powerful folk duo that deliver a compelling performance with heart and raw energy. Lisa and Amy’s strong voices blend to create haunting harmonies, while they artfully juggle fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin, and incorporate traditional dance and foot percussion into their performance. Their original – and often dark – compositions push the boundaries of tradition and the constraints of genre, drawing from old-time, Quebecois, blues, punk, Celtic, Balkan and doom metal. 2017 brought the release of their debut album, Count the Wicked, as well as a Canadian Folk Music Award for Ensemble of the Year.

BINAESHEE-QUAE
Binaeshee-Quae (Loon Clan) is a singer songwriter, actor & community arts enthusiast from Biigtigong First Nation. She works in many different mediums but the voice is the heart of her art. 

FRI. After Hours ft. bbbrthr, Afrikana Soul Sister – Townehouse Tavern, 11PM – 2AM

BBBRTHR
BBBRTHR is the alter ego of Sudbury’s Paul Waltenbury. After spending most of the year writing new material for his second upcoming LP, he’s ready to share some observations, concerns for our future, and revel in the joys of our collective humanity. Genres have never fit Waltenbury very well. His process is a constant evolution, forever travelling into uncharted territory as soon as things feel too comfortable. A one-man-band of thick, dynamic vocal layering, snappy synths, hip-hop undercurrents and a whole lot of barbed hooks to catch you and reel you in.

AFRIKANA SOUL SISTER
Afrikana Soul Sister fuses the distinct sound production of Jean-François Lemieux with the untamed percussions works of Joanie Labelle and Fa Cissokho as well as Djely Tapa’s voice. Coming from a griot family, Djely Tapa is the daughter of Kandia Kouyaté, one of mali’s most revered singers, and Djely Bouya legendary singer and dancer. This quartet delivers a refresh organic-electro-afro-house sound, linking organic, cultural music and digital creativity. Afrikana Soul Sister is an open door for improv, tradition and imagination.

Saturday July 7^th

William Ramsey Cruise with Lee Harvey Osmond – Science North dock, 3-4PM ($20)

Lee Harvey Osmond is the brainchild of Canadian music veteran Tom Wilson (Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Junkhouse etc.), in collaboration with members of  Cowboy Junkies and Skydiggers. Beautiful Scars is the Juno nominated third album, and follows two albums, A Quiet Evil and The Folk Sinner which were previously longlisted for the Polaris Prize and nominated for a Juno. The music has been described as ‘acid folk’, made up of poetic, reflective lyrics, haunting melodies, and intriguing arrangements.

SAT. After Hours(Hip Hop) ft. HellnBack, NiLLa, more+ – Peddler’s Pub, 11:30PM – 1:30AM

HELLnBACK
Recording Artist & First Nations community role model Hellnback releases his first solo record, #FOE + Family over Everything and received two nominations for Best Hip Hop Album and Best Album Cover Design at the 2015 Indigenous Music Awards. Throughout the refreshingly honest body of work, the artist not only bares scares but also celebrated the important things in his life including integrity, community and most importantly, his family. Sharing a personal experience that affects many First Nation communities relates to some of the situations our youth go through. With a learning understanding the values of what lies ahead is a formof motivation and inspiration that our generation need to give back. And in that, Hellnback presents us all with something to believe in.

NiLLa
NiLLa (aka Galyn Esmé) a Canadian hip-hop emcee and producer, combines conscious lyrics with catchy hooks effortlessly, smoothly rapping and singing her way over synapse snapping beats – most of which she produced herself…a fresh influence in a hip hop genre polluted with bling, misogyny, and superficiality, she is a voice for the underdog, and will never be satisfied with the status quo.

SAT. After Hours ft. Casper Skulls and Matt Foy – Townehouse Tavern, 11PM – 2AM

CASPER SKULLS
Casper Skulls emerged from the Toronto exurbs in 2015, bursting onto the local scene with a studied sound and supercharged live performances. Following an early 7” on the band’s own label, Hip Priest, the quartet released the Lips & Skull EP on Buzz Records in late 2016. Described by MTV as a collection of “confrontational art rock that bleeds with sincerity,” and drawing comparisons to luminaries like Television, The Fall (The Toronto Star), Pavement, and Sonic Youth (Noisey), the EP attracted immediate attention from audiences first in Toronto and increasingly up and down the Eastern seaboard as the band toured outside of Canada for the first time. The real-life couple seek to represent lived experience in immense detail – engaging with a diverse palette of references, both musical and lyrical, to explore two intensely personal perspectives of emotional growth.

MATT FOY
Driven by 50’s and 60’s instrumental music Matt Foy will take you on a cinematic journey through dust bowls, dive bars and speedways. Having played with countless projects over the years with some of Sudbury’s best musicians, Matt Foy occasionally allows the spotlight to shine on him and his love of early guitar music. If Ennio Morricone, Link Wray, Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth and Daniele Luppi formed a band it might sound a little like Matt Foy. Foy is a recipient of Northern Lights Festival Boréal’s Jackie Washington award.

Sunday July 8^th

William Ramsey Cruise with Murder Murder – Science North dock, 1:30-2:30PM ($10)

Northern Ontario’s Murder Murder are a six-piece string band with suitcase percussion who create a unique blend of bluegrass and outlaw country. The band takes “rich down-home vocals and churns them with a brand of gothic that is as catchy as it is intriguing; audiences will be swept away by not only the band’s musical talent, but the web of tragedy and tension that the songs spin.”

NLFB x Party Cannon: The Mystery Cruise – Science North dock – 3-4PM ($5)

It’s the mystery cruise! Come see a mystery band on a boat it’ll whipp ass! Special $5 ticket required to board tickets at NLFB.ca or at the NLFB office at 19 Grey St. Limited space don’t get left ashore!

SUN. After Hours ft. Canailles, Aron d’Alesio – Townehouse Tavern, 11PM – 2AM

CANAILLES
Canailles is a fine tale that began when eight inspired souls came together in 2010. They have since established themselves as wild weavers of North American roots, while amply indulging their penchant for late-night carousing and everything that comes with it. Canailles are a self-taught bunch who have created an instinctive sound enriched by the members’ diverse backgrounds. Gospel, blues and other old-time traditions are embraced and proudly elevated into a wall of contemporary acoustic sounds. Their performances are the ultimate expression of everything that brings people together. Their third opus, Backflips, was released in the spring of 2017.

ARON D’ALESIO
In a basement under a commercial development in downtown, Hamilton’s Aron D’Alesio set to work each night. Removed from distractions and almost invariably alone he would settle in, focusing on minute details as he tinkered, intent on managing each aspect of performance and tone as he meticulously fit the interlocking layers of his arrangements together piece by piece. The Young Rival singer and guitarist is inspired by early rock n’ roll, but his self-titled debut album has also been described being perfectly at home in a David Lynch film soundtrack. It’s beautiful, nostalgic, haunting, and often a bit eerie, all at once.

Jessica Lovelace

Jessica Lovelace is a Public Relations and Communications grad, musical theatre enthusiast, lover of live music and part-time unicorn tamer. Some have said that the Big Dripper from Sub City is a regional delicacy and the perfect end to a Sudbury Saturday Night – Jessica is definitely one of those people. No, the hair is not a perm.

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