NLFB PROFILE: BROOKE BRUCE

We’ve been busy getting ready for NLFB over here at Our Crater! The festival takes over Bell Park July 4^th – 7^th with four jam-packed days of music, art and fun in the sun! Brooke Bruce was the winner of the 2019 Meltdown competition which earned her a paid gig at the summer festival. You can catch Bruce performing covers of all your favourite hits all around town but more recently she has been working on a collection of originals. Her first single Smoke was released in early 2019 and she’s hard at work on an EP release to follow later this year.

You can catch Brooke Bruce performing at the festival Saturday @3PM on the Acoustic Stage and @7PM on the Canvas Cabaret Stage. Read on to learn more about Brooke Bruce ahead of NLFB!

You have been playing music and performing since you were a teenager. Tell us about some of your inspirations and favourite tunes to play? 

As a kid learning to play music I was inspired by artists like Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks. Given the few easy chords, Heart of Gold was one of the first songs I learned. My real party-trick as a kid was Landslide; I played that song for all of my mothers’ friends – it’s still one of my favourites. I’m continuously inspired by all of the local and visiting artists/bands around me that are pushing the boundaries and being true to themselves. I can take away something inspirational or educational from any show. A couple of shows that were impactful for me were Dilly Dally’s show at The Townehouse during Up Here in 2016, and Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile playing Massey Hall in 2017. 

This year you participated in the NLFB Meltdown Competition for the chance to win a paid solo gig at the festival. You came out on top and will have the chance to perform at 3PM and 7PM on Saturday of the festival. Tell us what winning the Meltdown competition has meant for you? 

I went into the Meltdown with the intent of putting myself out there and knowing that the right person will get the opportunity, whether it was me or not. Winning the solo slot was a really calm, yet surreal moment for me. I felt satisfied with what I gave to the audience, but I knew it was far from perfect and I was definitely surprised to hear my name. I felt validation and confirmation that the music that I want to make and put out there is enough. I also gained a lot of meaningful feedback from the judges; which I’ve translated to my upcoming performance at NLFB. Since then, this opportunity has given me a lot of drive to keep the momentum going and get to work recording my EP. 

You’ve certainly been becoming a regular voice performing covers at some of Sudbury’s favourite hang outs. You’ve hinted that you’re excited to perform more of your own original music you’ve been working on at the festival. Talk to us about some of the new music you’ve been working on? 

Yes it isn’t too often I have an appropriate venue to play my dreamy indie pop songs – unless its The Townehouse’s dinner set – so I’m looking forward to taking a step back from the cover gigs. I’ve been writing more than I ever have. I’ve definitely learned not to force it and to let the inspiration and motivation come and go as it pleases. I source a lot of my inspiration for these new songs from nature, social and societal observations/issues and personal shortcomings/growth. Music has always been a feeling for me. I particularly love the drafting phase of writing, once I get into it I enter an almost meditative state experimenting with chord progressions and melodies. By the time I’m finished a song, I’m usually ready to move on and write a better one, so I plan to get this EP recorded within the next year before I lose track. 

You released your first original single Smoke earlier in 2019, the track even made it to CBC Searchlight’s top 100. Take us behind the music and tell us more about your inspiration behind the track? 

Smoke was created like most of my songs, in a spur of the moment this-song-is-about-to-write-itself kind of way. The mood of Smoke was inspired by my family’s old camp on Long Lake, where we actually did use kerosene lamps. Smoke tells the story of allowing a loving but toxic person to remain close for the sake of it feeling comfortable, knowing full well it is detrimental. It tells the story through a similarly familiar, clingy, addictive medium… cigarette smoke. When I noticed the CBC Searchlight deadline was approaching, I gave Deadpan Studios all but 3 days notice to have Smoke recorded and released, and they knocked it out of the park. I’m grateful it did as well as it did, thanks to everyone who voted. 

NLFB has been a longstanding tradition in Sudbury for decades. Do you have any memories from attending past festivals? 

Ones that are appropriate for publication, probably not as many. It was wild to see the mob of camp kids pile off of the school bus and demand free entry to the festival during Les Deuxluxes set at the Cabaret stage last year. I had never witnessed this apparent tradition, and not expecting it, it looked like something out of a movie. They really upped the energy level and went hard on the dancing. After the kids got wrangled back on the bus, the artists said it was the weirdest show they’ve ever played. I liked that. 

Where can we follow you to find more info and catch upcoming shows? 

You can follow my facebook page Brooke Bruce Music to catch upcoming shows. Next, I’ll be playing a couple sets at the Northern Artist Series during Up Here festival at The Fromagerie on August 16th around 5pm. 

You can still nab your tickets to the festival July 4-7th by heading to nlfb.ca. Get in on all the action with a FULL FESTIVAL PASS still available at advance pricing for just $90, grab DAY PASSES starting at $35-50, get in on the all new FLEX PASS and enjoy the full day Satuday or Sunday, or enjoy an AFTERNOON PASS for $15 at the gate. This is a family friendly event, bring the kids for children’s entertainment, activities and all the memories (free admission for children under 14 with an adult).

For more info on this years fest check out these links:

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR NLFB WEEKEND

NLFB PROFILE: ANSLEY SIMPSON

NLFB VENDOR HIGHLIGHTS

10 ACTS TO CHECK OUT AT NLFB 2019

SONGCRAFT TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT NLFB 2019

SUDBURY 2019 SUMMER FESTIVALS