Northern Lights’ downtown fest features acclaimed artists & music with roots around the world

Northern Lights Festival Boreal (NLFB) is thrilled to announce the return of BLOOM, a multi-venue music festival celebrating cultural and sonic diversity in downtown Sudbury. Taking place on March 9th and 10th, BLOOM promises to be an unforgettable experience for music lovers and party people alike.

NLFB’s BLOOM festival has garnered great success over the past few years since its launch in 2019, and the upcoming event aims to build on that momentum. The festival will feature an incredible lineup of world-class artists, showcasing a wide range of musical styles and genres.

THE LINEUP:

Digging Roots

Juno Award winning group Digging Roots will headline, March 9 at Place des Arts du Grands Sudbury. Digging Roots breathe life into songs from their land, Turtle Island, to raise their voices in solidarity with a global chorus of Indigenous artists, activists and change-makers. For over a decade, JUNO Award winners Digging Roots have traveled the world with a joyful message of resistance, celebrating Anishinabe and Onkwehonwe traditions of round dance and interconnectedness interwoven with the bedrock sounds of blues, soul and rock n’ roll.

The beating hearts of Digging Roots, founding duo ShoShona Kish and Raven Kanatakta, have built a home for a talented community of players and collaborators including their son, drummer Skye Polson, and Hill Kourkoutis. More than a band, Diggings Roots have taken their place at the frontline of the fight for equity and representation in the arts, with involvement in industry advocacy and organization, including the International Indigenous Music Summit and Ishkode Records, to empower arts communities worldwide.

Ramon Chicharron

Also appearing at Place des Arts du Grands Sudbury will be Ramon Chicharron. Claiming three Album of the Year awards (ADISQ, 2 X Latin Awards Canada) and nominated for Album of the Year – World Music at ADISQ 2023, Ramon Chicharron established himself on the tropical music scene with his catchy melodies, his tropical pop influenced by latin and caribbean rhythms, and his sensitive and committed lyrics inspired by love, the connection with nature and the desire to abandon oneself to fate. The Colombian-born and Montreal-based multi-instrumentalist advocates the sincere blending of genres and identities and is part of the new wave of Latin 2.0 artists representing Canada on the international scene.

The Soul Motivators

Toronto’s The Soul Motivators absolutely rocked the Northern Lights Festival back in July of 2023, and are back by popular demand, to headline Bloom 2024’s official afterparty show at The Townehouse Tavern on March 9th The Soul Motivators deliver a fresh take on a classic sound, blending 1970’s funk and soul, psychedelic jams and hip-hop breaks. They’ve shared stages with greats like Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, Lee Fields, Bernie Worrell and electrified crowds at major events such as the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, The PanAm Games, Sunfest, and Festival d’Ete. Their 2020 album Do The Damn Thing was the first recording to feature the power-house vocal stylings of Shahi Teruko – whose relentless fire and electrifying performances have been shaking up audiences since she joined the band in 2015. Having celebrated their 10th anniversary in 2022, the band returned with a brand new album Do It Together and cross-Canada tour dates.

Just Prince

Toronto-based singer-songwriter Just Prince will open up the night at Place des Arts du Grand Sudbury, known for seamlessly blending Western and Eastern sounds into a harmonious tapestry. With a captivating style that defies genre constraints, his music weaves elements of folk, rock, blues, and Hindustani classical music into a mesmerizing experience. Just Prince’s evocative compositions take listeners on a sonic journey, transcending cultural boundaries and resonating with the soul. Through his innovative approach, he crafts a musical landscape that bridges worlds with the intention of humility and togetherness. Just Prince’s songwriting earned him the Ontario Arts Council’s Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award in 2023.

Harvey King & The Grindstone

Harvey King & The Grindstone began as a passion project of vocalist Will Himsl (Hugh Jazz) and guitarist Sam King (Apparatus, Sulfur City) , the two began writing material in 2019. The duo curated a group of talented local musicians with decades of experience in the industry. Each of them bringing their own flavour and stylings ultimately contributing to the fusion of funk, soul, and rock n’ roll.

In 2021 they released their debut EP, Bigtime, and followed up with their full-length Ever After in 2021.  The band has been invited to perform at a number of festivals across the province, including: Up Here, Northern Vibe Festival, Sudbury’s Canada Day and Northern Lights Festival Boréal. In 2022, the band suffered a great loss with the sudden death of their lead guitarist Matt Saroka. After many months off, the band collectively decided to carry on with its remaining members. The band began crafting songs that were in the early writing process with Matt. HKGS are currently recording new material for their upcoming EP to be titled Wild Card, which is a tribute to their fallen brother. The album is set for release in April 2024.

MELTDOWN 2024

NLFB is also excited to announce a thrilling addition to the highly anticipated BLOOM festival – NLFB’s MELTDOWN competition. MELTDOWN, is a juried showcase/audition event for Northern Ontario musicians, with winners receiving the incredible opportunity to appear for a paid performance at the summer festival. This year, NLFB is boosting the benefits for aspiring artists, with the solo and band prize packages including items such as recording time with Deadpan Studios. Interested artists can apply at nlfb.ca/meltdown. Acts will perform live, on The Townehouse stage, in front of a distinguished panel of judges and a supportive community. Tickets for this show will be $10 at the door only. Be part of the experience, support local artists, and witness the extraordinary talent Northern Ontario has to offer at MELTDOWN.

GENERAL INFO.

BLOOM will take place in downtown Sudbury, at Place des Arts, and The Townehouse Tavern. Festival-goers can expect a world-class lineup, vibrant atmosphere, and an unforgettable experience celebrating the rich diversity of music. Tickets for BLOOM are now on-sale at nlfb.ca/tickets. A special package, including a Full Festival Pass and an NLFB t-shirt, is available for only $75. Full Festival Passes are priced at $60, After-Hours Show Passes are $15 (in advance) and $20 at the door. All prices include HST.

For more information about BLOOM, MELTDOWN, and the Northern Lights Festival Boréal, please visit nlfb.ca or contact the NLFB team at logistics@nlfb.ca or 705-674-5512.

2) Now accepting volunteer & vendor applications!

NLFB is now recruiting volunteers for the Bloom festival and the main event in July. Volunteers get free access to festival shows, plus a bunch of other great perks. Help us make the festival magic happen! Info. & application form is now available at www.nlfb.ca/volunteer.