Talented locals showcased at Northern Lights Festival

While Northern Lights Festival Boreal presents some of the best in Canadian roots and modern music, the event has long been a valuable outlet where emerging local artists can make their first appearances in a major spotlight.

And that tradition continues in Bell Park when the annual festival returns July 4-6.

“Our artistic director Paul Loewenberg has done a fantastic job of making this year’s lineup multi-faceted and well-rounded,” said Northern Lights executive director, Max Merrifield, in a press release.

“The local roster is an especially great example of this.”

Crystal Shawanda is a roots/country star and an international sensation, originally hailing from Wikwemikong, on Manitoulin Island. She signed to RCA/Sony in 2007 and has since released a string of hit albums and singles that has put her at the front of Canadian Country music.

Her 2012 album, “Just Like You”, won the Juno for Aboriginal Album of the year and now she is preparing for a long tour to promote her newest album, on which Crystal explores the rich history of Delta blues.

One of the exciting local acts gracing the NLFB stages will be Murder Murder. Coining the term “bloodgrass,” the group plays murder ballads and gunfighting songs exclusively, spinning their own dark folk tales and doing some traditional material as well.

Though the tales are often fictional, the songs are raw and real, and continue a long tradition of murder ballands that run the gamut of country classics like “Long Black Veil” (The Band, Johnny Cash etc.) to rock standards like “Hey Joe” (Jimi Hendrix).

The Almighty Rhombus is a pop-rock band from Sudbury, known for their infectious pop melodies and amped-up energy on-stage.
They’ve been touring heavily to promote their first full-length release “Lucid Living.” Most recently they’ve been featured in showcases at Canada Music Week and at North by Northeast. This band will provide the perfect soundtrack for some good old-fashioned fun in the sun.

For more information about the festival's lineup, or to purchase tickets, visit nlfbsudbury.com.