Northern Lights releases sneak peek of 2015 festival

Headliner announcements for this year's Northern Lights Festival Boréal will come in April, but organizers have let a couple names slip out a bit early.

The programming theme for 2015 is “Collecting the World,” in part an acknowledgement to seminal folk and world music collector Alan Lomax, and the music he helped collect and document. His 100th birthday would have been in 2015.

Tying in directly with the programming theme, NLFB is presenting Jayme Stone’s Alan Lomax Project this year. Stone has been called “the Yo-Yo Ma of the banjo,” and will bring with him a team of equally skilled performers.

Focusing on songs collected by folklorist and field recording pioneer Alan Lomax, this collaboration brings together some of North America’s most distinctive and creative roots musicians to revive, recycle and re-imagine traditional music.

The repertoire includes Bahamian sea chanties, African-American a capella singing from the Georgia Sea Islands, ancient Appalachian ballads, fiddle tunes and work songs collected from both well-known musicians and everyday folk: sea captains, cowhands, fishermen, prisoners and homemakers.

Also reflecting the “around-the-world” aspect of this year’s programming is 2014 Juno and Grammy nominee Adonis Puentes and his big-band Cuban ensemble. His fantastic original material draws upon the rhythmic soul of Cuban music.

Nominated as “World Music Album of the Year” at the 2014 Canadian Juno Awards, Sabor A Café is his latest album and first collection of all self-composed original songs.

“I have travelled the world singing. My mission in life is to share my music, giving people joy,” Adonis said. “My new recording captures my poetic journey, my revelations and my maturing as an artist.”

This summer’s festival takes place July 3-5 in Bell Park.

“Last year was a knockout lineup,” said festival director Max Merrifield. “Make no mistake, we felt the enormous positive reaction to last year’s lineup, and will be taking it to the next level for 2015. Stay tuned.”

Until this time, NLFB’s Early bird Pass Sale continues with at least a 20% savings on weekend passes (reg. $85 adv.). NLFB is also offering a Student/Youth Weekend Pass. Students or those under 25 can purchase weekend passes for a special rate of $60 incl. HST online and at the NLFB office (I.D. presented upon entry).

Passes are currently available online and at www.nlfbsudbury.com and at various outlets throughout town (see website for details). Information about volunteering, vendors, sponsorship and more can also be found online as well.