The proverbial new kid on the music festival block is making a big leap forward this year with the addition of some big names to their lineup card.
Theatre Cambrian's Songs of Summer Music Festival kicks off on Aug. 21 and runs through Aug. 23. Now in its second year, the festival has got their legs under them and this year's event is making strides to reach the prestige of Northern Lights Festival Boreal and New Music Fest.
“Last year was a soft launch for us and we wanted to feature strictly local talent,” said Mark Mannisto, executive director, Theatre Cambrian.
“We're very proud of that and we always want to shine the spotlight on our locals, but this year we're looking to incorporate some heavy hitters.”
Those heavy hitters will include Mudmen, who will headline Friday night, and I Mother Earth on Saturday. Sass Jordan will close out the festival on Sunday evening.
There has been some careful planning and strategizing to make sure that Songs of Summer fits in well with Sudbury's other summer time music festivals, and Mannisto says that working together is the best way to ensure success for each event.
“Northern Lights Festival Boreal is such an iconic festival for Sudbury so we wanted to make sure not to step on their toes, that's why we're having our event in August,” said Mannisto.
“We've also been talking with New Music Fest organizers to make sure that our lineups compliment each other. I know their lineup is mostly geared towards country music, so that's why we've set our headliners with more rock performers. The only way that all of these festivals can exist is if they all work together.”
All of the daytime and evening acts for Songs of Summer will be Northern Ontario and local acts, including Naked Soul, Raspberry Man and Hello Holiday.
There will also be free craft beer sampling during the event with beers from local brewers Stack Brewing, as well as Muskoka Brewery and Steam Whistle Brewing.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
