Fans of Northern Lights Festival Boréal (NLFB) are in for some exciting entertainment, said the organizers of the 2023 version of the popular Sudbury music event.
This year's festival is set to take place July 6-9, 2023 at Sudbury's Bell Park and in other local venues.
The lineup was announced Friday at a news conference at the Sudbury Theatre Centre and will include such musicals acts as The Strumbellas, Sloan, Zachary Richard, Mountain City Four with Martha Wainwright, folk legend Valdy and popular Sudbury entertainer Stef Paquette; among many others.
The full lineup is published on the NLFB website.
If that's not enough to get people talking, the organizers this year have put out an early-bird deep discount version of this year's full weekend pass as described Friday afternoon by NLFB executive director Tessa Balaz.
"Right now our passes are $85 for the entire weekend. This is only going to be until Monday when they go back to our regular price of $125 for the weekend, and then our individual day passes will be available both on Monday as well," said Balaz.
"So definitely encouraging people to get on buying those tickets this weekend, because you're getting a whopping per cent off of that old festival pass," she added.
In addition to the discount, NLFB has also made itself more attractive to younger fans. Individuals aged 14 and younger will get free access. Persons aged 25 and younger will qualify for the youth rate, which on this Saturday and Sunday means $65 for the full weekend pass in July.
Balaz also said she was thrilled at the diversity of the lineup.
"As always, the artistic roster is a multi-genre musical adventure to behold. This year, presenting festival favorites from the early days, new trailblazers from folk to electronic, plus an assortment of collaborative workshop performances, which can't be seen anywhere else."
As Balaz revealed the lineup she also thanked the many sponsors that are helping to make NLFB a reality for its 51st year.
"We're very, very excited to be here announcing our 2023 lineup," said Balaz. "I would like to thank our sponsors including, but not limited to, United Steelworkers Local 6500, PSB Speakers, NOHFC (Northern Ontario Heritage Fund), Ontario Creates, the City of Greater Sudbury, Ontario Arts Foundation, Canadian Heritage, and the Ontario Arts Council. So thank you so much for letting us do what we do," said Balaz.
Len Gillis is a reporter with Sudbury.com.