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River & Sky Festival announces its full line-up

Bands with local ties include the old-time Appalachian strummings of Hannah Shira Naiman (North Bay), and Chanelle Albert (Verner)
pup river and sky 2017
Pup will be playing at the River and Sky Festival this summer. Submitted photo.

The full line-up -- ranging from pop to punk-rock and from folk to psych-- has been released for the River & Sky Music/Camping Festival, taking place this July 20th to 23rd, on the Sturgeon River between Sudbury and North Bay.

Heading into its ninth year, R&S is set on the grounds of Fishers’ Paradise in the community of Field, West Nipissing, and features emerging Canadian indie music.

Last month, the festival announced its headliners -- East-Coast Juno winners Wintersleep for the Thursday night, twice Polaris Prize nominated Timber Timbre on the Friday, punk-rockers PUP for the Saturday night, and closing out the festival on Sunday, rock quartet Weaves.

See: Headliners announced for River and Sky Festival

“Since then we’ve slowly been releasing the rest our line-up through social media,” said Festival Director Peter Zwarich.

There will be four stages —Main, Beach/Campfire, Coffeehouse, and the new late night Dance Party, set deep in the forest. Each run one after each other.

Bands with regional ties include:

  • post-punkers Casper Skulls and Pony, (both from Sudbury, now based in TO),
  • trendy-funsters Tofino (Sudbury), 
  • the outlaw-bluegrass of Murder Murder (Sudbury),
  • the 1970s punk of Tommy & the Commies (Sudbury),
  • grunge-inspired Mike Mikus (Sault Ste. Marie),
  • the cutie-pop of the Lazy Daisies (Sudbury),
  • the old time Appalachian strummings of Hannah Shira Naiman (North Bay),
  • synth trio Telecolor (Sudbury),
  • as well as singer-songwriters Jackson Reed (Goulais River), Chanelle Albert (Verner), and Jennifer Holub (Sudbury).

Traveling from across the country and beyond to R&S are:

  • Partner (Sackville, NB),
  • New Swears (Ottawa),
  • Heat (Montreal),
  • Lonely Parade (Peterborough),
  • Germaphobes (Toronto),
  • Billy Moon (Hamilton),
  • Un Blonde (Montreal),
  • Little Scream (Montreal),
  • Hooded Fang (Toronto),
  • The Blisters (Chicago), 
  • Pick A Piper (Toronto),
  • Ever-Lovin’ Jug Band (Waterloo), and
  • Richard Laviolette (Guelph),
  • The Wilderness of Manitoba (Toronto),
  • Skye Wallace (Vancouver, BC),
  • Walrus (Halifax, NS) and
  • Weather Station (Toronto). 
  • Weaves.
  • psychedelic-surf of the Vulvets (Montreal, QC), 
  • Corridor (Montreal, QC), and
  • the art rock of Fet. Nat (Hull, QC).

You can bike, paddle or drive to the River & Sky Festival.

  • 4-Day Advance Passes: Arrive July 20 and stay until July 23. $185.
  • 3-Day Advance Passes: Arrive July 21 and stay until the evening, July 23. $140.
  • Full Day Passes (advance): Friday $65, Saturday $65, Sunday $35.
  • Night Passes (advance): Thursday, Friday, and Saturday - $45.
  • Children 16 years and younger with their families get in for free.
  • Dogs welcome on leashes.
  • Sauna and Swimming 
  • No Beer tent: BYOB at your campsite.

Camping is available in the field and forest area on the property. Cost of tenting is included in the price. Trailers/RV’s will pay a fee of $25 or $50, depending on the size.    

For more info, bios, and tickets: www.riverandsky.ca

See Timber Timbre play Black Water below.


Jeff Turl

About the Author: Jeff Turl

Jeff is a veteran of the news biz. He's spent a lengthy career in TV, radio, print and online, covering both news and sports. He enjoys free time riding motorcycles and spoiling grandchildren.
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