Up Here

Up Here is a public art festival that culminates in an emerging music festival & is topped off by an all-night art crawl. August 18-20, 2017 in Downtown Sudbury. You'll want to check out UpHere.com for details, ok?

[upherefestival]

Our blog is on the move!

Hey Up Here blog followers! Just a quick note to let you know that our blog is on the move. From now on, we’ll be posting new blog posts directly on UpHere.com to keep things cleaner and more centralized. 

We’ll be keeping this Tumblr blog online so that we can all enjoy past blog posts and scour through the archives.

Thanks for your love. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see when we post to our new blog.

[upherefestival]

Up Here reveals their full musical and mural programming

Sudbury’s favourite new urban art and music festival is back for its third edition from Aug. 18-20 in Downtown Sudbury.

Up Here is a public art festival that culminates in an emerging music festival with a tight integration of art installations throughout the city’s core. This year, two muralists and 12 local artists will create 14 new pieces of public art in the weeks leading up to the festival, and 30 of Canada’s best up-and-coming musical acts will perform in over 10 venues during the three-day event.

Two New Murals

Acclaimed Canadian artist Jarus will paint a portrait of a miner as an homage to his grandfather, who was a miner in Sudbury in the ‘60s and ‘70s, thanks to the support of Becker Mining Systems. Originally from Field, Franco-Ontarian Métis artist Mique Michelle will create a colourful piece inspired by her Anishinaabe roots thanks to the support of Collège Boréal.

Power Up Project

New this year, Up Here has formed a partnership with the Social Planning Council and Greater Sudbury Utilities to bring colour to 24 electrical utility boxes within the downtown core. In total, the Power Up Project will give canvasses to 24 local artists, including 12 curated by Up Here and 12 from youth organizations partnering with the Social Planning Council. The local artists invited by Up Here are Kallie Berens-Firth, Sonia Ekiyor-Katimi, Melanie Gail St-Pierre, Madison Kotyluk, Bianca Lefebvre, Matti Lehtelä, Scott Minor, Maty Ralph, Wild Rice, Hobby Rollin, Julianne Steedman, Dani Taillefer, and Isaac Weber.

“This project is a win-win for all of us. We get to empower youth, support the emerging local arts community, and participate in a global project that has swept cities across the globe from Brisbane to Los Angeles and Calgary. We’re excited to get this pilot project off the ground,” said Wendy Watson, director of communications, Greater Sudbury Utilities.

This project is made possible in part thanks to the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Over 30 Shows By Emerging Artists

Up Here is once again curating an ambitious musical program that cultivates the event’s signature sense of curiosity and discovery in festival goers. Over 30 up-and-coming artists will be performing in Sudbury during the event.

The Northern Series presented by Porter Airlines is back this year offering free concerts by emerging  musicians from Northern Ontario in small downtown venues between 5 and 7 p.m. Discover the ghost-tinged folk of Jennifer Holub, smoky reflections of Brian Dunn, indie-pop loops of Jamie Gia, and the jack-in-the-box dance music of BBBRTHR.

Friday Aug. 18

Friday’s acts include the eclectic and experimental Whoop-Szo, moog rockers Duchess Says, and unruly pop icons Deerhoof. 

Late night lineups include bubble-glam punks Fashionism and iconic garage rockers The Fleshtones at the Townehouse Tavern, presented by Stack Brewing, and noise dancers Eyeballs, mystic crooner Bernardino Femminielli, and the molecular pop duo Ice Cream at Little Montreal.

Saturday Aug. 19

Saturday’s Family Day returns with enhanced programming in Memorial Park and all around Downtown Sudbury. Taking the stage on Family Day: Sudbury’s own pop rockers Tofino, punk rockers The Ape-ettes, the Sudbury-born, female beatbox champion Sparx, and Mozambican electro-pop artist Samito will be sure to keep things cool on a warm day. 

Memorial Park will serve as the central playground with music, mini-murals, and other exciting children’s activities provided by the Carrefour francophone; vendors by local artists, artisans set up by Makers North, a gallery tour with the Downtown Sudbury Art Crawl; and a performance of Cello Steps, an interactive project that combines contemporary dance with classic music in a dance mob.

Later, younger audiences can also look forward to an all-ages punk show at Zigs presented by Ottawa Explosion featuring up-and-coming Sudbury punks Kommissars, Ottawa’s absurdo-punks DJ Smoke Weed Guy, Ottawa’s queer hardcore-punks Doxx, and the protopunk baristas Teenanger.

The Saturday night show begins with indie-electro purveyors Fevers, followed by feminist force Lido Pimienta, and the culture-clashing, noh-wave opera group Yamantaka // Sonic Titan. 

Nighthawks can head to the Townehouse and Zig’s after for late shows. The Townehouse features the riffs and thrifts of Dirty Princes, the quirky power pop of Dany Laj and the Looks, and a command performance by The Fleshtones presented by Stack Brewing. 

Meanwhile, Zig’s features local ‘90s dance inspired trio Telecolor and the smooth beats of Montreal based electronic artist CRi. 

Finally, late-night festival goers will be swayed by the exposed voice of Michele Nox backed by raw guitar and transcendent electronic swells.

Pop-Up Shows

The pop-up concerts have quickly become part of the festival’s nature and there will be many more this year thanks to the support of Downtown Sudbury. Festival goers will want to download the official Up Here app to make sure they don’t miss out on spontaneous shows on rooftops, underground chambers, and other unexpected locations. One of the groups that festival goers can expect to see pop up somewhere is DF, an audiovisual duo that merges looping saxophones with beautiful sound activated light installations

Sunday, Aug. 20

On Sunday afternoon, Dear Criminals, the indie-pop group from Montreal, will present 2GPU, a stunning augmented reality concert with 3D projections. The audience is invited to immerse themselves into the musical world of Dear Criminals with the help of complex imagery generated in real-time stereoscopic 3D. The project was developed by David Paquin and the New Media team at the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue and is presented by the FME (Emerging Music Festival from Rouyn-Noranda).

Dear Criminals is two voices, one intense and strong, and one vulnerable and fragile, complementing each other in a unique and touching way. This vocal mixture is blended in a textured soundscape created by spellbinding arrangements and wisely chosen instrumentation, creating a musical tone deeply inspired by James Blake, Timber Timbre, and Elysian Fields.

Passports On Sale Now

Early Bird passports have already sold out and regular passports are available at UpHere.com for only $90. Individual tickets for concerts are on sale now.

Community Support

Up Here has been able to thrive with the support of countless community organisations and businesses. A special thanks to Barrydowne Paint, Equipment World, Downtown Sudbury, Porter Airlines, Block Rock North Media, Greater Sudbury Utilities, Collège Boréal, Becker Mining Systems, the Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Tourism, the City of Greater Sudbury, Sudbury Tourism, FACTOR, Copy Copy Printing, Yallowega Bélanger Salach Architecture, Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario, Downtown Sudbury Art Crawl, Carrefour francophone, Rewind 103.9, Hot 93.5, Radio-Canada, CKLU 96.7 FM, Baron Mag, Stack Brewing, the Ontario Association of Architects, Northern Ontario Society of Architects, Festival de musique émergente, Studio123, Brady Storage Solutions, Vianet, Myths and Mirrors, and many more. To partner up with Up Here, visit UpHere.com.

[upherefestival]

Up Here 3 Reveals a First Round of Six Artists From Its Musical Programming

Up Here is returning to Downtown Sudbury from August 18-20 for its third edition, transforming downtown Sudbury into an art-filled wonderland. Over three days, festival goers will experience over 45 performances by established and emerging acts, the live creation of new murals that leave a lasting mark on the city, interactive art installations, and a few surprises along the way.

Up Here festival’s live music focuses on presenting an eclectic and captivating lineup of emerging artists from San Francisco to Mozambique via Toronto, Montréal and Sudbury that is sure to stun audiences, leave them spellbound and wanting more.

Performing at Up Here 3

San Francisco's Deerhoof mix noise, sugary melodies, and an experimental spirit into utterly distinctive music that make them one of the most acclaimed acts of the past 20 years. Pitchfork went so far as to label Deerhoof as “the best band in the world.” From their humble beginnings as an obscure San Francisco noise act, they've become one of indie music's most influential bands with their ecstatic and unruly take on pop. This concert is presented in collaboration with Arboretum and Wavelength festivals.

YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN are an Asian/indigenous, psychedelic, noh-wave opera group fusing noise, metal, pop and folk music into a multidisciplinary hyper-cesspool of east meets west culture clash in giant monochrome paper.

The Fleshtones have been blending rock & roll and rhythm & blues since 1976, serving it across the globe armed with smiles, attitude, push-up contests, and sweat! The American garage rock band from Brooklyn, NY is known for its intoxicating performances that put most young performers to shame.  

Samito is a Mozambican/Canadian artist who’s bringing the groove into a new era where modern Afro sounds are the heart of musical trends. Named Radio-Canada's 2015-2016 Revelation in World Music, Samito blends highly rhythmic compositions and texts inspired from his African roots and his childhood spent in Maputo. Nostalgia meets political satire, loaded on electronic rhythms and sharp lyrics written in Portuguese, English, French and Tswa.

Lido Pimienta is a Colombian born, Toronto-based interdisciplinary Afro-Indigenous artist who exists in a roulette of musical journeys from traditional Colombian percussion to darker avant-garde electronic soundscapes, all united by her piercing and explosive yet heartwarming voice. Waving the flag for intersectional feminism, sex positivity and human rights, Pimienta is a force ready to take over the world.

Bernardino Femminielli is a detached crooner deep within a dystopian discotheque. Narrating in French and Spanish, from classical arrangements to brutal 80’s inspired Italo-disco, from heavy cosmic drone to mutant industrial: his sonic ventures reflect his adopted personas. On stage, the confrontational yet intensely vulnerable performer explores the rich and dark energy of French and German cabaret-- emphasizing the "total" performance where poetry, music, film, and dance coalesce.

Up Here 3’s poster artwork was created by Sydney Rose, a visual artist, living and working in Sudbury. Through her work, she examines a world in which change is constant and nearly every aspect of living has become accelerated and very much over-encumbered. She addresses the uncertainties of our future, driven by technology and progress, with playful projects that examine these ideas through a lens of tradition, tactility, culture and holism.

Passports Available Now

A limited amount of Early-Bird Passports are currently available at uphere.com for $80. Passports guarantee access to all concerts presented at Up Here 3. The full schedule of performances, the names of the 40 other artists and muralists will be revealed in the coming weeks.

What is Up Here?

Up Here is an urban art and emerging music festival in the heart of Sudbury, Ontario. The festival combines the live creation of new murals by artists and over 40 performances by musicians in over 12 venues for three jam-packed days. Up Here is where the weird and wonderful collide under city lights.

Community Support

Up Here thrives thanks to the support of Barrydowne Paint, Benjamin Moore, Equipment World, Porter Airlines, Downtown Sudbury, Sudbury.com, Northern Ontario Society of Architects, Ontario Association of Architects, Yallowega Bélanger Salach Architecture, Stack Brewing, La Slague du Carrefour francophone, Copy Copy Printing, Sign Effects, Ici Radio-Canada, Rewind 103.9, Hot 93.5, the City of Greater Sudbury, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, the Ontario Arts Council, the government of Ontario, Sudbury Tourism, and many more.

[upherefestival]

Up Here dévoile une première vague d’artistes en vue de sa 3e édition

Grand Sudbury, 9 mai 2017 –  Une partie de la programmation musicale du festival d’art public et de musique émergente Up Here est dévoilée. Pour sa troisième édition, les festivaliers peuvent s'attendre à plus de 45 spectacles par des groupes établis et émergents, une série de nouvelles murales qui laisseront une marque au coeur de Sudbury, plusieurs installations d'art interactif autour du centre-ville et, bien évidemment, plusieurs surprises en cours de route.

La musique live est le pouls de Up Here et sera présentée dans une dizaine de sites au centre-ville. Up Here présente une gamme éclectique et captivante d'artistes émergents d’ici et d’ailleurs, de San Francisco au Mozambique, en passant bien sûr par Montréal, Toronto et Sudbury. Un trois jours de festivités qui sauront ravir les mélomanes et les avides de découvertes!

À Up Here 2017

Deerhoof, un groupe de San Francisco, mélange mélodies sucrées et audace expérimentale dans une musique distinctive qui les a mis sous les projecteurs de la scène internationale. Deerhoof est aujourd’hui considéré comme l’un des groupes les plus acclamés des 20 dernières années. Pitchfork proclame même Deerhoof comme « le meilleur groupe du monde ». De leurs humbles débuts à San Francisco à aujourd’hui, ils su devenir l'un des groupes les plus influents de la musique indie. Ce spectacle est présenté en collaboration avec les festivals Arboretum et Wavelength.

Yamantaka // Sonic Titan est une formation éclectique canadienne. Sa musique et ses performances théâtrales allient l’expression du Noh, de l’opéra chinois, du manga, des mythologies chinoises, japonaises et amérindiennes ainsi que diverses formes de rock. On pourrait considérer leur musique comme un rock psychédélique, qui évoque autant l’énergie du post-punk et l'intensité du métal que les musiques populaires et traditionnelles d’Asie.

Surnommés les Rois du garage rock, The Fleshtones ont vu le jour en 1976. Ils se taillent rapidement une place sur la scène punk et new-wave de New York grâce à leur son énergisant tout droit sorti des sixties. Ils fusionnent le dynamisme du punk au rhythm and blues, au rockabilly et à la musique surf instrumentale, ce qui fait d'eux un groupe incontournable et légendaire.

Puisant ses racines africaines et son enfance passée en Mozambique, Samito met de l’avant un son afromoderne qui marie des compositions séculaires hautement rythmées à des textes en portugais, en anglais, en français et en tswa. Basé à Montréal, il collabore avec de nombreux artistes de la scène musicale francophone, tels que Pierre Kwenders et Weslie.

Lido Pimienta est une musicienne et artiste visuelle de la Colombie, maintenant basée à Toronto. Artiste afroautochtone, elle peint un paysage sonore électronique d’avant-garde à grands coups de percussions traditionnelles et de chants à la fois explosifs et réconfortants. Le travail de Lido est très politique et vise à aborder les problèmes de la justice sociale, tant au Canada que dans le monde entier. Lido Pimienta est une force musicale, qui prévoit prendre d’assaut le monde.

Bernardino Femminielli est un crooner détaché dans une discothèque dystopique. Un peu de mysticisme, de danger et de plaisir dans votre vie, en voulez-vous? En v’là! Des synthés des années 80, des rainures proggy et du cooing français enfumé, Femminielli est votre provocateur sans genre.

L’affiche Up Here 3 a été conçue par l’artiste visuelle Sydney Rose. À travers ses oeuvres, elle explore un monde accéléré et en constant changement, et ce, dans tous les aspects de la vie. Elle aborde les incertitudes d’un futur dominé par les avancées technologiques par l’entremise de projets joyeux et cocasses, qui posent un regard sur la tradition, la culture et l’holisme.

Passeports en vente dès maintenant

Un nombre limité de passeports au prix de $80 sont en vente au UpHere.com. Ces passeports vous donnent accès à plus de 45 concerts en 3 jours. L’horaire complet et toute la programmation du festival suivront dans les prochaines semaines.

Appui communautaire

Le succès de Up Here repose entièrement sur l’appui d’innombrables organismes et entreprises communautaires. Un merci tout particulier à Barrydowne Paint, Benjamin Moore, Equipment World, Porter Airlines, Downtown Sudbury, Sudbury.com, Northern Ontario Society of Architects, Ontario Association of Architects, Yallowega Bélanger Salach Architecture, Stack Brewing, La Slague du Carrefour francophone, Copy Copy Printing, Sign Effects, Ici Radio-Canada, Rewind 103.9, Hot 93.5, la Ville du Grand Sudbury, la Société de développement de l’industrie des médias de l’Ontario, le Conseil des Arts de l’Ontario, le gouvernement de l’Ontario, Tourisme Sudbury, et plusieurs autres.

[upherefestival]

8 artists that we can’t wait to catch at FME (and then kidnap and bring to Sudbury)

We've never shied away from the fact that Up Here has been heavily influenced by other great festivals. Mural festival in Montreal is an obvious one for the whole public art component, Burning Man is another for the big art installations and spectacular nature (as in spectacle) of the event, and finally there’s the FME, le Festival de musique émergente (Emerging Music Festival) that takes place 4 short hours north of Sudbury on the Québec side in the small mining town of Rouyn-Noranda in Abitibi.

The Cyborgs from Italy at FME in 2012.

We've seen so many phenomenal acts at the FME throughout the years. From well-knowns like Patrick Watson (2010 and 2011), Martha Wainwright (2014), Godspeed You! Black Emperor (2012), Blonde Redhead (2013), The Fleshtones (2015) or Owen Palett (2014), to awesome up-and-comings, Organ Mood (2012), Betty Bonifassi (2014), The Cyborgs (2012), SUUNS (2013), Foxtrott (2013), the FME has it all.

Patrick Watson testing out new songs from Adventures In Your Own Back Yard next to the humming smelter in downtown Rouyn in 2011.

There are so many of jaw-dropping moments at the FME every year. It’s those shiver inducing shows that drive us when programming Up Here: the Tanya Tagaq moment last year, the Visit's surprise show at Christ The King, or Organ Mood in that parking lot with elleQ Dance Factory.

We go to the FME to drink at the source, to get inspired, to discover some really awesome acts, and then book our favourite coup de coeurs back in Sudbury at Up Here.

Here are 8 artists that we are looking forward to catching at FME this week. You might just see some of them on our lineup in the next couple years. Don't tell anyone (tell everyone, and come join us actually!)

Charlotte Cardin

Super suave french soul, Charlotte is a rising star on the Québec scene. She's been dubbed "the Québec Adèle", but that just doesn't do justice the shivers and anticipation that we've got building for this show.

Samito

The first time we heard Samity, we were hooked. He hadn't even released his first album yet and we were already trying to book him at Up Here (he wasn't available). It's groovy af, electronic with tinges of his Mozambican roots and sounds. This is good. This is real good.

Bernardino Femminielli

Think BA Johnson meet Serge Gainsbourg. That is all.

GaBlé

We saw this French project during their last visit to Rouyn in 2010 and they left quite a mark. Eclectic, noisy, weird, fun and ambitious. Somewhere between folk and electronic with tinges of disconnected rhythms. We just wish France was a little bit closer so booking him would be that much easier.

Laura Sauvage

Her official photo was taken at the Plaza Bowl and her album cover features photos of Sudbury's industrial landscape. She's one of the members of New Brunswick's Les Hay Babies (which we also love!) and this is her kick ass solo project. She's already got a love affair with Sudbury and we're looking forward to welcoming her in the very near future.

Tumblr only lets us embed up to 5 videos in a post, so here are another 3 greats acts that we can’t wait to see (but you’ll have to click on their name to get a taste!)

UUBBUURRUU

Oh ya, definitely some the best psychedelic rock coming out of Montreal right now. We love their sound and we can't wait to hear it live and loud.

Québec Redneck Bluegrass Project

We've been following these guys for a while. They are 4 guys from Chicoutimi who started a dirty bluegrass band while they were living in China. Their albums are phenomenal and we can't wait to see them live for the first time.

UK Subs

FME has made it a sort-of tradition of booking epic old punk gods. Last year it was The Fleshtones, before that it was the Vibrators, the Melvins. Well this year, we'll be treated to UK Subs who were among the earliest in the first wave of British punk in 1976. It doesn't get more English that this. Aï! Aï! Aï!

So there we have it. We’ll keep you posted.

[upherefestival]

Le jeudi soir, Sudbury a des cornes qui poussent

Sudbury! T’es belle quand tu sors tes beaux souliers pour aller te brasser le cha-cha au son de tes bands chouchous. Je t’ai vue hier, je t’ai même observée attentivement, et j’ai repéré tes danseurs étoiles, ceux de qui on ne peut détacher les yeux, même quand ça brûle un peu.

Ils sont deux, ils sont motivés, ils se croient à So You Think You Can Dance, en finale à part de ça. C’est visiblement un couple. Tout, chez eux, est coordonné : sa barrette à cheveux en forme de papillon rappelle les motifs de sa chemise à lui (des libellules); ils tournent la tête en même temps, à gauche, à droite, à gauche encore (la voie est libre, traversez!); surtout, ils livrent leurs enchaînements ensemble, en rythme, en amour. Ils sont beaux mais prennent beaucoup de place.

Elle n’est plus très jeune mais elle a du cœur au ventre. Armée de sa bière 2UP, elle s’avance, dépasse la foule, se plante directement devant le band. Pas de tentative d’intimidation ici, seulement un enthousiasme immodéré pour cette relève artistique qui foisonne aux quatre coins du downtown. Non, elle n’a pas parti de mushpit au Zigs, mais elle en a certainement inspiré quelques-uns à redécouvrir le potentiel de leurs jambes.

Il hésite. La musique est rythmée, groovy, c’est plus facile qu’improviser sur Le sacre du printemps. Autour de lui, les gens se balancent sur place, sans plus. Il tente sa chance, regarde furtivement derrière son épaule gauche, vérifie qu’on ne l’observe pas (sorry dude, moi je te regarde!), transfère son poids en avant, en arrière. Soudain il arrête, réfléchit. Ah! C’est qu’il préfère un mouvement latéral. Celui-là ne ferait pas carrière à La fureur : reload mais on lève notre chapeau devant son entêtement à essayer de nouvelles activités.

Young Galaxy, c’est un peu comme une chandelle, et le public, ses papillons. À trop vouloir s’approcher des flammes, un groupe d’amis est tombé dans les douves en avant de la scène du Grand Théâtre. Personne n’en est mort, au contraire : découvrant enfin assez d’espace pour se laisser aller sans s’enfarger dans les lacets des autres, le groupe a fleuri en une mosaïque de chorégraphies qui n’étaient pas sans rappeler la danse belle mais étrange des abeilles.

Est-ce que c’est parce que le Townehouse est l’extension du salon de bien des Sudburois que les gens y dansent avec si peu de gêne? Peut-être est-ce aussi la musique de New Fries qui a inspiré à certains des mouvements alliant sans paradoxe apparent l’imitation d’un robot et le secouage énergique d’un chien qui sort tout juste du lac. Avec les quelques degrés qu’il faisait dans la place, gageons que la piste de danse était quelque peu humide après cette performance!

On remet ça ce soir?

Chloé Leduc-Bélanger

IG : chloeastronaute

[upherefestival]

Archive photos that will make you see Sudbury differently

Since diving into a beautiful bank of archive photography of Sudbury for the curation of the @SudburyTimeMachine Instagram project, I’ve witnessed the city transform before my eyes. Some neighbourhoods have emerged progressively around rails and mines, like Little Italy, others aggressively, like New Sudbury, and others have disappeared completely to make way for other urban and social realities, like Borgia (RIP 1966). 

Our urban environment is constantly changing, and thus, changing us along the way. Our urban landscape influences the way we think, interact, and live way more than we think.

Archive photography is a window letting us see how decisions once made have radically transformed our private and public spaces. You notice how a lot has changed. Profit-driven decisions often exhaust and weaken, if not dissolve communities. On the flip side, when these areas are cherished and protected, it gives us a stronger sense of place and the right context to grow roots and flourish. As Jane Jacobs said, “cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”

So voilà. Here are a couple of photos of Sudbury worth seeing and that will make you see Sudbury differently.

1. The New Sudbury Centre, when it first opened in 1957

Before, New Sudbury was a rich farmland. Look at those tiny houses on the horizon!

2. Sudbury had four beautiful main theatres

The century, The Capitol, The Regent, and of course, the only one remaining, The Grand.

 The Century

The Capitol

The Regent

The Grand

3. The Sorrento Motel, corner of Barrydowne and Kingsway

This is where the Keg is today and where the Bianco used to be. Circa 1960.

4. Sudbury’s first hotel and its proprietor

Early 1900s. 

5. The old LaSalle boulevard Drive-In theatre

Its demolition made way for a new mall. Spring 1988. 

6. The Town of Creighton

Momo’s great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great grand-mother and her pals.

7. Wait, what? 

Apparently we also had a Big Penny, a U.S. half dollar & a $20 coin. Cha-ching!

8. Laurentian University

Circa 1965. Where’s the Parker?

9. Busy Summer at Bell Park

Either Nothern Lights Festival Boréal or a summer celebrating event. We’ve gotten conflicting reports (email us at [email protected] if you know!) Either way, holy shit qu’y avait du monde.

10. Drive right across the tracks from Riverside to Elgin

You can see where the Laughing Buddha is today, top left corner of the picture. Crazy eh? Circa 1960.

11. Amble Scramble

Elm and Durham, 1963.

Special Tumblr Bonus! Check out this great video of the scramble in action.

12. Tramway!

A fancy bunch of Suburians taking the tramway.

13. Hey it’s Café Petit Gâteau’s ancestor!

The building now houses 50 Carleton, a Money Mart and our favourite little bakery.

14. To The Moon and Back

A pretty cool Playground Moon Module that kids used to be able to play at Big Nickel Park circa 1973.

15. The power of beautiful neon signs

Durham St. at night, circa 1960. Death to vinyl signage.

Thank you to the Greater Sudbury Historical Database, Christian Pelletier, Mike Commito and Marie-Jo Pelletier. <3

By Sophia Bagaoui

[upherefestival]

Les étoiles s’alignent

Chaque année, c’est la même chose, le mois d’août me rend fébrile. Point culminant de l’été, dernière droite avant l’automne et ses courants d’air, ultime occasion de célébrer les beaux jours comme il se doit avant que ne sonne la cloche annonçant la fin de la récré. Heureusement, à Sudbury, on n’est pas encore prêts à aller se coucher. Je dirais même que la fin de semaine qui s’en vient sera l’une des plus éclatées de l’été. J’exagère? Pourtant, tous les signes sont là.

1. Il va pleuvoir des étoiles

Vous avez peut-être vu la nouvelle passer : cette année, les perséides, cette pluie d’étoiles filantes que nous a léguée la comète 109P/Swift-Tuttle, seront deux fois plus nombreuses que d’habitude. Ça veut dire que dans la nuit de jeudi à vendredi, alors que sur le plancher des vaches nous serons occupés à danser nos vies, au-dessus de nos têtes aura lieu un spectacle tout aussi spectaculaire. Coïncidence? J’en doute.

2. Le line-up a une saveur stellaire

Est-ce que les organisateurs du festival essayent de nous envoyer un message secret? Jeudi soir, on pourra entendre Young Galaxy au Grand Théâtre; samedi, c’est le groupe Stars, qui nous promet quelques french kiss impromptus, de quoi se retrouver avec la tête dans les nuages. Même The Visit a l’air de venir d’une autre planète. Perso j’y vais pour la théorie du complot : Sudbury -> cratère -> expériences de la NASA -> Naissance d’une génération d’illuminés -> Festival Up Here. Aussi simple que ça.

3. L’astrologie est de notre bord

Qu’est-ce qui se passe d’autre au moins d’août? C’est le mois des lions! Qui est lion dans la salle? Moi! Une raison de plus d’aimer cette période de l’année, où la sagesse des étoiles s’accorde avec la douceur des nuits d’été. En plus, on sait tous qu’une fête n’en est pas une si on n’a pas quelques lions enthousiastes dans la salle…

Les astres sont alignés pour que cette deuxième édition d’Up Here soit des plus spectaculaire. On se retrouve sous les étoiles?

Chloé Leduc-Bélanger

IG : chloeastronaute

[upherefestival]

UP HERE FESTIVAL TV

Remember when music video stations played music video like all the time? We do. We miss that. We thought it would be fitting to try recreating the experience. Here is a non-stop shuffled mix of music videos from Up Here 2016 artists that will help you get get to know our eclectic lineup. Hit that full screen icon in the bottom right hand corner for best results!

[upherefestival]

What to Expect from Up Here’s Live Performances (Part 2 of 2)

Up Here Festival is now merely a few days away.  As artists, bands, organizers, and volunteers prepare to transform downtown Sudbury into a veritable wonderland, the excitement and anticipation is palpable.   Perhaps you’ve already bought your passport or perhaps you’re wondering if there are any bands worth seeing, even if you don’t recognize their names. I can assure you there are many bands worth seeing and I’m here to prove it with the second part to my series exploring Up Here Festival’s acts via handy fact sheets and a handful of amazing live studio performances.  You can still buy tickets here. You can visit part one of ‘What to Expect from Up Here’s Live Performances’ here.

WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT FROM ISKWÉ LIVE

Who is Iskwé?: Iskwé is a Toronto based Pop artist.

What do they play?: Electro Pop, Trip Hop, Soul Leftfield R&B

Who do they sound like?: Emily Wells, Laura Veirs, Bat For Lashes

Where and When will she perform?: Saturday, August 13th, Downtown Sudbury Playground, 8:00 PM. 

What have their past performances been like?: Expect a passionate vocal execution and a theatrical performance that is sure to impress.

How they might make you feel? Joyous, Spirited

Buy tickets

WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT FROM PAUPIÈRE LIVE

Who are Paupière?:   Paupière are an Electro Pop trio from Montréal.

What do they play?: Paupière are considered Indie Electronic, Indie Pop, Electro Pop Synth Pop, Synth Wave.

Who do they sound like?: Fishbach, Ladytron,  Fisherspooner, Goldfrapp

Where and When will they perform?: Saturday, August 13th, Downtown Sudbury Playground, 9:00 PM.

What have their past performances been like?: Anticipate a moody atmospheric synth pop spectacle.

How they might make you feel?: Detached, Energetic, Tense, Calm, Reflective, Energetic

Buy Tickets

WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT FROM STARS LIVE 

Who are Stars? Stars are a Canadian band formed in 2001 in Toronto.  

What genres do they play? They’ve been described as Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Chamber Pop and Indie Electronic.

Who do they sound like? Pet Shop Boys, The Human League, Broken Social Scene, The Postal Service, The Most Serene Republic, Rilo Kiley, Mother Mother, Architecture in Helsinki

Where and When will they perform? Saturday, August 13th, 10:00 PM, Sudbury Downtown Playground. 

What have their past performances been like? Expect an emotional and uplifting modern-disco experience that will almost undoubtedly result in a large scale dance party.

How they might make you feel? Whimsical, Mischievous, Playful, Energetic

Buy tickets

WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT FROM U.S. GIRLS LIVE

Who are U.S. Girls? U.S. girls is a the American project of of Megan Remy and formed in 2007 in Philadelphia.

What do they play? U.S. girls craft Experimental, Lo-Fi, Indie Rock, Noise Pop.

Who do they sound like? Suicide, Throbbing Gristle, Yoko Ono, Prince Rama, Peaking Lights, Julia Holter, The Dirty Projectors, Grimes, Deerhunter

Where and When will they perform? Saturday, August 13th, Respect Is Burning, Durham Hall, 1:00 AM.

What have their past performances been like? U.S. Girls performances have been known to play out as maniacal audio experimentations that deconstruct pop employing an array of archaic instrumentation.  Meg Remy’s magnetic and theatrics will quickly grab your attention and maintain a steady hold.

How they might make you feel? Anxious, Brooding, Spaced, Capricious, Cynical

Buy Tickets

WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT DILLY DALLY LIVE

Who are Dilly Dally? Dilly Dally are a rock band from Toronto who formed in 2009.

What do they play? Dilly Dally make wonderfully noisey Post-Grunge.

Who do they sound like? Hole, Honeyblood, Skating Polly, Bully, Diet Cig, Girlpool, Chastity Belt, Hinds, White Lung, Speedy Ortiz

Where and When will they perform? Saturday, August 13th, The Townehouse Tavern, 1:00 AM. 

What have their past performances been like? Dilly Dally performances are loud, rousing ordeals that are sure to get your ears buzzing and your blood pumping.

How they might make you feel? Passionate, Rowdy, Powerful, Tense, Excited

Buy Tickets

[upherefestival]

Words about art and art about words

Photo by LePetitRusse, Mural by Trevor Wheatley

Marching down the hill from the West End in the wake of last year's festival, words, so far away that they should have been whispers, were shouting at me. "WALK SAFE, don’t slip" they said. But what did they mean?

Again, at the grocery store, transferring bags from cart to car, words, even larger now, navigate their way through the mundane fog that shrouds such a commonplace task, and scream "WALK SAFE, don't slip". I find them downtown, these words, and they are giant now. Titanic sentinels, stoically looking out to the West, their silent message bellowing throughout the hills, refusing to be ignored. Was I being warned, or just advised? Was I being scolded? My guilty conscience tells me I deserve it...

This wasn't the first time my city's walls had spoken to me. There was that building, not that long ago, who began to tell me I was beautiful. At first I refused to believe it but, days turned into weeks, and the words continued to insist "YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL". Realizing the futility in resisting their position on the matter, I resolved to allow the words, just this once, to persuade me. "Never again," I swore, "will I let a wall tell me what to think". In a way, I maintained that promise. Or, so I thought. This time, I wasn't really sure what the words were asking of me, "YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL" gave me something direct and intimate, whereas "Walk safe, don't slip" seemed rather ambiguous and reticent- so I began to ask my friends and neighbours what their thoughts were on the matter, and, in doing so, discovered what it was these words were after all along. Some would say they found the wall inspiring. Others found it oppressive. Some hated the very sight of these words, while others, like myself, were falling in love. While discussions and debates were soon popping up everywhere, none of them seemed to offer any clarity on the mystery of "WALK SAFE, don't slip." That is when I realized that I had, once again, let the wall win. It had deceived me. Hung up on my literal interpretation of their message, I failed to see that all these words wanted was to be talked about.

Photo by Stacey Lalande, mural by We Live Up Here

Our city had changed after the appearance of these words. Physically, yes, but it wasn't enough that the festival brought us new murals, and music, and light, and colour. What it left us with was the opportunity to explore this art within the framework of our day-to-day lives. To discuss things like aesthetic and meaning and intent with one another. This was art about words inspiring words about art. 

Every evening, as the sun speeds toward the horizon casting a spotlight on the wall, naturally amplifying its call with ominous precision, I can't help but wonder if these giant letters are satisfied in knowing that their purpose has been fulfilled. Then I wonder if these words are comforted by the fact that, regardless of what anyone might say about them, there is still one wall, not too far away, who thinks that they are beautiful. By Maty Ralph 

[upherefestival]

Vu d’ici

Janvier à peine entamé. Je me présente : Chloé. Les filles du Salon du livre, enthousiastes, me parlent déjà de tous les incroyables festivals auxquels j’aurai l’occasion d’assister pendant mon année à Sudbury. Aux Quartiers d’hiver, à Rouyn-Noranda, ça s’emballe, ça pépie, la délégation sudburoise est reçue à bras ouverts. Tout ce beau monde vibre d’amour – pour la musique, les performances, le saugrenu, et les foules que ça attire. D’une ville à l’autre, quelque chose se prépare, mais c’est à l’année que les gens du Nord s’activent. Je le vois bien : ici, on s’implique, parce qu’on reçoit autant qu’on donne. On m’a parachutée dans une fourmilière où tous s’attèlent, jour après jour, à investir la ville des projets les plus fous.

Je pense à Sudbury, et je me dis : voilà une ville à échelle humaine. Je ne connais, bien entendu, pas grand-chose à l’extérieur du centre-ville. Un mur me dit : You are beautiful, un autre me rappelle de marcher avec prudence. Je me questionne : y a-t-il jamais assez de couleurs dans une journée? Pour le bleu, le ciel fournit en masse; pour le reste, il y a les nombreuses œuvres d’art public, qu’elles soient permanentes ou éphémères.

Et je déambule. Au détour de quelle ruelle vais-je trouver une nouvelle raison de sourire? Qui vais-je croiser au prochain lancement, show, vernissage, première, rassemblement impromptu? Puis le soir tombe, les projecteurs s’allument, les haut-parleurs grésillent. Le Townehouse promet une nuée de décibels – heureusement, j’ai mes bouchons –, ou alors c’est la Fromagerie, le Speakeasy, le Laughing Buddha, la Red Fang Tavern qui propose de la musique en direct. On m’avait parlé d’une ville en pleine ébullition artistique; ce que je découvre au fil des semaines surpasse de loin mes attentes.

Je n’ai pas vu les mois passer, et voilà qu’on est en août. J’ai marché le centre-ville tout l’été, j’y croise quotidiennement des visages amis, des gens engagés dans leur communauté qui sont sur le point de faire advenir quelque chose qui tient presque de la magie. Déjà, les artistes sont à l’œuvre, laissant des traces de leur passage sur la rue comme dans Internet. Avec combien d’entre eux tomberai-je en amour?

Dans moins d’une semaine, il sera question de musique, de murales, d’installation, mais il sera surtout question d’amitié, de collaboration et d’une ambiance extraordinaire. Je le sais, non pas parce que j’y étais l’année dernière, mais parce que je vis ici depuis maintenant sept mois, et que c’est comme ça qu’ici, on fait les choses.

Par Chloé Leduc-Bélanger

IG : @chloeastronaute

[upherefestival]

Ella & Pitr to Paint a Large Scale Rooftop Mural at Science North for Up Here 2016

After much community input and evaluating various locations around Sudbury, the world record breaking muralists Ella & Pitr and Up Here festival have chosen the Special Exhibits Hall at Science North as the location for a new large scale rooftop mural that will be completed for Up Here festival in August.

Ella & Pitr are a french muralist team from Saint-Étienne, France who are known for painting large-scale murals in public places around the world. The dynamic duo specializes in aerial murals on rooftops that can be viewed from above and through videos that live online after their completion. The internationally acclaimed artists will be arriving in Sudbury on August 6th to start working on the piece and will be completing it during the week leading up to Up Here festival that takes place August 11-13th.

“For more than 30 years, Science North continues to be an architectural and cultural landmark in the City of Greater Sudbury and throughout Northern Ontario,” said Guy Labine, CEO of Science North. “Science North and the Up Here team share a common culture of innovation and inspiration. We are thrilled to be part of this exciting project. The Science North rooftop is a perfect canvas to showcase this creativity.”

Internationally acclaimed Ella & Pitr

They started their “grands dormeurs” series (giant sleepers) in 2007 and have since completed pieces all over the world, including in France, Italy, Japan, Chili, Portugal, the US and Canada. They exploded onto the international art scene in 2015 during the NuART Festival in Norway where they completed their largest work yet, which is currently being evaluated by the Guinness World Record for the title of the World’s Largest Mural.

“Ella & Pitr are kind of a big deal in the public art world. This will quite literally put Sudbury on the map and has the potential to inspire the way we look at our home. Public art helps people form a sense that there’s something special about the place where they live. With the landmark that is Science North, beautiful Ramsey Lake and Bell Park in the background, we really couldn’t imagine a better location for Ella & Pitr’s first mural in Ontario,” says Christian Pelletier, co-founder of Up Here.

Follow the progress of the large scale mural, as well as interviews with the artists and other exclusive programming on CBC Sudbury.

A Unique Festival Experience

Up Here, formerly Up Fest, is a public art festival that culminates in an emerging music festival, and is topped off by a night of art installations. It’s eight muralists working on new murals during the week leading up to the festival. It’s over 45 musicians in over 12 venues for three jam-packed days. Up Here is where the weird and wonderful collide under city lights.

Community Support

Up Here has been able to thrive with the support of countless community organisations and businesses. A special thanks to Downtown Sudbury, Barrydowne Paint, Benjamin Moore, Equipment World, Porter Airlines, Collège Boréal, Sudbury.com, Science North, Canon, Laurentian University, Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario, Levert Group, Centre de santé communautaire de Sudbury, Black Rock North Media, FACTOR, Quality Inn, Northern Ontario Society of Architects, Ontario Association of Architects, Yallowega Bélanger Salach Architecture, TD Bank, Stack Brewing, La Slague du Carrefour francophone, Copy Copy Printing, Sign Effects, Ici Radio-Canada, Rewind 103.9, Hot 93.5, the Ontario Arts Council, the government of Ontario, the City of Greater Sudbury, Sudbury Tourism, SOCAN Foundation and many more.

[upherefestival]

Ella & Pitr vont peindre une murale de grande échelle sur un toit de Science Nord pour Up Here 2016

Après avoir consulté la communauté et évalué divers endroits dans la ville de Sudbury, les muralistes Ella & Pitr, détenteurs d'un record mondial, et le festival Up Here ont choisi le toit de la Grande salle d'exposition de Science Nord comme emplacement pour une nouvelle murale à grande échelle qui sera complétée à temps pour le festival Up Here en août.  

Ella & Pitr sont une équipe de muralistes de Saint-Étienne, en France, reconnus pour leurs murales à grande échelle dans les espaces publics partout sur la planète. Ce duo dynamique se spécialise dans de grandes murales aériennes vues de haut dans des vidéos qui immortalisent l'oeuvre après sa création. Les artistes de renommée internationale arriveront à Sudbury le 6 août pour commencer leur travail, qu'ils effectueront dans la semaine menant au festival Up Here, qui se déroule du 11 au 13 août.

« Depuis son ouverture en 1984, Science Nord est devenu un repère touristique et architectural au sein de la ville et à travers du Nord de l’Ontario » dit Guy Labine, Directeur général de Science Nord. « Science Nord et l'équipe de Up Here partagent une culture commune de créativité et d'innovation, et nous ne pourrions être plus emballés de faire partie de ce projet excitant. Le toit de Science Nord est un canvas parfait pour mettre en valeur cette créativité. »

Ella & Pitr, acclamés mondialement

Après avoir lancé leur série des « grands dormeurs » en 2007, ils ont complété des oeuvres à plusieurs endroit sur la planète, notamment en France, en Italie, au Japon, au Chili, au Portugal, aux États-Unis et au Canada. Ils ont fait irruption sur la scène artistique internationale en 2015 lors du NuART Festival en Norvège lorsqu'ils ont complété leur plus grande oeuvre à ce jour, qui est présentement sous évaluation par l'équipe des Records mondiaux Guinness pour le titre de Plus grande murale au monde.

« Ella & Pitr sont des phares dans le monde de l'art urbain. Ils vont littéralement mettre Sudbury sur la carte. Avec l'architecture caractéristique de Science Nord, du lac Ramsey et du parc Bell en arrière-plan, on ne pouvait imaginer de meilleur emplacement pour la première murale ontarienne d' Ella & Pitr,” affirme Christian Pelletier, cofondateur de Up Here.

Suivez le développement de la murale à grande échelle, des entrevues avec les artistes et d'autres exclusivités sur les ondes de Radio-Canada Sudbury et sur ici.radio-canada.ca/ontario/nordontario.

Une expérience de festival unique

Up Here, anciennement Up Fest, est un festival d'art public qui culmine en un festival de musique émergente, auquel vient s'ajouter une nuit d'installations artistiques. C'est huit muralistes qui travaillent sur de nouvelles murales dans la semaine qui précède le festival. C'est plus de 45 musiciens dans plus de 12 lieux de diffusion pour trois jours remplis à craquer. Up Here, c'est là où le beau et le bizarre se côtoient sous les lampadaires.

Appui communautaire

Up Here connaît un si grand essor grâce à l'appui d'un montant innombrable d'organismes communautaires et d'entreprises locales. Nous remercions tout spécialement Downtown Sudbury, Barrydowne Paint, Benjamin Moore, Equipment World, Porter Airlines, Collège Boréal, Sudbury.com, Science Nord, Canon, Université Laurentienne, Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario, Levert Group, Centre de santé communautaire de Sudbury, Black Rock North Media, FACTOR, Quality Inn, Northern Ontario Society of Architects, Ontario Association of Architects, Yallowega Bélanger Salach Architecture, TD Bank, Stack Brewing, La Slague du Carrefour francophone, Copy Copy Printing, Sign Effects, Ici Radio-Canada, Rewind 103.9, Hot 93.5, le Conseil des Arts de l'Ontario Ontario Arts, le gouvernement de l'Ontario, la Ville du Grand Sudbury, Tourisme Sudbury, la Fondation SOCAN et plusieurs autres.

[upherefestival]

What To Expect From Up Here’s Live Performances (Part 1 of 2)

As the second installment of the best new music festival in Ontario hurdles towards us like a baby superhero carrying craft from Krypton, I sit here at my desk, in front of an empty Tumblr text post input box, once again contemplating the task of presenting some fresh angle or perspective on what will most certainly be one of this summer's most memorable music and art events. As my mind jumps from stagnant idea to the next, I decide to take an analytical approach. What do I know about Up Here? What are the facts?

That's when it hits me, what are the facts? What do I know that a total music geek might not? I know music! How can I help you maximize your experience and help you make wise ticket purchases? How can I solve your conflicts and help you plan your perfect festival? With facts!

The following fact sheet will break down 10 of the festivals artists in detail via live studio performance videos, artist comparisons, and possible mood indicators for each artist's live performance. I've split the series into two posts, because honestly, who wants to read that much at once? Well maybe some of you do, but I've got Pokémon to catch, so give me a break here.

WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT FROM FOXTROTT LIVE

Who is Foxtrott?: Foxtrott is the stage name of Montréal’s Marie-Hélène L. Delorme.

What does she play?: Foxtrott is described as Electro-Pop or Indie Electronic.

What does she sound like?: Robyn, Austra, CHVRCHES, Grimes, iamamiwhoami, La Roux, Mozart’s Sister

Where and When will she perform?: Thursday, August 11th, Grand Theatre, 9:00 PM. Sudbury’s oldest still standing theatre constructed in 1909.

What have her past performances been like?: Foxtrott performances are a lively energetic affair with a great rhythm sure to get you dancing.

How her performance might make you feel? Playful, Joyful, Quirky, Entranced

Buy tickets

WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT FROM YOUNG GALAXY LIVE

(WARNING: TO AVOID THE FACE OF A CERTAIN INFAMOUS CANADIAN RADIO HOST SKIP AHEAD 13 SECONDS) 

Who are Young Galaxy?: Young Galaxy are a Canadian grouped formed in the early oughts.

What do they play?: Young Galaxy have been labelled Indie Rock, Indie Pop and Dream Pop.

Who do they sound like?: Air, Yo La Tengo, Braids, Austra, Memoryhouse, School of Seven Bells

Where and When will they perform?: Thursday, August 11th, Grand Theatre, at 10:00 PM. The old red velvet seats that use to adorn the venue are still stacked up in the basement of the century-old theatre.

What have their past performances been like?: Young Galaxy performances have featured choreographed dance, live instruments, and electronic programming, all helping to showcase the wonderful vocal stylings of Catherine McCandless.

How they might make you feel? Calm, Reflective, Spacey, Hypnotized, Warm, Dreamy

Buy tickets

WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT FROM HOLY FUCK LIVE

Who are Holy Fuck? Holy Fuck are a Canadian ensemble formed in 2004 in Toronto.

What do they play? Holy Fuck fuse Electronic and Rock genres into something entirely new.

Who do they sound like?: Gang of Four, Public Image Ltd., Battles, Fuck Buttons, HEALTH, Liars, Dan Deacon, LCD Soundsystem, Gang Gang Dance, The Rapture

Where and When will they perform?: Friday, August 12th, Grand Theatre, 10:00 PM. Yes, the lobby has a leopard print carpet. No, it’s not original.

What have their past performances been like?: Holy Fuck combine strange hardware ,instruments, and wires with boisterous guitars and drums to deliver one of the loudest and most visceral live experiences you’ve experienced. “Holy Fuck” is quite literally how you will describe their performance.

How they might make you feel? Detached, Tense, Paranoid, Anxious, Energetic, Manic

Buy tickets

WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT FROM PHÈDRE LIVE

Who are Phèdre?: Phèdre are Daniel Lee and April Aliermo.

What do they play?: Synth-Pop, Electronic, Post-Punk, Experimental

Who do they sound like?: Blouse, Still Corners, Young Magic, Braids, Elite Gymnastics, Gang Gang Dance.

Where and When will they perform?: Friday, August 12th, Little Montreal, 1:00 AM. Best smoked meat sandwiches in town. Don’t forget to pose with the antlers in the back.

What have their past performances been like?: Unique arrangements of deconstructed and warped fragments of pop and experimentation.

How they might make you feel? Hypnotized, Enlightened, Energetic, Carefree, Confused

Buy tickets

[upherefestival]

Plus de 60 artistes, 45 musiciens et 8 muralistes terraformeront le centre-ville de Sudbury lors de Up Here

La programmation de la deuxième édition du festival d’art public et de musique émergente Up Here, qui se déroulera du 11 au 13 août, est enfin dévoilée.

Up Here, c’est un festival d’art public qui culmine en festival de musique émergente, couronné par une nuit blanche artistique. C’est 8 muralistes qui travailleront sur 7 nouvelles murales dans la semaine qui précède le festival. C’est plus de 45 artistes dans plus de 12 salles de spectacle pour trois journées bien remplies. C’est une nuit blanche artistique où le beau et le bizarre se croisent sous les lampadaires de Sudbury.

Dessine-moi une murale

Des artistes locaux et des muralistes de partout au monde prendront d’assaut le coeur de la ville au début du mois d’août pour entamer 7 nouveaux tableaux urbains. Ce sont 8 muralistes qui collaboreront en vue de transformer des murs vierges du centre-ville.

Les muralistes d’Europe comprennent les détenteurs du record Guinness Ella & Pitr et le coloré Hobz, qui réinterprète les codes du graffiti traditionnel. Les muralistes de l’Amérique du Nord incluent le coloré James Kirkpatrick (Toronto), l’hypnotisante Ola Volo (Vancouver) et la vibrante Kirsten McCrea (Toronto). À ces muralistes viendront s’ajouter des talents locaux comme les personnages de Tracy Baker et la sensibilité aux beaux-arts de Neli Nenkova (Sudbury et Bulgarie).

Fais-moi voir des sons

Après une semaine de murales, on mêle des musiciens à tout ça pour un festival de musique émergente de trois jours où des étoiles montantes prendront la scène dans une multitude d’emplacements du centre-ville. Up Here se veut un lieu de découvertes et de curiosité. Préparez-vous à être émerveillés.

Le jeudi 11 août 2016

Le jeudi 11 août, on commence ça en force avec un spectacle punk tout âge au Zigs avec des groupes locaux tels que Bean Head & Donutboy, Yacht Patrol, Sik Rik et le punk rapide du band torontois Soupcans. Un petit conseil : apportez vos bouchons d’oreilles.

On se dirige ensuite du côté du Grand Théâtre pour les hymnes puissants du duo violoncelle-voix The Visit, suivi des airs enjôleurs et des cors captivants de Foxtrott. Young Galaxy, nommé aux prix Polaris, prendra la scène par la suite avec sa synth-pop sophistiquée. Attendez-vous à du spectaculaire avec des paysages sonores planants, des chorégraphies remarquables et des jeux de lumière électrifiants.

Pour bien clore le jeudi soir, les festivaliers se rendront à la Townhouse Tavern pour les prestations vocales particulières de New Fries, suivi des délires musicaux de Freak Heat Waves de Vancouver. Enfin, Fresh Snow assumera sa place dans le panthéon des pionniers post-rock canadiens avec des discos-synthés dansants et des cordes crève-coeur qui vous guideront tout doucement vers le nirvana.

Le vendredi 12 août 2016

La programmation du vendredi 12 août débutera par les premiers concerts gratuits de la série Découverte, mettant en scène des artistes émergents du Nord canadien dans des petites scènes au centre-ville, en formule 5 à 7. Découvrez la synth-pop dansante d’Ocean City Defender de Thunder Bay, le garage-psych percutant de Marie-Claire, l’indie-folk de David Dino White qui défie les conventions, les histoires sincères et senties de Old Cabin de Yellowknife, le folk nomade de Benjamin Hermann, originaire de North Bay, et le rock surnaturel de Night Terrors.  

De retour ensuite au Grand Théâtre pour une soirée de manifestations musicales mémorables. Ravivant la flamme sacrée pour un soir seulement, Rob Seaton et les frères Houle feront renaître le power-punk bien connu des Statues. Duchess Says s’amènent ensuite pour répandre la bonne nouvelle de leur moog rock hypnotisant. Enfin, armés d'un assortiment de claviers analogues et de jouets d'enfants court-circuités, les légendes canadiennes Holy Fuck viendront électrifier le théâtre centenaire avec un dévouement au rythme et un sens du spectaculaire s'apparentant davantage à une expérience extraterrestre qu'à un vulgaire concert rock. En gros, c’est de la musique électronique moderne, sans avoir recours aux bidules modernes de looping, de programmation et de laptops.

Les concerts surprises faisaient partie intégrante de la première édition de Up Here, et ils reviennent encore plus nombreux cette année. Assurez-vous bien de télécharger l’application officielle Up Here pour ne rien manquer des spectacles spontanés dans les ruelles, tunnels et stationnements. L’application sera disponible en juin dans le App Store et sur Google Play.

La formation jizz-jazz sudburoise Magic Pelvis viendra lancer le bal au Little Montreal le vendredi soir, suivi de la figure légendaire de la scène underground montréalaise, Sunny Duval, fraîchement réinventé en roi de l’électro-surf kitsch-pop. Enfin, Phèdre viendra ériger une tour à coups de briques de drone, synth-pop, goth, électronique et post-punk, pour diffuser sa musique des limites du temps et de l'espace.

Vous pouvez également vous diriger du côté de la Townhouse Tavern pour les synthés psychédéliques de Marie-Claire, suivi du space-rock glam de Blonde Elvis, avec nul autre que le Sudburois Jesse James Laderoute aux commandes. Enfin, place à un retour au bercail qui se prépare depuis 40 ans. Miriam Linna du groupe Miriam and Nobody’s Babies a commencé sa carrière musicale comme première batteuse pour The Cramps à New York en 1976. La Sudburoise a passé ses années formatrices au sein de la scène punk rock de l'Ohio, et a cofondé l'étiquette de disques légendaire Norton Records, ainsi que le magazine Kicks, à New York avec son mari Billy Miller. La petite fille de Sudbury débarque avec son mur de son tiré des années 60 et son groupe Nobody's Babies pour la toute première fois.

Le samedi 13 août 2016

La rue Durham devant le YMCA sera transformée une fois de plus en Downtown Sudbury Playground, avec un aménagement paysager temporaire et des installations artistiques interactives. En après-midi, des activités familiales gratuites et des prestations en direct viendront ensoleiller le centre-ville. Venez saluer le soleil avec les airs indie-rock de Hello Holiday, le R&B puissant de Tessa et les mélodies mojito de Sunny Duval.

Au crépuscule, l’interprète émergente Iskwé s’emparera de la scène principale pour tisser ses héritages irlandais et Cris/Dénés avec des rythmes hip-hop, du R&B surprenant et du trip-hop incontournable. Préparez-vous ensuite à voguer dans les merveilles synthwave stylisées du groupe montréalais Paupière. Mais rien ne saura vous préparer adéquatement pour un des groupes pop les plus survoltés et galvanisés au Canada, qui se prépare à mettre les fondations de la rue Durham à l’épreuve. À l’instar de leur homonyme, Stars brille la nuit. Attendez-vous à un party disco où l’espoir, la peur, la joie, la tristesse et la sensualité se côtoient, se caressent, et dansent ensemble jusqu’aux petites heures du matin. C’est cette philosophie qui anime le groupe, et qui transparaît plus que jamais dans leur dernier opus « No One is Lost », leur album le plus dansant à ce jour. Le coucher de soleil ne marque pas la fin du jour, mais bien le début d’une aventure vers l’inconnu ; et heureusement, Stars nous éclaire la voie de sa pop rose néon. Allez, dansez!

La nuit est encore jeune, et Casper Skulls, formé de quelques Sudburois en exil et de leurs amis de Toronto, s’apprêtent à s’emparer de la Townehouse à l’aide de leur post-punk bien calculé. Partner, de la Nouvelle-Écosse, jumellera ensuite féminisme et rock d’aréna pour produire un son queer à son image, avec une prestation survoltée qui leur a valu le titre de « meilleur nouveau groupe canadien » selon le Globe and Mail. Enfin, inspirés par des figures légendaires du mouvement comme The Pixies et Hole, le quatuor torontois Dilly Dally livre un hybride de guitares distortionnées, de mélodies dissonantes et de rythmes à mi-tempo, le tout empreint des grognements caractéristiques de Katie Monks.

À seulement quelques pas de là, au Durham Social, fraîchement débarquée d’une tournée européenne avec Iggy Pop, armée d’une panoplie d’équipement et d’instruments archaïques, U.S. Girls fera vivre ses expérimentations musicales à Sudbury, dans ce qui sera assurément une des performances les plus mémorables de Up Here.

Pour finir le festival en lion, deux séries de concerts seront offerts sous le couvert de la noirceur, dans deux emplacements secrets. Dans l’un deux, vous trouverez le hip-hop, le techno, le downtempo et les sonorités internationales de LAL, suivi de la piscine psychédélique du projet ambient Zones de Derek McKeon. Dans l’autre, c’est un party de danse complètement déchaîné avec les jams dignes d’un rave de Saxsyndrum, qui fusionnent leur formation traditionnelle en saxophone et percussion à de la musique dance contemporaine. Pour terminer Up Here 2016 comme il se doit, Ocean City Defender de Thunder Bay nous fera danser jusqu’aux premiers rayons du soleil avec sa synth-pop hautement émotive et dansante.

Si vous êtes toujours en train de lire ce communiqué, donnez-vous une bonne tape dans le dos. Sérieusement, vous êtes des champions.

Passports en vente le 18 mai à midi

Un nombre limité de passeports sera mis en vente sur UpHere.com à compter du 18 mai à midi. Les passeports vous fournissent un accès complet à plus de 45 concerts en 3 jours. Les billets individuels tombent en vente le 24 mai à midi.

Appui communautaire

Le succès de Up Here repose entièrement sur l’appui d’innombrables organismes et entreprises communautaires. Un merci tout particulier à Downtown Sudbury, notre commanditaire du Terrain de jeu, au Conseil des arts de l’Ontario, Tourisme Ontario, la Ville du Grand Sudbury, Tourisme Sudbury, Rewind 103.9, Hot 93.5, Exclaim!, Barrydowne Paint, Benjamin Moore, Levert Group, Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario, Stack Brewing, Studio123, Copy Copy Printing, Yallowega Bélanger Salach Architecture, TD Canada Trust, Anywhere Creators Space, Sign Effects, Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario, YMCA Sudbury, et plusieurs, plusieurs autres. Pour devenir partenaire de Up Here, visitez UpHere.com.

[upherefestival]

Over 60 artists, 45 musicians and eight muralists will terraform Downtown Sudbury during Up Here

The programming of the second edition of Up Here - Urban Art & Music Festival, Sudbury’s newest festival presented from August 11 to 13, has finally been revealed.

Up Here is a public art festival that culminates in an emerging music festival, and is topped off by a night of art installations. It’s eight muralists working on new murals the week leading up to the festival. It’s over 45 musicians in over 12 venues for three jam packed days. It’s an all-night art crawl where the weird and wonderful collide under city lights.

Public art is at the core

Eight muralists will paint seven new murals that will go up around Sudbury’s downtown core. Local artists and muralists from around the world will have the opportunity to collaborate in transforming blank walls into stunning public art pieces.

Muralists from Europe include Guinness World Record holding duo Ella & Pitr (France) who will be creating a large scale rooftop mural visible from space, and the colourful character-driven Hobz (France and Belgium), who’s heavily influenced by ‘90s pop culture. Muralists from across Canada include the intricate Kazakh-Canadian Ola Volo (Vancouver), the eclectic James Kirkpatrick (Toronto), and the multidisciplinary Kirsten McCrea (Toronto). These muralists will be joined by local talent including the character driven Tracy Baker, the fine-arts driven Neli Nenkova (Sudbury and Bulgaria).

Emerging Music is the Heartbeat

After a week of mural painting, we throw musicians into the mix for a three-day emerging music festival where up-and-coming artists will be presented in 12 venues around the downtown core. Up Here is all about cultivating a sense of curiosity and discovery.

Thursday, August 11th, 2016

We’ll be kicking things nice and loud on Thursday with an all-ages punk shows at Zigs with locals Bean Head & Donutboy, Yacht Patrol, Sik Rik and the fast-paced punk of Toronto’s Soupcans. Grab some earplugs.

We then make our way to the Grand Theatre for the goosebump-inducing haunting hymns of the cello-voice duo The Visit, followed by the upbeat melodies and processed french horns of Foxtrott. Polaris prize nominated Young Galaxy takes the stage next with their sleek and sophisticated synth pop. Expect a breathtaking spectacle combining dreamy danceable soundscapes, an electrifying light show and remarkable choreographies.

To cap off the Thursday night, festival goers will make their way to the Townehouse Tavern for the genre-bending, playful, shout-sung vocals of New Fries followed by the tripped-out stylings of Victoria’s Freak Heat Waves. Finally, Fresh Snow takes the stage as one of the newest inductees into the pantheon of Canadian post-rock pioneers, incorporating dancey disco-synths and heartrending string lines to guide you ever-so-slowly towards nirvana.

Friday, August 12th 2016

The programming of Friday, August 12 will begin with the first free Discovery Series concerts by up-and-coming musicians from Northern Canada in small downtown venues between 5 and 7 p.m. Discover the danceable synth pop of Ocean City Defender from Thunder Bay, the reverberating garage-psych of Marie-Claire, the genre-hopping indie-folk of David Dino White, the soulful and sincere story-telling of Old Cabin from Yellowknife, the nomadic folk of Benjamin Hermann originally from North Bay and the supernatural rock of Night Terrors.

We then make our way back to the Grand Theatre for an evening of mind-melting musings. Reigniting their fires for one night only, Rob Seaton and the Houle brothers take the stage as Statues with their signature power punk. Duchess Says is next with their spellbinding moog rock spectacle. Finally, armed with an array of analog keyboards and circuit-bent kids toys, Canadian legends Holy Fuck will electrify the century-old theatre with their relentless commitment to rhythm, and an ambiance better matched to a close encounter of the third kind than a simple rock concert. Simply put, they make modern electronic music without the modern reliances of looping, programming and laptops.

Surprise concerts were a big part of Up Here’s first edition and there will be many more this year. Festival goers will want to download the official Up Here app to make sure not to miss out on spontaneous shows in back alleys, tunnels and parking lots. Available in June in the App Store and Google Play.

Sudbury’s zonked-out jizz-jazzers Magic Pelvis will kick the Friday late night-off at Little Montreal followed by Sunny Duval, the staple of the Montreal underground scene who recently reinvented himself with a new kitsch-pop inspired new-wave surf project. Finally, Phèdre will build a sonic temple made with bricks of drone, synthpop, goth, electronic and post-punk, broadcasting music from somewhere slightly outside of time and space.

You can also make your way to the Townehouse Tavern for the French synth-psych of Marie-Claire followed by the glam space-rock of Blonde Elvis, fronted by Sudbury native Jesse James Laderoute. Finally, Up Here will host a homecoming show 40 years in the making. Miriam Linna from Miriam and Nobody’s Babies began her music career as the first drummer for the Cramps in New York in 1976. The Sudbury native spent her formative years as part of the Ohio punk rock scene and then co-founded the legendary Norton Records and Kicks magazine in New York. Miriam is bringing her 60’s wall-of-sound era rock’n’roll back to the Nickel City for the very first time with her backing band, Nobody's Babies.

Saturday, August 13th

We will once again transform Durham Street in front of the YMCA  into the Downtown Sudbury Playground with temporary street scaping and interactive art installations. On the afternoon of Saturday, August 13, free family activities and live music will liven up the city’s core. Soak in the sun while grooving to Hello Holiday’s indie-rock, Tessa’s powerful R&B and Sunny Duval’s sweet mojito melodies.

As night time comes rolling in, emerging songstress Iskwé will take the mainstage to weave together her Irish and Cree/Dene roots with hip hop breakbeats, left-field R&B, and anthemic trip hop. Next up, lose yourself in the uncompromising wonders of Montreal’s stylish Paupière with their sparkling Francophone synthwave. Finally, one of Canada’s most passionate and galvanized pop bands takes the main stage. Like their celestial namesake, Stars only come out at night. For over 16 years, Stars have toured the planet, releasing seven critical indie affairs since 2001. Now, they have spawned “No One is Lost”, their most upbeat and electronic album yet. Expect a bass-heavy disco dance party to test the very foundation of Durham Street.

The night is still young and Casper Skulls, a couple of Sudbury ex-pats and some Toronto friends, are about to take the Townehouse by storm with their focused brand of post-punk. Partner from Nova Scotia is up next, marrying feminism and stadium rock riffage to produce a sound as queer as they are. Their action-packed live set has led to them being named the “best new band in Canada” by the Globe and Mail. Finally, drawing inspiration from ‘90s’ staples such as the Pixies and Hole, Dilly Dally execute a hybrid of fuzzed out guitar play, dissonant melodies and mid-tempo rhythms, fronted by the unmistakable and relentless vocal snarl of Katie Monks.

Just a few blocks away at Durham Social, fresh off a European tour with Iggy Pop and armed with a diverse set of archaic instruments and equipment, U.S. Girls brings her unique musical experimentations to Sudbury, and it’s sure to be one of Up Here’s most memorable performances.

To go out with a bang, two last series of concerts will be presented under the cloak of the night in two secret locations. In one location, you’ll find the hip-hop, techno, downtempo and international sounds of Toronto’s LAL, followed by the psych pool of Derek McKeon’s ambient project Zones. In the other location, it’s an all-out dance party with the raveable jams of Saxsyndrum, who fuse their acute formal percussion and sax training with modern dance music. Finally, to close off Up Here 2016, Thunder Bay’s Ocean City Defender will make us dance til the wee hours with his highly emotive and danceable synth pop.

If you’re still reading this press release, congratulations. Seriously, that’s impressive.

Passports On Sale at Noon on May 18th

A limited amount of passports will be available at UpHere.com at noon on May 18th, 2016. Passports get festival goers full access to over 45 concerts over three days. Individual tickets for concerts will go on sale Tuesday, May 24 at noon.

Community Support

Up Here has been able to thrive with the support of countless community organisations and businesses. A special thanks to Downtown Sudbury, our playground sponsor, the Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Tourism, the City of Greater Sudbury, Sudbury Tourism, Rewind 103.9, Hot 93.5, Exclaim!, Barrydowne Paint, Benjamin Moore, Levert Group, Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l’Ontario, Stack Brewing, Studio123, Copy Copy Printing, Yallowega Bélanger Salach Architecture, TD Canada Trust, Anywhere Creator Space, Sign Effects, Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario, YMCA Sudbury, and many more. To partner up with Up Here, visit UpHere.com.