The festival with a capital ’N’, as in Next to discover the best bands before they break through is back; North by Northeast (NXNE) is officially starting to unveil its 2022 plans right as the sun starts to warm our souls.
Taking place in the nation’s entertainment mecca that is Toronto, Canada’s quintessential annual cultural explosion featuring music and more is set to span June 14th - 19th and feature more than 300 of the world's best artists of today — and tomorrow.
Case in point? NXNE had Grimes, Lumineers, Daniel Caesar, Run The Jewels, The Weather Station, Sarah Harmer, Metz, Sarah Harmer, the Arkells, Sam Roberts, Lizzo, Future Islands, Vince Staples, Billy Talent, Post Malone, Feist, and thousands more on stages as part of the festival… All before they became household names.
“We’re back and taking over more than 20 of Toronto’s top live music venues,” NXNE Founder and President Michael Hollett reveals. “We want to make it very easy for people to come back to live music and experience stage-hopping like festivals used to be.”
NXNE makes great music accessible and inclusive to all, no artists are asked to pay to apply to play, all performers are paid, and admission to Club Shows in 2022 is low cost or free.
A preview of the forthcoming roster will be announced on May 4th, and passes are available for sale today, Tuesday, April 26.
Speaking of which, full festival five-day passes are $20 — an inflation-defying $9.99 less than they were in 1995 when NXNE launched. “That’s actually cheaper than when it first started,” Hollett notes. “Especially given the pummelling the live music scene has taken over the last two years, we committed to removing financial barriers to NXNE to best connect artists with audiences; even for artists, it’s free to submit and they get paid to play.
“We have had an incredible response to our submission process and can’t wait to present these great acts to the world,” Hollett continues. “It’s time to experience live music again – and listen to the future at NXNE.”
The festival is committed to gender equity and BIPOC representation boasting a diverse line up that reflects the festival’s core theme “Talent is Everywhere.”
NXNE is proud to work with their supporting partners of this year's festival including Slaight Music, Indie88, Gladstone House, Steam Whistle, Bulova, Long & McQuade, Yamaha, Exclaim, Grassroots, along with showcase sponsors KW TheMuseum, The City of Brampton, Music Manitoba, and WKBO The Bridge - with funding made possible by FACTOR, Canada Summer Jobs.
NXNE will take place Tuesday, June 14th - Sunday, June 19th in Toronto.
