NXNE CELEBRATED 15 YEARS
WITH MORE MUSIC, MORE VENUES, MORE
FILMS,
…AND MORE FANS THAN EVER BEFORE
“I’m married to rock ‘n’ roll and I’m never getting a divorce.” So said Japanther
drummer Ian Vanek in what became the mantra for the tens of thousands of
music fans that hit the streets and clubs of Toronto this past weekend for 5 days
of explosive music during the 15th edition of the North by Northeast Music &
Film Festival and Conference.
With an unprecedented lineup of musicians representing a full cross-section of
creativity, NXNE drew rave reviews from industry, indie aficionados and casual
music fans alike..
Overall, more than 200,000 local and international fans took in more than 625
acts at over 725 shows during the 5-day festival from June 17 – 21, making this
the biggest and most successful festival in NXNE’s 15-year history. NXNE truly
took over Toronto, spreading far beyond the core festival clubs to present shows
around town from Pearson Airport to Union Station and key points between.
The NXNE Film Festival grew exponentially this year, with attendance up 35%
at over 40 screenings, including top films like Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison,
James Blunt: Until You’re Told To Stop, and The Posters Came From The
Walls – Depeche Mode.
The NXNE Conference rolled out two successful enhancements – the Rivoli
Sessions (networking forums held at – yes – a real Queen St West bar), and
NXPO, the very popular music-lifestyle trade show at the Hyatt Regency
Toronto. NXPO was anchored by the Day Stage, where fans were treated to upclose
live sets from top festival bands including Papagroove, Experimental
Dental School, and the So So Glos.
This year’s unplanned magic included a surprise guest appearance by Feist with
Broken Social Scene; D-Sisive leading a sing-a-long to the Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles Theme Song; legendary Tacoma band The Sonics blasting it at
Yonge-Dundas Square (YDS); fans rushing the stage for the Black Lips at YDS,
then the Black Lips joining in on King Khan’s set, and then King Khan and Fab
Five Freddy on-stage with the Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA; Brooklyn hip-hop punkers
Ninjasonik leading off a late-night dance party with an impromptu cover of The
Smiths’ Big Mouth Strikes Again; Spinnerette sneaking into the Bovine Sex Club
for a secret late-night Saturday show; and Bruce McDonald joining Cancer Bats
to host the Film Festival Gala on Friday evening.
Calgary’s Woodpigeon took the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award, scoring a
cash prize of $2,000 and national airplay on Galaxie. The band played a solid set
of folk-pop at the CBC Sirius showcase and were recently long-listed for the
Polaris Music Prize. Sirius Satellite Radio broadcast live from Yonge-Dundas
Square on Friday night with In-Flight Safety, The Cliks and Wintersleep, taking
NXNE to music fans around the world. And the AMP Energy $100,000 Rock Off
saw York University’s virtual band GSpot Boyz beating out the competition to
take home the $100,000 cash prize following their performance at Yonge-Dundas
Square on Saturday night.
NXNE staffers and volunteers—numbering over 700 this year, another festival
record—are re-living memories, debriefing, and taking empty bottles back to the
store. And catching up on sleep…
NXNE 2010 is already booked for June 16-20,
2010, and artist submissions will be open from October through January.
Meanwhile, visit www.nxne.com for videos and photos of the best festival yet!
15 Years, 500 Bands, 50 Stages, 30 Films, 25 Panels, 5 Days. The North by
Northeast Music & Film Festival and Conference (NXNE) runs June 17-June
21, 2009 in Toronto. The Music Festival is recognized worldwide as the place for
fans to see breakout performances at intimate venues and for musicians to get
vital international exposure. Alumni include Feist, The Dears, New York Dolls,
Ron Sexsmith, K’naan, Jason Collett, Television, Sheek Louch, and The
Soundtrack of Our Lives. The Film Festival features the most compelling
music-related films, shorts and documentaries from around the world, and the
Conference puts music insiders and veterans alongside the next generation of
innovators defining the industry for the digital age. Past Conference speakers
include Stewart Copeland, Rob Halford, Don Letts, Johnny Rotten and
Thomas Dolby. Fans can attend the festival with 5-day or 1-day wristbands,
Priority Passes or VIP Super Passes; prices range from $25 – $250. Visit
www.nxne.com to buy passes & wristbands and for more festival info. Be sure to
check out NXNE on Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube, and follow NXNE on
Twitter.
Media Contact: FLIP PUBLICITY 416.533.7710 www.flip-publicity.com
Damien Nelson X221, damien@flip-publicity.com,
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POSTED 07/15/09 BY FAWCETT |
