Canadian band Metric will be headlining this September’s Wake the Giant music festival.
Festival Organizer Sean Spenrath says they’re excited to announce the lineup, which also features several up-and-coming Indigenous artists like Crown Lands and Wolf Saga.
July Talk and Thunder Bay’s Coleman Hell will also take the stage.
“By sandwiching them between these massive artists, it’s something to say we’re recognizing that maybe you don’t always get this opportunity, but we’re going to give you this opportunity. Thunder Bay is going to step up and provide this national exposure.”
He adds highlighting Indigenous artists is one way they’re “trying to flip the script on the chapter that’s been written over Thunder Bay over the past ten years, and really getting rid of that dark cloud by stepping up and leading the way.”
Fellow organizer Greg Chomut says the “dark cloud” Spenrath mentions is part of why those major artists got on board.
“These bands that we’ve had the chance to talk to, they were wanting to be a part of something, some kind of positive change in Thunder Bay, before we talked to them, and that was what really helped it get going.”
Dennis Franklin Cromarty students will also get a chance to take the stage with July Talk.
Spenrath explains the band previously wrote and recorded a song with DFC students, and wanted to continue that partnership.
“You don’t get that opportunity every day. That is a huge ‘welcome to Thunder Bay’ moment, I think.”
Both officials say students are already excited for the event, and predict they will bring fond memories of the city back to their home communities.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the festival, which is September 14th at Marina Park.
Organizers are aiming to sell 4,000 tickets in total.
They note the festival is open to the public, but the two days leading up to it will be open to students only for their school orientation.
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