AN OPEN LETTER FROM “THE ARMPIT OF ONTARIO”

This is an open letter in response to an article posted on Noisey on October 28^th, 2016 interviewing Sudbury group Casper Skulls. Read full original article here.

Dear Southern Ontarian,

Hey there! Its us, the residents of Sudbury, the happiest city in Canada! We heard it’s common belief that our city doesn’t have much of a music scene. We’re really sorry you feel that way. We’ll be the first to admit we don’t necessarily have all the huge venues and boundless options for musical entertainment the big city might have, but what we do have is the industrious, fearless, inventive, and resilient spirit of the North. There’s a phrase, “necessity is the mother of invention”, and that’s how I like to think of Sudbury’s artistic community. We need music and entertainment in the North and we’re going to make it happen! 

Sudbury is home to Canada’s longest running outdoor music festival, Northern Lights Festival Boreal. LONGEST RUNNING – that sure doesn’t sound like a city with a lackluster music scene to us! NLFB, as its affectionately known, also happens to be where Stan Rogers wrote and performed his hit Barrett’s Privateers for the very first time. The fest continues to bring in top quality entertainment from around the world year after year to the delight of Sudburians such as; Serena Ryder, Steven Page, Dan Mangan, Great Lake Swimmers, and Melbourne Ska Orchesta.

And that’s not the only festival in town! River & Sky is a Sudbury based camping & music festival that whisks us away into the woods an hour and a half away in Field for the weekend. Treating festival goers to an array of up and coming artists, you can float on the river while taking in the sounds of artists like: Basia Bulat, Hey Rosetta!, and Besnard Lakes. Good luck replicating that experience in the city! Up Here is another festival we like to brag about around here. While working hard to beautify our city bringing in world renowned and local muralists, they also bring to town musical acts such as: Iskwe, Young Galaxies, Holy Fuck and Stars. 

We haven’t even talked about the crown jewel of the Northern Ontario music scene yet, the Townehouse Tavern! This venue has been a staple in our city and mandatory stop for artists touring Ontario for over 25 years. It’s on the roof of this very venue that the famous Sudbury Saturday Night was penned by Sir Stompin’ Tom Connors. It has been a stop for Our Lady Peace, Hollarado, Pup, and Sloan. Rumour has it that Nickelback may have even signed their first big deal at the venue, but we don’t like to brag about that (sorry). This is not to mention all the great local talent we’ve got here in the city like the recently disbanded Pistol George Warren, The Almighty Rhombus, Statues, Ox, Lightmares, Mick Futures, Meadowlark Five, Wolven Ancestry, oh ya and Casper Skulls! 

In the end we might not have all the fancy trappings of the big city, but goddammit we’re trying! Sudbury is a pretty cool place, we’d love to have you visit sometime and find out for yourself.

Xoxo

Love,

Our Crater