Bruce McDonald at the 2008 NXNE press conference
Photo: Courtesy of Phil Ogynist
To raise the profile of this year’s festival, North by Northeast organizers are holding more performances at outdoor venues, including Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto Island, and 11 public parks. “We’ve seen how an event like the Toronto International Film Festival can take over the city, and this week we want people to feel like music is everywhere,” Michael Hollett, NXNE president and founder, said in an interview.
In addition to outdoor venues, performances will take place for the first time at two terminals at Pearson International Airport, as well as on the Toronto Island Ferry and at Union Station. Thirty-nine clubs and six record stores will host the remaining shows. Hollett said despite the logistical challenges that come with holding shows at a venue like the airport, it's an effective way of raising the profile of the event. “We’re saying that Toronto is the music capital of North America, so this way people are experiencing music right away when they step off a plane,” he said.
Apart from the 500 musicians playing at NXNE, there are 25 music-themed film screenings and, for the industry side, a music expo is being introduced this year to accompany the annual conference. The four-day festival starts Thursday, and is expected to draw close to 100,000 people. Sponsors include RedPipe.ca, Sirius Satellite Radio, Now magazine (where Hollett is publisher), and Astral Media.
In addition to outdoor venues, performances will take place for the first time at two terminals at Pearson International Airport, as well as on the Toronto Island Ferry and at Union Station. Thirty-nine clubs and six record stores will host the remaining shows. Hollett said despite the logistical challenges that come with holding shows at a venue like the airport, it's an effective way of raising the profile of the event. “We’re saying that Toronto is the music capital of North America, so this way people are experiencing music right away when they step off a plane,” he said.
Apart from the 500 musicians playing at NXNE, there are 25 music-themed film screenings and, for the industry side, a music expo is being introduced this year to accompany the annual conference. The four-day festival starts Thursday, and is expected to draw close to 100,000 people. Sponsors include RedPipe.ca, Sirius Satellite Radio, Now magazine (where Hollett is publisher), and Astral Media.
