One of Northern Ontario’s Biggest Festivals is Back!
Wake the Giant Music Festival will return to Thunder Bay, Ontario this September with a mashup of hits! Today the festival unveiled its full 2022 lineup that promises epic performances and an awesome cultural atmosphere. Headliners include Canadian rock band Our Lady Peace, legendary DJ Steve Aoki, and hit 90’s group Aqua. There will also be sets from Digging Roots, Neon Dreams, Crown Lands, Aysanabee and Grammy nominated drum group Young Spirit Singers. “This will be a day to remember! This year festival-goers can expect acts from a diverse list of genres that will have them screaming lyrics to some of their favourite throwback tunes, a ton of Canadian content and emerging Indigenous artists that are sure to be crowd pleasers. We are stoked,” says Wake the Giant Organizer, Sean Spenrath. “Building inclusivity and celebrating Indigenous culture always remains a top priority for the Wake the Giant Music Festival. This year’s lineup is very reflective our goals and brings several Indigenous artists to the Wake the Giant stage- the most ever to date,” says Wake the Giant Organizer, Greg Chomut. Wake the Giant Music Festival will be held on September 17th, 2022 at the Thunder Bay Waterfront against a backdrop of the iconic Sleeping Giant— the inspiration of the Wake the Giant movement that launched back in 2019. Tickets are on sale now at wakethegiant.ca. This year the festival has moved to a tiered ticket sale system with Tier 1 tickets now available for $120 and limited VIP tickets for $150. Children 11 and under are free but still need a ticket to attend. Among the homegrown talent set to take the stage is Aysanabee, an Oji-Cree singer songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist who uses folk, soul and alt-pop to tell stories about his life (you also need to check out his sexy, sexy sax!). This year Wake the Giant Music Festival will also feature a very special performance from Dennis Franklin Cromarty (DFC) High School student.
and piano sensation Malachi Beardy, who will perform just before the final act of the night. Jingle Dress Dancers comprised of youth from DFC High School are also expected to make another appearance on the Wake the Giant stage along with other very powerful cultural performances. "Wake the Giant continues to help make our students and their communities feel more welcome and more connected to the City of Thunder Bay through the movement and more specifically, through this incredible event. Each year, the Wake the Giant Music Festival creates an atmosphere that helps build stronger bonds in our community by providing an opportunity to get to know each other a little better," says Wake the Giant Organizer, AJ Haapa. Wake the Giant Music Festival was created as a community-driven event to welcome hundreds of Indigenous youth to Thunder Bay from Northern remote communities. It brings cultures, music, and festival fans together, while promoting Indigenous artists. The festival is a part of the largest student orientation event in Canada. The 2022 Wake the Giant Music Festival will also include celebrity appearances, a live art installation, an Indigenous Craft Market, and yummy local eats! Stay tuned for surprise announcements leading up to the festival by following official Wake the Giant social media pages. wakethegiant.ca -30- Note to the Editor: Wake the Giant is a cultural awareness project that started in Thunder Bay, Ontario in 2019. The community-driven movement is led by a team of volunteers and has a goal to not only create a more inclusive city, but also welcomes hundreds of Indigenous youth who attend school in Thunder Bay, from remote northern communities. These students attend Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School (DFC), and for many of them this is their first time in a big city, leaving home and their family. The full-day music festival is a part of a series of student orientation events. The DFC EXPERIENCE and THE AMAZING RACE is also held in the days leading up to the event, that feature special workshops from some of the performing bands and artists. VERY cool! All funding raised from the music festival supports Indigenous youth, which includes orientation events, workshops and the transition to life in the city. Throughout the rest of the year, Wake the Giant also provides cultural awareness education and has a decal program that works with local businesses and organizations to create safe spaces for Indigenous youth.
