Northern Ontario talent will be threaded throughout this year’s River & Sky programming, with Sudbury acts including Will Powers and This Love is Drone alongside North Bay performers David Laronde and Lennie Rayen.
A youth-focused punk-karaoke project called RIVER RATS will also return for ages six to 16.
Headlining this year’s River & Sky is an irreverent mix of Canadian indie stars– the earthy and ethereal Jennifer Castle (Thursday), Montreal’s The Dears, known for their orchestral, dark pop sound and dramatic live shows (Saturday), raucous Toronto punks Bad Waitress (Friday), and folk singer-songwriter Bry Webb (Sunday),the former Constantines frontman.
The music and camping festival released its lineup featuring iconic and emerging bands.
Set on the banks of the Sturgeon River at Fishers’ Paradise – halfway between Sudbury and North Bay – its 18th festival takes place July 22 to 26.
“This year’s theme of ‘Checking in-Checking out’ is about taking a moment away from the fast pace of everyday life, to lean into community, while checking in with yourself, spending time in nature, and exploring new and beloved bands,” said Annie Rutherford, Festival Coordinator.
A few more bands will be shared in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the audience is invited to explore the line-up.
Discover and Dig into Emerging Music
Plains Cree singer-songwriter Wyatt C. Louis walks a mix of genres with stunning vocals. Then there’s the post-prog-rock of Atsuko Chiba, the doom metal of Witchrot, and the folk dream-pop blend of Steph Green.
Catch knitting’s guitar-driven indie rock, the bedroom-pop of Housewife, neo-proto punk of Kingston’s Strange Happenings, the folk alt-rock of Burs, and the storytelling songs of Fraser Wayne and the Desert Eagles. Montreal-based Hélène Barbier brings bilingual avant-pop melodies, while Niña Volcán, a rising force in Canada’s emerging cumbia scene, is irresistible to dancing feet.
Rock out to The Try Umphs, channel the post-punk of Ancient Greece, get into the vibe of pinksnail, bounce to the garage power-pop-punk of BBQ Pope, get your head bang on for the techno-punk of OLGA, and sink your teeth into the Indigenous goth pop of OLEXA. Check out the unforgettable sunnsetter, Five and Tens’ instrumental jazz/funk, the lyrics of A Horse Named Friday and the Palestinian post-classical music of Bilal Nasser.
North East Bands
Sudbury bands featured at the festival include psych-punk band Will Powers on the Main Stage, This Love is Drone with its driving drone at the late night Campfire Stage, and the sad-girl songs of Jessy Brunette on the Coffeehouse Stage, as well as Wednesday Warm-up bands – Lazy Chains, DJ Davey Lahteenmaa, and TRIN on the Beach Stage.
From North Bay, there’s Indigenous singer-songwriter David Laronde and the indie-rock songwriting of Lennie Rayen. RIVER RATS, made up of a mix of North Bay and Sudbury musicians, bring a punk-karaoke experience for youth 6-16. (They can register to take part by emailing [email protected].)
Experimental Sounds
Experimental bands and sounds will also seep through the festival with electronic art pop project Aniqa Dear, Texan turned Torontonian BLUE LIGHT’s instrumental ambient/noise project, and Feelscape’s healing sound baths. Artist-run Toronto record label Stereo Ferment will again present a mix of eclectic and electric DJs at the Dance Party.
A few more bands will be announced in the coming weeks.
Poster design
Artist Maxine Lemieux dreamed the River & Sky 18 poster into being. Born and raised in Sudbury, they are now based in Toronto. Queer, Métis, and francophone, Lemieux is a multidisciplinary artist who specializes in illustration, mixed media, design, and murals and is known for their colourful and whimsical approach.
“For me, ‘Checking In – Checking Out’ is about arriving in a moment that feels almost magical. It’s a space where anything can happen. You check in as you enter the festival, leaving the rest of life behind. At the same time, you check out of work, routines, and expectations,” said Lemieux.
Camp R&S
Advance passes are now available at https://riverandsky.ca/2026-tickets/
Children 14 years and younger do not need to buy a festival pass, however, there is a small camping fee.
Dogs are welcome on leashes – with a special dog pass. Must be spayed or neutered.
Sauna and Swimming – yes, but always at your own risk.
No Beer tent: BYOB at your campsite.
Camping available in grassy and forested areas on the property. Trailers/RVs will pay a fee.
Workshops will be announced closer to the festival, as well as visual arts installations.
More info and tickets: www.riverandsky.ca