Top 5 shows for music nerds at Up Here 10, according to old nerd Christian
Fifty shows over four days is a lot. Just digesting the schedule ahead of time is a task in itself.
There are a lot of reasons to come out to the festival: the murals, the vibes, the interactive installations, the huge array of musicians. But every year, there are a few we’ve chosen specifically because they appeal to our inner music nerd. So, with that in mind, here are the top 5 shows I highly recommend you do not miss at Up Here 10 this week. Seriously.
Beverly Glenn-Copeland and friends: The Salon Evening + Myriam Gendron
Deux coups de cœur in one show. If you know, you know. We've been trying to bring this pioneering artist, known for his groundbreaking work in electronic music and his deeply emotive, genre-defying compositions, to Sudbury since 2018. We couldn't be more excited to give him carte blanche for a truly special opening night of poetry, music, and storytelling. Opening for Glenn is Myriam Gendron—a powerful spellbinding old soul, gut-wrenching and poignant. We don't book much folk music at Up Here. This is an exception and to me feels strangely closer to metal than folk.
We are so privileged to have these two greats on the same stage for one night only.
Thursday, 7:30 pm at the Refettorio. There are fewer than 20 tickets left.
Yonatan Gat and Maalem Hassan BenJaafar
I fell in love with Gnawa music during my trip to Morocco last year. It's a trance-inducing West African traditional music that has influenced everyone from the Rolling Stones to Bonobo. Gnawa is to Morocco what the Blues are to America.
“Maalem” means Master in Arabic, and Maalem Hassan BenJaafar is just that—a Gnawa master. The leader of Grammy Award-winning group Innov Gnawa is collaborating with legendary punk guitarist Yonatan Gat, an Israel-born conscientious objector to the country's mandatory military service who left the country 15 years ago for New York and never looked back.
This is a truly unlikely and important collaboration blending punk, improv, and Middle Eastern sounds.
Friday, 7:30 PM pm at Place des Arts. Just go.
The Mystery Lights
Their music has been on repeat in my house for years. Founded in California and now based in New York, the Mystery Lights are the perfect blend of Nuggets-era ’60s sound with psychedelic elements and punk laissez-faire. Rumour has it there may even be a serendipitous Strange Attractor nod in the works.
I've said too much. Thursday, 10:30 pm at the Townehouse.
Allie X
Every once in a while, a musical project comes along to completely overthrow everything you thought you knew about your own musical taste. You just let go and give in to it all. Allie X did that for me. It's goth pop. It's dark. It's operatic at times. It's electronic. It's just so damn fun, and you'd never expect her to come to Sudbury. She's written songs for BTS and toured with Charli XCX and Dua Lipa. NBD.
Sunday, 7 pm, right smack dab in the middle of Durham Street.
La Sécurité + Alix Fernz
Last but not least, this late-night double-bill will be one for the books. La Sécurité embodies everything that got me into music as a teenager—jumpy beats, melodic hooks, punk grooves, a dash of B-52s, and a sprinkle of krautrock.
Sharing the stage is Alix Fernz with his glitchy lo-fi danceable post-punk, complete with Malajube-esque vocal tones and broken synths. Ça va être bon.
Saturday, midnight at the Townehouse.
By all means, get one of the few remaining Up Here 10 Passports and catch all 50 shows next weekend, but if you can only take in a few shows, these are the ones you can’t afford to miss.