from flip-publicity

The 19th year of NXNE (North by Northeast) was the biggest, most dynamic, and most successful festival yet, with more artists, new Comedy and Art components and 20% more fans attending overall. NXNE is now half the size of its sister festival SXSW and is poised for further growth in 2014 – the 20th anniversary of this massive music and arts festival.

During the 7-day festival, June 10-16, 2013, 1000 bands played over 60 venues across the city, including a combined audience of 145,000 at Yonge-Dundas Square (YDS) over four days with performances by Social Distortion, The National, Billy Talent and Ludacris that made it necessary for Toronto Police to close Yonge Street three straight nights to accommodate the massive crowds flooding the site.

“This is my first time playing this festival. But god help me it won’t be my last.”, said Ludacris to the swelling crowd at YDS on Sunday night.

The 13th NXNE Film Festival, in partnership with Hot Docs, broke attendance records with 50% larger crowds at four world premieres, including FILMAGE – The Story of DESCENDENTS / ALL, Authentic: Young Rival’s Journey Through Canada, All Out War and Global Groove Network. NXNE Film introduced comedy films to the festival for the first time, with three Canadian features: Alone Up There, No Joke and A Universal Language. NXNE Film also presented the North American premiere of B.B. King – The Life of Riley. Fans of The National were thrilled to see Mistaken For Strangers on Friday, and A.K.A. Doc Pomus was a perfect film for Father’s Day to close the festival.

NXNE Interactive presented over 65 keynotes and panels for the fourth and strongest year yet, with sold-out talks by philanthropist Mick Ebeling, Black Eyed Peas drummer Keith Harris, SXSW Interactive Opening Party architect Jared Ficklin, entrepreneur Johnny Cupcakes and the Toronto Music City Initiative, launching the “44/79” brand. NXNE Interactive incorporated all NXNE streams with panels focused on music, film, comedy and art.

Opening Night party sponsored by Kobo

NXNE Comedy is now the second largest comedy festival in Canada, with over 200 comedians. This year’s highlights included sold-out shows by Greg Behrendt, Debra DiGiovanni, Precious Chong and the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival’s Best of the Fest showcase featuring She Said What, The Rocket Scientists and Deadpan Powerpoint.

Heads were turned and minds expanded at the inaugural year of NXNE ART, which brought artists from around the world to Toronto to create visual art. The range of NXNE Art was spectacular: Sam Hatfield and Fiona Skelton danced naked in the Ryerson Quad under a disco ball at The NakedMe show, Tom Wilson poured out his soul in revealing his creative process at a Café Talk, and emerging artists met new admirers at the NXNE Art Fair.

NXNE 2013 marked the start of what promises to be an innovative, long-term partnership with Ryerson University. NXNE Art took over the Ryerson Quad, while the Indie Label Market and Zine Market animated Gould Street.

French Girls from San Fran rockin’ the crowd at the hideout

On Saturday, June 15, NXNE and Right to Play presented The 1st Annual Backyard Concert in a Rosedale home. Hosted by legendary comedian Dave Foley and Mad Men’s Jessica Pare, The Backyard Concert raised over $170,000 for the charity and featured unforgettable acoustic performances by Sam Roberts, Gord Downie and Jim Cuddy, with appearances by Olympian Adam van Koeverden, NHL veteran Mark Napier and Right to Play President and CEO Johann Olav Koss.

The 7th annual NXNE Put The Boot In charity soccer match, also benefiting the festival’s charitable partner Right to Play, raised $16,000 to help to improve the lives of children around the world through the power of sport. Musicians, media, and celebrities competed for the coveted Queen and Beaver Cup – won this year by a 5-2 result for the Rollers over the Rockers.

NXNE 2014 artist and film submissions open in September 2013. Visit NXNE year-round at http://www.nxne.com