THUNDER BAY – A special drive-in concert screening intended to support education in remote First Nations will offer the closest thing most Thunder Bay residents have had to a live music experience since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Sept. 12 concert will feature indie rockers July Talk, a co-headliner of last year’s Wake the Giant concert.
Wake the Giant worked with Interstellar Outdoor Cinema and The Walleye Magazine to produce the event, which will be hosted at Interstellar’s secondary location at the Intercity Shopping Centre.
The show will be projected on Interstellar's inflatable screen, with sound broadcast over an FM signal to car radios. Interstellar manager Darren McChristie said they expect to accommodate around 100 vehicles in the north end of the Intercity parking lot for the event.
Part of proceeds will support Dennis Franklin Cromarty (DFC) high school’s efforts to provide online learning to students in northern Ontario First Nations.
COVID-19 safety concerns prevented the Thunder Bay school, which normally welcomes students from 23 remote Sioux Lookout district First Nations, from offering in-person learning to start the school year.
The Sept. 12 show consists of a live concert recorded at the Stardust Drive-In Theatre in Sharon, Ont. earlier this month.
Wake the Giant organizers praised the band for donating a large portion of proceeds from the show to social causes. Their own planned follow-up to last year’s event was postponed due to COVID-19.
“We are stoked to have July Talk back in Thunder Bay on the big screen,” said organizer and DFC teacher Greg Chomut. “The band was one of the headliners at last year’s inaugural Wake the Giant Music Festival and played a huge role in seeing the event become a reality.”
Tickets are available for purchase at the Interstellar Outdoor Cinema website, where donations can also be made directly to DFC.
