Midnight Shine – 2019 VFMF

Turning heads with a sound that seamlessly mixes roots, classic, and modern rock with touches of Mushkegowuk Cree, Midnight Shine have been lighting up the music world all the way from Canada’s Far North. Crafting a musical soundscape that gives a glimpse into their remote landscape, Midnight Shine continue to push musical boundaries and boldly take new strides while staying true to who they are and where they come from.

They came together by chance in 2011, when Adrian Sutherland, from the isolated Cree community of Attawapiskat, was offered an opening spot for Trooper in Timmins. He reeled in three other musicians from the James Bay to form Midnight Shine, with the intention of making the most of a one-off performance. Nine years,three albums, six top 10 IMC radio singles, and 300-plus media stories later… you could say he has. They were joined by drummer Charnelle Menow of the all-female, all-Cree rock band Drink Me Pretty in 2017.

What sets Midnight Shine apart from other rock bands is the depth of Adrian’s exploration of his First Nations identity, values, tradition, and life in the North.