ROM Unveils New Season of Friday Night Live

TORONTO, April 11, 2018— Friday Night Live (#FNLROM) returns to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) on Friday, May 4, 2018, transforming Canada’s largest museum of art, culture, and nature into Toronto’s hottest 19+ social event. The new spring season features internationally acclaimed artists and activators, danceable bands and DJs, and delicious food and beverage vendors.

Mark your calendar for this season’s #FNLROM line-up:

May 4: Bollywood Beats
Celebrate the fusion of South Asian and Canadian cultures with incredible live performances. Vibrant Bollywood and Bhangra music and dance, drumming, and henna art take place through the night, with influences ranging from traditional and retro to contemporary. This evening is presented in partnership with Zista Arts Society.

May 11: Superheroes
Feel the frenetic energy of Toronto’s MONOWHALES. Known for their memorable live shows, the band worked with producer Al-P (MSTRKRFT, Death From Above 1979) on their upcoming EP. Also catch live performances from Terence Jack, DJ Sanga Genesis, and DJ ASEY. Select the rhythms, the volume, and the language for an individualized DJ experience with Silent Beats.

May 18: Cottage Country
The Practically Hip and their passionate recreation of the Tragically Hip’s unique sound pay tribute to the Canadian rock legends. Good Enough Live Karaoke Band invites guests to live out their rock star dreams on stage, and DJs D-Smooth and JBAKKUP spin danceable beats throughout the night. Venture into the Canadian wilderness and learn how to camp from the experts at Parks Canada.

May 25: DinoNite
Join in the palaeo-party and hit the dance floor with The Soul Motivators, a 9-piece, 3-horn explosion of vintage deep funk and soul. Lyric-driven indie rocker Craig Stickland performs, while DJs SMK.BRK and Sean Caff play disco, house, and more. Be inspired by the top designers from the inaugural Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto while experiencing the sounds of DJ Ariel, who has opened for Daniel Caesar, Anderson .Paak, and Tanya Tagaq.

June 1: Techno Fashion
Experience the futuristic vision of Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen with complimentary access to the feature exhibition Iris van Herpen: Transforming Fashion. DJ 10Digits expertly fuses different styles of electronic sound, while neo-soul singer Robert Ball captivates listeners with his smooth tenor and falsetto, and EDM duo Paris & Simo bring their international reputation to the #FNLROM stage.

June 8: Indigenous NOW
On this night, experience the creative energy from contemporary Indigenous artists, creators, and producers. Hailing from Thunder Bay, award-winning producer and DJ Classic Roots brings the beat of the boreal north to #FNLROM with his unique brand of pow wow techno and electronica. This evening is presented in partnership with the Association for Native Development in the Performing & Visual Arts (ANDPVA).

June 15: Colour ROM Proud
Celebrate diversity and community. The ROM and Pride Toronto come together to throw THE massive Pride party. Stay tuned for more programming details.

June 22: Chill Vibe
Be captivated by the sounds of the city with performances from jazz veterans and some of the genre’s rising stars. This evening is presented in partnership with TD Toronto Jazz Festival. Stay tuned for more programming details.

June 29: Arachnophile
Face your fears. Ignite your curiosity. Experience the extraordinary creatures of the ROM feature exhibition Spiders: Fear & Fascination. The official DJ of the Toronto Raptors 4KORNERS delivers bass-heavy electronic music with hip hop roots and Caribbean influence. DJ Deltoro creates a high-energy dancefloor with Latin rhythms and tropical bass. Singer-songwriter Christian Jeffries brings his emotional and dramatic vocal flair to the #FNLROM stage.

ElectriCITY Events sets the scene with the sounds of Toronto’s best DJs on select nights.

#FNLROM takes place every Friday from May 4 to June 29, 2018 from 7:00 to 11:30 pm, and is a specially ticketed event for adults 19+. Tickets are on sale now. Prices are $17 for Adults, $15.50 for Post-Secondary Students, and $5 for ROM Members. For guaranteed entry before 8:00 pm, purchase tickets in advance at rom.on.ca/fnl. Groups of 20 or more receive 20% off admission. For details, email groupsales@rom.on.ca.

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Media Contact
Josslyn Johnstone, Communications Assistant         
416.586.5784
jjohnstone@rom.on.ca

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ABOUT THE ROM
Opened in 1914, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) showcases art, culture, and nature from around the globe and across the ages. One of North America's most renowned cultural institutions, Canada's largest museum is home to a world-class collection of more than 12 million objects and specimens, featured in 40 gallery and exhibition spaces. As the country’s preeminent field research institute and an international leader in new and original findings in biodiversity, palaeontology, earth sciences, the visual arts, material culture, and archaeology, the ROM plays a vital role in advancing our global understanding of the artistic, cultural, and natural world. The Renaissance ROM expansion project (2007) merged the iconic architectural heritage of the original building with the Studio Daniel Libeskind-designed Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. A distinctive new symbol of Toronto for the 21st century, the Lee-Chin Crystal marked the beginning of a new era for the ROM as the country's premier cultural and social destination.

Special thanks to #FNLROM partners