MEET THE Team

MICHAEL HOLLETT

  • What Michael does: Founder of NXNE, keeps things running every year for the past 30 years!

    First Concert: The Beatles

    Fave Drink: Earl Grey Tea

    Fave NXNE Memory: Starting it. Any time and every time a new artist blows him away wth their talent.

President and Founder

BARB HEFLER

  • What Barb does: Handles partnerships, sponsorships, venue relations, budgeting, and more!

    First Concert: Chicago Transit Authority

    Fave Drink: Grapefruit Radler

    Fave NXNE Memory: Watching the Burning Boys at Yonge-Dundas Square.

    What Barb is listening to: Cameron Winter

Managing Director

ALYSSA WRIDE

Operations Manager

  • What Alyssa does: Manages artist programming and communication, venue relations, social media, newsletter, and website.

    First Concert: American Idol (David Cook’s season)

    Fave Drink: Margarita (no salt), iced oat latte

    Fave NXNE Memory: Biking around the city full speed (with a helmet) to see 22 bands in 4 days!!

    What Alyssa is listening to: Greyhound by Katie Tupper

ELLEN READE

Production Manager

  • What Ellen does: Manages all production-related tasks and oversees the volunteer department.

    First Concert: Backstreet Boys

    Fave Drink: STōK Cold Brew

    Fave NXNE Memory: Going to Bovine Sex Club after her shift and seeing her friends from Brass/The Dead Fibres play! She loves that NXNE brings lots of people from out of town, and you can see all of your friends from across the country.

    What Ellen is listening to: Something We All Got by cootie catcher

BRIAN MUSILEK

  • What Brian does: Assists with all things production - reading stage plots, setting up shows, ordering equipment, and ensuring the night runs smoothly!

    First Concert: Roger Waters

    Fave Drink: Espresso

    Fave NXNE Memory: Setting up at Future and all the awesome people there 

    What Brian is listening to: Djavan

Technical Production Coordinator

ANELA NAVARRo

Programming Coordinator

  • What Anela does: Listens to thousands of artist submissions each year and helps program a killer lineup.

    First Concert: LIGHTS

    Fave Drink: Cold beer on tap

    Fave NXNE Memory: Too many to choose from!!

    What Anela is listening to: NEVER ENOUGH by Turnstile

BRIAN HETHERMAN

Head of Domestic & International Relations

  • What Brian does: Connects NXNE with other festival and music organizations across Canada and around the world, in addition to managing the conference portion of the festival.

    First Concert: Beatlemania with his Mum, he was 11!

    Fave Drink: Red wine

    Fave NXNE Memory: NXNE Town Hall that he worked on and moderated in 2005. We got incredible folks to participate and covered both wide ranging and controversial topics, both interesting and fun!!

ANDREW VALLE

VP Programming, AMG

  • What Andrew does: Books your favourite artists for NXNE and creates intimate and unforgettable experiences (like seeing Daniel Caesar at The Mod Club).

KATE BUYANAVA

Social Media + Content Intern

  • What Kate does: Assists with content creation, keeping our social media on brand and exciting, and helping to promote NXNE artists!

    First Concert: Avril Lavigne

    Fave Drink: Diet coke & salted caramel lattes

    Most Excited For at NXNE: She’s most excited to work with an amazing team and help artists shine even brighter across social media.

    What Kate is listening to: The Greatest Showman soundtrack

AIYANA HARVEY

Operations Coordinator

  • What Aiyana does: Assists the Operations team with all day-to-day tasks to get prepped for the festival - sponsorships, social media, artist relations, planning, and more!

    First Concert: Kelly Clarkson

    Fave Drink: Ice cold tap water

    Most Excited for at NXNE: To see her friends on the lineup and discover her next fav bands!

    What Aiyana is listening to: ♡ by Jane Remover

LINDA WANG

Box Office + Ticketing Coordinator

  • What Linda does: Handles all things ticketing - including wristbands, lanyards, ticketing issues + distribution, and more!

    First Concert: IU in Oakland, California

    Favourite Drink: Orange Juice

    Fav NXNE Memory: Hanging out with the team amongst the pile of goodie bags!

    What Linda is listening to: LILAC by IU

AVERY NOYES

Assistant Volunteer Coordinator

  • What Avery does: Helps to make sure all of our wonderful volunteers are properly trained, and are confident in what their tasks are during the festival!

    First Concert: Demi Lovato

    Favourite Drink: A&W Root Beer (must be in a chilled glass)

    Fav NXNE Memory: Taking a group of volunteers to Sankofa square for the Khalid show!

    What Avery is listening to: Mariana’s Trench