Wavelength Music’s summer music festival Camp Wavelength is finally here, set to bring a variety of artist from the grassroots music scenes of Canada and beyond to Toronto, from August 18 to 20.
Wavelength Music is a year-long concert series in Toronto that has consistently championed a diversity of independent musicians from their city. They have slowly garnered a reputation for hosting some of the most out-there, buzz-worthy, and just plain enjoyable acts in Toronto’s indie music scene.
Chaotic weather this summer in Toronto, including heavy rain, has flooded the Toronto Islands, rendering them virtually inhospitable. Because of this, Wavelength has cancelled its camping festival format on the islands in favour of a handful of venues in the downtown area: The Garrison club on Dundas Street West, the Sherbourne Common, a small but charming park space at Queens Quay East and Dockside Drive, and Longboat Hall at city classic The Great Hall on Queen Street West.
Read here for more information about Camp Wavelength. Here are Zahraa’s top five picks for artists to look out for at Camp Wavelength 2017:
DJ Shub
Formerly of Ottawa hip-hop collective A Tribe Called Red, DJ Shub of Fort Erie, Ontario has paved his own way with an electrifying solo career. Releasing his PowWowStep EP in late 2016, DJ Shub is continuing the growing trend of combining First Nations music and culture with modern genres like hip-hop and electronic dance music. His beats are infectious and guaranteed to have you on your feet moving in the most shameless of ways. DJ Shub hits the stage at midnight on Friday, August 18 at The Garrison.
Exit Someone
Hailing from Montréal, Québec, Exit Someone brings serene funk pop vibes and mystical lyricism on love and loss. The two-piece band, made up of Thom Gillies (formerly of Montréal band TOPS) and June Moon, debuted this year with their dreamy “Dry Your Eyes” EP, off Atelier Ciseaux Records. Their sound is sure to enchant and elate its Toronto audience. They’re set to perform at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 19, at Sherbourne Common.
Witch Prophet
Before anything, Witch Prophet is an artist for herself and the people, and a powerful emerging voice in the local music scene. The Toronto singer-songwriter, born Ayo Leilani, is creating buzz in the city with her charismatic neo-soul vibes and artistry. Her debut EP, “H.P.B.” was released October 2016, featuring the track “Architect of Heartbreak” with Stas THEE Boss. Beyond that, her work can be seen as one-third of the experimental music trio Above Top Secret, and director of the independent collective 88 Days of Fortune. She’s set to perform on Saturday, August 19, at 4 p.m. at Sherbourne Common.
The Luyas
Regularly defined by their eclectic and atmospheric sound, Montréal-based indie band The Luyas have been kickin’ it for over a decade now. Its current lineup consists of Jessie Stein, Pietro Amato, Mathieu Charbonneau, and Mark “Bucky” Wheaton, formerly of Land of Talk, replacing Stefan Schneider. Their most recent project, “Human Voicing,” was released earlier this year off Paper Bag Records and features an amalgam of sonic experimentation and catchy indie pop hooks. They hit the stage on Sunday, August 20 at 9:30 p.m. for Longboat Hall.
Deerhoof
There couldn’t be a better way to end off this year’s Wavelength Festival, and to encapsulate the spirit of Wavelength, than with Deerhoof. Veteran indie-rock weirdos, Deerhoof has been a force in the scene here since their formation in 1994, in San Francisco, California. Their current lineup consists of Satomi Matsuzaki, John Dieterich, Ed Rodríguez, and Greg Saunier. It’s challenging to categorize their ever-evolving sound: throughout the years, they’ve consistently had the adjectives “experimental” “off-kilter” and “noisy” thrown at them.
Whatever they choose to bring to the table in Toronto, I think they’ve chosen the right crowd: Toronto audiences, in general, are down to have a good time, no matter what. Deerhoof will be the festival’s last act to hit the stage at Wavelength, set to perform at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 20 at Longboat Hall.
