FESTIVAL CHECKUP
May Warren gives us the scoop on what’s in store for 2016, from Bestival to WayHome
Bestival
In 2015, this U.K. eclectic music and arts festival added a North American stop, with a weekend at Hanlan’s Point on the Toronto Islands.
The event included performances by Florence + the Machine, Nas and Wavves, as well as a knitting tent, yarn-bombed trees and marriage ceremonies at an inflatable church.
It will return to Toronto this summer on June 11 and 12, but no more waiting for the ferry. It moves to the mainland, Woodbine Park to be exact.
This year’s lineup includes the Cure, Tame Impala, Odesza, Jamie XX and Grimes. Two-day tickets are on sale from $160 at bestival.ca.
Field Trip
This community music and arts festival will be back at Toronto’s Fort York Garrison Common in early June for its fourth year.
Music is still at its core, with performers including the National, Robyn, July Talk, Charles Bradley and Santigold.
But programming director Aaron Miller said organizers are beefing up comedy and kids’ content this year.
“(We’re) making sure that we’re building that out and dedicating resources to it because it sets us apart from a lot of our competitors locally,” he said.
“We try to program cross-generationally, cross-culturally.”
Tickets start at $75 for a single-day pass at fieldtriplife.com.
Riot Fest
The future of this Chicago-imported festival is up in the air after a merger between its Toronto promoter Union Events and Live Nation.
Chicago and Denver dates have already been announced, but there’s nothing available on Riot Fest’s web- site about the Toronto edition.
Held for the fourth year last September at Downsview Park, it included performances by Alexisonfire and Wu-Tang Clan.
TD Toronto Jazz Festival
Due to the dipping Canadian dollar, organizers are worried they may not be able to bring in the big-name American talents they have had in the past.
Artistic director Josh Grossman told the Star in February they “need to be very careful” with the budget and “it may mean certain artists at the very top level of the pay scale” are less possible this year.
The full lineup has yet to be announced.
The 30th anniversary of the festival will be held from June 24 to July 3. In past years, big draws have included Melissa Etheridge and Earth, Wind & Fire.
On the bright side, the low Canadian dollar may attract more American visitors, who make up about 13 per cent of festival attendees, according to marketing surveys.
WayHome
The massive WayHome music and camping festival, which kicked off last year, returns to the Burl’s Creek grounds in Oro Medonte on July 22 to 24.
This year’s lineup includes LCD Soundsystem, Arcade Fire, the Killers, Major Lazer, FKA Twigs and Chvrches.
Event passes start at $229, plus camping and parking fees, at wayhome.com.