When I heard Keys N Krates were set to throw their second annual Birthday Party at Sunnyside I was ecstatic. Last year’s festivities proved to be the sleeper party of the summer and I couldn’t wait to see what year two promised. Walking up to the pavilion there was a strong feeling of fun in the air. Floating high over the venue was a massive Keys N Krates balloon, smaller balloons lined the gates and a carnival inspired vibe greeted guests, complete with a giveaway wheel at the door. Before you even entered the venue you could tell it was going to be a good time. As I walked down the steps and into the courtyard I was greeted with offers of free ice cream and temporary tattoos, I obviously said yes to both, though I did pass on the party hats. As I walked the grounds it embodied a familiar semblance to the previous year; the canopy of trees, streaking sunlight, carnival games and costumed party goers (shout out to Winnie the Pooh and Barney). The whole experience screamed fun while maintaining a cool DIY feel. I mean, it actually felt like you were at a birthday party. Furthering the low key vibe was the fact that the band was strolling around the venue slapping hands with no security disconnecting them from fans. Keys N Krates were home and treated it as such.
When I arrived the volume was quite low and I was concerned the system would underwhelm. The fears were quickly smashed as Araabmuzik came out with the system blasting (turns out the volume was low for a change over). As soon as Araabmuzik began pounding on his MPCs the mellow and relaxed crowd made their way to the stage and began turning up. Some sound issues had the speakers crackling for the first minute but were resolved pretty promptly. From there on Araab assaulted his equipment with insane precision. The technicality was guaranteed to have you standing still in awe but the barrage of bangers had the crowd turning up even if it was only early evening. As I slid to the bar I was excited to see Ace Hill, a local brewer who offers a welcome break from the flavourless beer selections which have become staples at major festivals. The lack of lines was also pretty amazing.
Lunice was up next. I’d heard about and seen a few videos of Lunice’s performances and knew his energy was legendary. That said his intensity and dance moves still proved well beyond what I’d ever imagined. They say you shouldn’t trust a DJ who can’t dance, if you live by that, Lunice might be the most trustworthy person you’ve ever seen. Seeing him get wild on stage was infectious, spreading over the crowd and taking the party up more than a few notches. His set blended gritty trap with ignorant rap and some forward thinking dark sounds. Desiigner’s ‘Timmy Turner’ and ‘Panda’ were huge fan favourites while classic TNGHT tunes destroyed. I have to say I’ve never seen anyone blatantly have as much while Djing as Lunice did and that enthusiasm engulfed the audience.
As Mannie Fresh set-up his laptop I truly had no idea what to expect. Keys N Krates joked that they’d hope that he’d play ‘Go DJ’ 5 times in a row. He didn’t. But he did open his set with it before jumping into Crime Mob’s ‘Knuck If You Buck’ and Kendrick’s ‘Backseat Freestyle’. Like a classic hip-hop DJ Mannie rocked the mic throughout cracking jokes in between tracks such as asking ‘Y’all remember me?” before dropping his smash ‘Still Fly’. Mannie played a slew of rap classics but what really impressed was when he mixed things up and killed the crowd with some hard hitting trap and twerk tunes. I don’t think people were expecting that from Mannie Fresh and the place went off with surprise. Wrapping up his set he had everyone singing along to anthems like ‘Nothin’ But A G Thang,’ ‘and Juicy’ before freaking it into some reggae/dance hall vibes complete with Wayne Wonder and Drake’s ‘Controlla’. The set proved Mannie Fresh will forever be able to rock a party.
With the sun down and electricity in the air at its peak it was time for Keys N Krates to take the stage. At this point I’ve seen Keys N Krates live at least 5 times and will be sure to see them at least another 5. Every time they play I’m reminded of the magic they create. The combination of live instruments and turntablism create a set that is absolutely incredible. From beginning to end they captivate your attention; slowly building and breaking down sections to contrast the explosion of energy and sounds in the drops. When performing their hits they don’t reiterate the standard version but rather deliver drawn out VIPs that take each track to new heights. Smashes like ‘Keep It 100,’ ‘All The Time,’ and ‘Dum Dee Dum’ absolutely slaughtered. Throughout the set Adam Tune’s dad was in the crowd drumming along, dancing and beaming with pride. There’s something magical and so real about seeing a performer’s parent at a show, made even more special by the fact that he was actually kicking it in the crowd, truly soaking it in. As always Keys N Krates brought down the house providing the perfect climax to an unforgettable day.
Keys N Krates second annual Birthday bash proved why it’s the most underrated event in the city. The line-up is stacked, the tickets are cheap, the ice cream is free, the beer is actually decent and there’s an intangible authenticity that makes it extra special. I feel somewhat torn about the event. On the one hand I want to promote it like crazy and tell everyone in the city they need to attend, but I also don’t want it to grow too big because part of it’s allure is its intimacy. Cheers to another successful year! Thank you Keys N Krates.
For more photos from Keys N Krates Birthday check out our gallery on Facebook.
Photos by Tania Mosca Hirairt. Follow her on Instagram.
