A single repeating note opens the track before erupting into fast-paced drum beats that mirror the speed with which Strategy spits out bars. The rolling drumline gives way to an angelic empty space halfway through the track, reminiscent of deep 140 bpm classics from the likes of Coki, Benga, and Caspa. The moment Strategy goes silent is the best kind of sonic whiplash, the kind of moment that makes one audibly gasp “Whoa…” There’s hardly enough time to piece together the first verse of the track before he comes roaring back in for the second between the hypnotizing bassline and sharp hi-hats. It’s a simultaneously filthy and poetic end to this composition.

Everybody knows I’m a UK don / But I’m back on my Transatlantic shit
– Strategy

Strategy does not miss a beat on ‘Blue Mile.’ Amidst the murky low-end rumblings of Of the Trees and Crenshaw, syllable after syllable fires through like a machine gun. It’s clear that the grime wave has finally cemented itself stateside, with Strategy himself remarking that he’s “Got a decent amount of American followers.” In this case, they’re well-deserved.

‘Blue Mile’ is a standout track for Memory Palace. Along with the likes of LYNY, Esseks, DMVU, and Of the Trees himself, Crenshaw is a perfect fit for the vibe of the label. Having recently announced a hiatus next year from his usual Claude VonStroke alias, we can only wonder what label we’ll see him collaborating with next. Longtime fans are still awaiting a second Crenshaw album, given that the first came out nearly seven years ago. Whoever it is, they’re in for a treat. If 2023 has given us any indication of the trajectory of these two producers, it’s safe to say they’re only going up.

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The post Of the Trees x Barclay Crenshaw Take Listeners on a Trip with ‘Blue Mile’ (Ft. Strategy) appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

@GERSHEE

Pushing participants to relax and afford introspective moments, various types of yoga and meditation are offered, along with an immense focus on the promotion of cannabis festival culture. Last year, the Cooks Valley Campground played host to the first compliant three-day, overnight and camping festival in the country to allow the recreational use and sale of cannabis on-site outside of the state fairgrounds at the extremely cozy Tree Lounge. Making the most of a permit that’s been years in the making, Northern Nights also incorporated cannabis into its wellness programming with participatory events like Stoned Yoga and CBD Self-Massage.

@JAMAL.EID

2019 saw immaculate performances from the likes of Zhu, Charlesthefirst, Minnesota, Eprom & Alix Perez (including a Shades set), and PLS&TY, all to phenomenal applause. Taking full advantage of the 6 diverse stage offerings located on the festival grounds, attendees will be able to fully immerse themselves in varying locales and energies. The main stage at Northern Nights was firmly outfitted with top-of-the-line PK Sound speakers that were invigoratingly rich during the headlining sets, and the river stage was perfectly placed close enough to the water that you could easily hear the beats pouring forth from underneath the tent roof.

@GETTINY

Now, one of the Golden State’s most premiere boutique festivals brings in the new decade proper with a thunderous phase 1 lineup featuring the likes of Dirtybird Records head-honcho Claude VonStroke, the British trap don TroyBoi, and the French queen of world sound Clozee. Grammy nominated artists in the form of Elderbrook and Khushi also join the fray to even more-so encapsulate the range of these supremely talented musical acts. If you’re looking for a weekend festival getaway in a jaw-dropping landscape with a relaxed ambiance and emphasis on personal discovery, look no further. Get your tickets here!

Main Photo Credit: @KRISTINABAKY

The post Northern Nights Music Festival Releases Loaded Phase 1 2020 Lineup Featuring Claude Vonstroke, Troyboi, Clozee + More! appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Taking place June 8th-10th at Bingemans, this year’s lineup has amusement park rides, a waterpark, and a slew of top-notch artists sure to unite bassheads and festivalgoers across the GTA (and beyond). All things combined, it’s set to be an entire weekend of music, fun, as well as potential neckbraces the following Monday.

Last year was well known for its back-to-back-to-back set, which featured Cookie Monsta, 12th Planet, and Funtcase. The good news is that such an experience will be making a return this year – what’s more is that this year will feature an additional 7 back-to-back sets on top of that:
–Flux Pavilion & Doctor P;
–Midnight T & Megalodon;
–Excision & Datsik (Sunday’s headliners);
-and Zomboy & Skism, to name a few.

Pure dubstep/Riddim aside, there’s also going to be features such as Hydee for some solid dnb action, Space Jesus & Liquid Stranger bringing some glorious space music, and Sullivan King, who knows the intricacies of the guitar like the back of his hand.

Those who are more into the house side of electronic music will be pleased to hear that Saturday will feature some of the best in the genre! Claude VonStroke will be headlining on Saturday, along with a wide variety of variations of house. From French bass house sensation Dombresky, to the return of Daniel Portman, whose groovy set was much-talked about after last year’s festivities, to AC Slater bringing his Night Bass vibe to the grounds, there’s an entire afternoon of shuffling and g-stepping for those itching to do so.

There’s also a petition going around to help justify sound levels & curfew for the festival, which have proposed changes after last year caused a surge in noise complaints on the final evening. Considering how much energy everybody put into the Sunday closers, Zeds Dead, it’s not all too surprising, though – yet one can only hope that the residents and festivalgoers can come to an acceptable agreement.

Tickets for Ever After can be bought here – don’t sleep on this though, since this year’s already looking very promising! Take a look at the full lineup below.

Featured image courtesy of Ever After/Facebook; Zeds Dead picture courtesy of Tania Hiriart.

The post Ever After 2018 Comes With a Stacked Lineup appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

The picnic aspect of the event series seems to be slowly phasing out as the event progresses over time, most notably with “no outside food or drinks” on the bill. Nonetheless, the festival aspect seems to expand in some way every season. This year saw the addition of a permenent second stage, which featured some deep house vibes, to offset Toronto’s explosive minimal/tech/techno demand.

The first day saw acts such as Dusky and Chris Liebing laying down some grooves for the crowd to warm up to, as the full moon slowly made its way across the clear evening sky – all before the most talked-about performance that weekend, Claude VonStroke. The moment the Dirtybird father jumped on the decks and opened with his iconic track ‘Barrump,’ the entire area lit up and the feeling of being at home on the island fully kicked in, for an amazing two hours ahead.

Nearing the end of the first night, Claude unleashed some drum and bass, for the bassheads lurking among the masses. As soon as DJ Marky’s remix of Justin Martin’s ‘Back to the Jungle’ rang throughout the island, some of the shufflers started rinsing out instead, and those looking for a reason to headbang at some point got their wish fulfilled, before returning to the tech vibes with the Chris Lorenzo remix.

The second day was off to a good start. The day started off sunny, yet clouds overcame the skies rather quickly. Meanwhile, The Black Madonna was throwing down some nice, deep, funky grooves in her set, and it wasn’t before long that her mesmerizing set made us forget about everything around us. On the other end of the island,  Mall Grab was having a blast and causing a party at the second stage.

Not too long after, the sky became rather dark in a short period of time. Partway into Dixon‘s set, an announcement was made for everything to come to an end, and for everyone to make their way to the ferries. No negotiations – there was a storm approaching, and everybody needed to evacuate off the island. With safety as their utmost priority, we were cleared off the island in a quick manner.

Despite the early closure, organizers had a solution prepared, by continuing the parties back on the mainland. Over at CODA, Sven Väth was on the decks, whereas Mall Grab and Soul Clap took to One Loft to continue the party. Both afterparties were free for all attendees, with their (e-)ticket or wristband present upon entry.

Amidst all the weather hassles throughout the summer, this was definitely an Electric Island to remember. A huge thank you goes out to the organizers – including but not limited to Embrace, Platform, LCPR, and Way Of Acting. Along with the wonderful talent, and the collective love of the attendees, this Electric Island series was easily one of the best seasons yet.

Check out some pictures from the finale below. We can’t wait to see what next year has in store for the event series!

All photos courtesy of Ded Agency.

The post Electric Island Labour Day: An Unforgettable Adventure appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

September 3rd brings the return of Dirty Bird owner Claude VonStroke – or maybe even his moniker, Barclay Crenshaw – along with Chris Liebing, Dusky, Nitin and Gab Rhome. September 4th will see the likes of Sven Väth, Dixon, The Black Madonna, Mall Grab and Soul Clap to close out the event.

There are also some key players from the local scene on stage that weekend, such as Simon Jain, Sam Haze, Jamie Kidd and Jeff Button, to name a few.

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Tickets for Sunday, Monday, or both days are available (but why wouldn’t you want to hit up both days?) You can also RSVP to let you friends/squad know where you’ll be that weekend! Ferry tickets aren’t included in the event price – you can buy those separately here. Come experience the best of house and techno once more this summer, and escape to the island with us!

Take a glimpse at what went down during the Civic Holiday celebration; all photos courtesy of Ded Agency.

—

SEPTEMBER 3
STAGE 1:
Claude VonStroke
Chris Liebing
Dusky
Sonny Fodera
Simon Jain
Brian Johnson

STAGE 2:
Nitin
Gab Rhome
My Favorite Robot
CRi
Sam Haze

SEPTEMBER 4
STAGE 1:
Sven Väth
Dixon
The Black Madonna
Yotto
Jamie Kidd
Terence Kissner

STAGE 2:
Mall Grab
Soul Clap
Jeff Button
Koki

The post Electric Island’s Labour Day Closer Will Be Held at Home appeared first on FUXWITHIT.