1. It’s at Woodbine Park (instead of Toronto Island).

2. It’s on a Saturday – and it’s NOT a long weekend

3. It’ll be dope as usual

The post TORONTO: Three Things You Need To Know About Electric Island This Weekend appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

At Electric Island’s season seven kickoff, you’ll be doused with sounds from three major players in the party scene: Dubfire, Ame, and Bedouin. And if you can peel away from the main stage long enough, you just might find some gems at the Moog-curated second stage.

“But Electric Island is more than just the music!” you say. “It’s about, like, the vibe!”

Indeed. A hippie marketplace, food trucks galore, and always plenty o’ porta-potties. All your needs, served.

So pack your clothing options, because rain or shine there’ll be house and techno bumping on PK Sound all. day. long.

And since Monday’s a holiday, why not hit the AP….

COP TIX NOW: Electric Island Season Opener Monday May 19

(Header image credit DED AGENCY)

The post TORONTO’S LONG WEEKEND PARTY FORECAST: Cloudy With a Chance of Techno appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

There’s a permanent traction amongst music fans in Toronto with Electric Island events, and rightfully so – they’re long, hot, beautiful days with some of the world’s best house & techno.

This time around the Martinez Brothers are headlining the main stage, with eclectic Jackmaster, ultra-talented Anna, and unmissable Billy Kenny passing the torch before them. As usual you’ll catch local favorites like Simon Jain and Jade.

The side stage is no chump game – Polish heavyweight Robert Babicz is a not-to-miss feature there.

So pack your sunscreen and your earplugs – if this rendition of EI isn’t fun as hell, I’ll eat my fanny pack.

COP TICKETS HERE.

Words by Karis Malszecki.

The post Avoid the cottage, attend Electric Island this Canada Day appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Thanks to Embrace, Platform, and Footwork, last year’s festivities blessed us with sets from Claude VonStroke, Ben Klock, The Black Madonna, Nina Kraviz and Sven Väth (to name a few), and they brought with them the best that techno, tech house, and deep house had to offer. Due to flooding on Toronto Island, eventgoers didn’t get much of an opportunity to take in Hanlan’s Point for that true “island getaway” feel. Despite this, the EI crew pulled through very nicely and overcame the summer-long flooding, as well as an island evacuation on its final day, by hosting the party on the mainland.

The Electric Island series usually takes place on the holidays (Victoria Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, and Labour Day) themselves. This year, the Victoria Day edition will take place the day before Victoria Day itself; the Civic Holiday edition will fall on the Saturday following the Civic Holiday. This was done with the intention of giving attendees a proper day of rest before the new work week. The Canada Day and 2-day Labour Day editions will take place on their respective days though, as in previous years.

Season’s passes are now available – if you plan on attending each holiday, now would be the most cost-effective time to get a pass! Be sure to also like EI’s Facebook page to stay updated with all the happenings throughout the season. Hope to see you on the island!

Electric Island pictures courtesy of Tania Hiriart.

The post Electric Island 2018 is Just Over the Horizon 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.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/335701802″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

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.

Although there was nothing but concrete for this event, it was nonetheless the perfect way to chill with friends, out in the sun – save the bouts of rain earlier on in the day. Thankfully, ponchos were provided to mitigate the inconvenience as shufflers took to the puddles, before and after the skies cleared up.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/291140615″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

The FUX crew got in touch with some attendees at the event, who were kind enough to share their insight to all things Canadian!

Brad

Favourite Canadian artist(s):
Phil Collins (we made him an ‘Honorary Canadian’)

If you were Prime Minister for a day, what would you do?

If I were Prime Minister for just one day? I would probably take over the renovation of 24 Sussex, and change the whole plan.

What does your ‘dream poutine’ look like?

My dream poutine would have Montreal smoked meat, mushrooms, and green peas.

What’s your opinion on the different ‘Electric Island’ venues?

I don’t actually know if it would be better on the island, ’cause I had more fun at Woodbine! Either way, both of those were more fun than a parking lot. I hate parking lot parties! Is this the summer of parking lot parties? Woodbine was awesome in its own way, and I still have an affinity for Toronto Island, [and feel] that they can have this party anywhere. But it should be on the island.

…In fact, this Labour Day, we are actually doing an overnight trip on the island, ‘cuz Electric Island is a two-day festival. Last year, I made the foolish mistake of sleeping over the last day, instead of the first day… and it switched over to the fall schedule that night, so we couldn’t get a ferry back until 8am! People were riding on me getting home from the event I went to [the other] night, and I’m stumbling in from a night in the wilderness at 8 in the morning.

—

Lauren

Favourite Canadian artist(s):
Shawn Mendes, Drake

When I say Canada, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?

Free healthcare.

What do you think about the Tim Hortons poutine doughnut?

I would definitely eat that right now! Honestly, if you put gravy and cheese on anything, it’s fine. It’s Canadian!

Aside from Electric Island, what do you normally do for the Canada Day weekend?

Not much, really. Just hang out, and watch fireworks at Wonderland.

—

Rachel

Favourite Canadian artist(s):
Drake, The Weeknd

What landmark/reference is the most Canadian to you?

Definitely the CN Tower, and anything with ‘sorry’ – we apologize a lot.

If you were Prime Minister for a day, what would you do?

Hmm… I don’t think a day’s enough time to fix anything – there’s a lot to do.

If you had more time, what would you do then?

I’d fix this country. Healthcare’s doing well, but we need to speed it up and invest more in schools – and help the Aboriginal people, it’s their land! And just help, in general. I’d help a lot.

Aside from Electric Island, what would you normally do on the Canada Day weekend?

Usually I’m working, but I’d just be at home otherwise.

—

Karam

Favourite Canadian artist(s):
k-os, The Rascalz

What does your ‘dream poutine’ look like?

The gravy would actually made out of demi-glace – so there’s no butter, no flour – actual beef reduction. Then, you make a goat ragù, in which you grind up goat shoulder, and then cook it all the way down for 8 hours, with some onions. And then you put cheese on top of all of it.

(editor’s note: It turns out Karam is actually a chef.)

Who are you most excited to see at Electric Island?

RICHIE HAWTIN!

What’s your opinion on the different ‘Electric Island’ venues?

I feel that it’s better, because when you’re taking the ferry, there’s the hassle of getting on, then getting there, and then waiting in line – over here, I parked down the street, and I didn’t even have to pay for parking! Last time I went across, I had to pay $25. This time, it was very straightforward.

The only sad thing about this is that there’s no grass! If you don’t have the proper shoes, when you’re trying to dance, your shoes get stuck, and it fucks up your dance moves. But other than that, it’s fucking cool!

—

As Richie’s set was coming to an end, the night sky lit up with a plethora of fireworks, erupting from the CN Tower. Such a spectacle started a large unison singing of ‘O Canada’, along with more fireworks going off by the Harbourfront.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/177649356″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
The next event takes place on the August Civic Holiday (Monday, August 7). The line-up will feature Nina Kraviz, KiNK, Mano Le Tough, and Jackmaster headlining Stage 1, and Deetron and Dâm-Funk over at Stage 2. There will be local support from Jonathan Rosa and Nature of Music, as well as Greg Gow, Addy, and Jeremy Stott, at each respective stage. RSVP, grab tickets, and secure the date!

Check out some recap shots of the Canada Day celebration, courtesy of Martin Berrysmith.

The post FUX Interviews: Electric Island – Canada Day 150 appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

This segment of Electric Island will feature the long-awaited debut of the legend himself, Richie Hawtin! He will be headlining the main stage, accompanied by Maceo Plex, Recondite, and Roman Flügel. Meanwhile, the newly-added Garden Grove stage will see Chaim and Atish holding it down and keeping things intimate.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Canada Day celebration without showcasing/supporting our talented locals – Talal & Zoi and Chris Larsen will also play the main stage, whereas Borzoo, Aleksandar Kojic and Nadia will be spinning at the Garden Grove.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/313411886″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Given that the island is likely to be flooded well into the summer, the event will be held this time in the Portlands, at 51 Commissioners Street. You can RSVP on Facebook, and purchase a ticket for the upcoming Canada Day festivities here. Season’s passes are also available if you’re looking to guarantee access to all the remaining Electric Island celebrations. Hope to see you at the big 150!

Image courtesy of Tania Hiriart.

The post Electric Island’s Next Event Celebrates Canada 150 appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/273694038″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Like last year’s Bestival, changing the island venue to Woodbine Park proved to be a viable alternative. The general layout felt similar to the setup on Hanlan’s Point, yet made getting home after the event (somewhat) easier. There were many familiar amenities – activities to play with friends, lounging on the grass as the bass travels through your body, and a convoy of food trucks located close to the second stage. The themed cocktails stood out in the crowd, as people drank exotic drinks out of flutes, tin cans and lightbulbs.

This year’s newest attraction was a full-blown second official stage! The Garden Grove stage had a much more intimate and low-key vibe than the main stage. Locals Gera and Alberto Jossue opened and got the stage nicely warmed up for Red Axes and Rebolledo; Leon Vynehall was unable to attend, thus the latter two artists extended their sets to close out the first event.

As the evening turned into night, the trees were illuminated in the same manner as on the island, turning blue, yellow and purple – which added a far deeper sense of familiarity. Not too soon after, fireworks lit up the sky down by the beaches, and served as a nice wrap-up for an eventful holiday, with Ben Klock spinning a set so nice that the security couldn’t help but groove out until everything came to a close.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/204232018″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Next on the list is the Canada 150 milestone being held on July 1st! The roster features the legendary Richie Hawtin, Maceo Plex, Chaim, and Atish headlining alongside some of the underground’s finest. You can RSVP, and purchase a ticket for the upcoming Canada Day festivities here – or, grab a season’s pass if you want to attend all the remaining Electric Island celebrations.

According to blogTO, it seems like the Island may be off-limits well into the summer – in that case, we’ll see you back at Woodbine Park!

via Electric Island

Featured image and above images courtesy of Tania Hiriart – check out more of her shots from the Victoria Day festivities below.

The post Electric Island Caters Successful Opener at Woodbine Park appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Toronto’s most iconic event series, Electric Island, kicks off its 2017 season on Victoria Day! The 5th annual concert & picnic series will introduce a second stage for double the undergound sound for the perfect day-long getaway.

This year’s inaugural event takes place Monday, May 22nd. It will play host to Ben Klock, Joris Voorn, Eats Everything, and Bedouin over at Stage 1, whereas Stage 2 will hear the eclectic sounds of Leon Vynehall, Red Axes, and Rebolledo. There will also be local supprt from Night Vision, Andrew Choe, Gera, and Alberto Jossue across both stages.

Tickets, as well as the summer’s full lineup, are available on the website. You can also buy a season’s pass if you wish to make the most of the holidays. Hope to see you there!

The post Electric Island returns for its 5th year on Victoria Day appeared first on FUXWITHIT.