Music collectors, rejoice. This year’s NXNE marks the arrival of the Independent Label Market, which will see indies set up on Ryerson’s campus common on June 15 to sell albums directly to fans. In this digital age, it’s a way of reminding people that music retail can be a social affair, says NXNE festival director Christopher Roberts. Participating vendors include Paper Bag, Outside Music, Last Gang, Dine Alone, Static Clang, Nevado and Maple Music, with more to be announced soon.
Summer Dreaming
Digital Dreams has a nicely Toronto focus this year. When the two-day EDM fest (June 29-30) announced its lineup last week, we counted a dozen participating locals, including Art Department, Nitin, Jelo, Addy, Dzeko & Torres, Damn Kids, Marcus Visionary, Hydee, Lush, the Junkies and Rick Toxic. Richie Hawtin, meanwhile, who headlines the Echo Beach stage at Molson Amphitheatre on June 29, is from Windsor, which is damn near close enough. Digitaldreamsfest.ca has the full lineup, times and prices.
The Toronto electronic-musician love continues one week later, when the Veld Music Festival comes to Downsview Park on August 3 and 4. Love-him-or-hate-him hometown hero Deadmau5 headlines day two alongside international favourites Steve Angello, Dada Life and, the day before, Above & Beyond, Kaskade, Steve Aoki and Laidback Luke. See veldmusicfestival.com for the complete lineup, times and prices.
Ontario Music Fund
Ontario musicians had something to sing about after the province announced the creation of the Ontario Music Fund last week. The granting program gives the provincial music industry an infusion of $45 million toward new digital and record production and distribution, more partnership opportunities and promotion of Ontario music nationally and internationally. The money will be doled out over three years.
