Toronto has never quite figured out how to throw a good multi-day outdoor music festival, so it’s good to know there’s such a reliable one less than two hours away.
After being subjected to stuffy corporate venues and exorbitant beer prices, it’s a bit of a shock to the system experiencing a festival that runs almost entirely on volunteers, reusable cups and dishes, sustainable energy and good vibes, man.
Crowds seemed a bit sparse on the opening night of Guelph’s Hillside festival, but Quebec’s Karkwa managed to attract a relatively sizable, engaged audience on their tented sidestage.
Many outside of Quebec first caught wind of the francophone indie rockers courtesy of their 2010 Polaris Prize win, but they’re actually a veteran band. Their experience showed in their well-oiled musicianship, nailing the quieter harmony-laden passages of their breakout album, Les Chemin de verre. They also packed a surprising punch, their rockier side aided by a pair of drummers. You wouldn’t think they’d need them on record, but it absolutely works in a live environment.
Over at the mainstage, it was up to the Dears, another group of veteran Montrealers, to grab the attention of an audience marred by the threat of rain (the Hillside curse). Unfortunately, their brooding, slow-as-molasses brand of mood-rock would probably have been more at home in a dark rock club. Or as accompaniment for a daytime nap. Their neverending soporific grooves would’ve made a handy tranquilizer.
But if there’s any artist capable of waking a crowd from its slumber, it’s Chali 2na. The deep-voiced former Jurassic 5 MC was the opposite of self-indulgent, focused only on keeping the festival-goers entertained, whether or not they’re familiar with his music. His own songs actually only one aspect of his performance, which he called “his radio station”. Alternation solo and Jurassic 5 tunes with snippets of everything from Jackson 5 (another J5) to the B52s, the rapper had the audience in the palm of his hand.
Many were clamoring for an encore, but the strict 11 pm curfew left no choice but to retreat to our tents for an intermittent slumber soundtracked by drum circles and games of night-frisbee.
Chali 2na
100 Dollars
Kidstreet
Shot by Graeme Phillips and Jason Saunders
