Future Classics

With the summer now officially over the beats, bass and memories of this year’s festivals have almost become a long gone memory. So naturally it’s time to start thinking about where to head to next summer. A lot of focus gets given to the electronica hub that is Europe but what about Canada?

If you’re thinking of jumping on-board an air transat next summer these are 5 festivals you should definitely consider hitting.

MUTEK 2014, Montreal 

Taking place over 4 days MUTEK festival is a collision course of digital art, light creativity and sound and is arguably Canada’s coolest festival. This festival really is at the forefront of innovation when it comes to bleeding edge electronica and it draws thousands of industry professionals, DJs, producers and partygoers alike to its grounds annually.

Each year Avant-garde artists such as Germanys Brandt Brauer Frick, programmers and digital artists are invited to collaborate and perform to blur the lines between video and sound providing an experience that is more than just a music festival. In recent years Richie Hawtin has performed his ground-breaking Plastikman live sets to high appraisal.

  Connect 18, Besant
Set in the secluded hillsides of Saskatchewan is Connect 18 , Canada’s longest running electronic music festival. Sporting no huge a list stars like the previous entries this festival is a dream for those seeking real underground creativity and alternative electronic music. All bases are covered here with breaks, funk, psy-trance and tech house all on offer within an intimate setting that really is like no other.

Connect 18 has a sort of hippy edge to it but in all the right places; people from all walks of life come here to bond rave and create. Notable artists include Shamanic Technology with his bass heavy glitch hop sets or Luis Flores with his German drenched techno.

Digital Dreams 2014, Toronto

Digital Dreams festival apparently is the largest electronic music festival in Canada and with such size comes a line-up equally as big. Last year saw underground artists such as Paco Osuna, Steve Lawler and Toronto’s own Carlo Lio mixed with more cookie cutter artists like Porter Robinson and Mark knight.

That said, the festival offers almost every tempo and energy going with styles ranging from techno to drum and bass to deep house and dubstep all set against the city’s stunning skyline and beautiful shoreline. For sheer magnitude this festival is definitely one to check out.

Veld Music Festival

Veld is a similar offering to digital dreams and also boasts itself as the biggest electronic music festival in Canada.  According to Toronto City Events it draws the biggest names is electronic dance music with the usual heavyweights in full force.

Last year saw the likes of Steve Angello, Deadmau5, Above and beyond all lay down sets at this two day festival to a crowd in excess of 35,00 people.If you’re more on the underground tip this festival probably isn’t for you but for big room house and electro this is a must see.

Shambhala, British Colombia

Taking place in the first week of August on a 500-acre cattle ranch near Nelsom, British Colombia the festival explores all lines of electronic music but with a really heavy stance on Drum and Bass.  By taking place on a farm the festival has a real Glastonbury(UK) vibe to it with art, performance and  music coming together to form a place that seems disconnected from reality.

The stages and décor are unique and it really makes for a trippy mesmerizing experience. The music is on point too with artists ranging from Canadian underground misfits to well know A-listers such as A-track, Plump Djs and loadstar.