Love was in the air this weekend as thousands of fans descended on Hanlan’s Point, Toronto. They gathered to get a taste of the unique and diverse experience that only renowned DJ and producer Rob da Bank can deliver, as Bestival Toronto went down as a huge success.
Since 2004, Bestival has been making a name for itself in the UK by providing a zany festival experience that has drawn crowds of 50,000 plus. This independent, multi-award winning festival invites music lovers to dress up and enter a wonderland that offers much more than corporate EDM festivals.
This year, Bestival travelled across the pond to spread love and ‘increase the peace’ on Toronto Island this June 12th and 13th. Friday’s gloomy weather didn’t hold back attendees from exploring the islands massive grounds, which held a new surprise around every corner. A blow-up wedding chapel, costume parade, bubble blowing flash mob and yarn bombing are just some of the many entertainment features Bestival Toronto had to offer.
With so much to discover it was hard to keep up with the weekend’s all-star line up. The Big Top, an enormous circus tent filled with high-energy and heavy bass, provided cover from the rain and a stage for SBTRKT to lay out a groovy set. Afterwards, Flosstradamus punished the dance floor with his hard-hitting trap music. Every hand was waving in the air as he stood above the sea of people, hyping up the crowd to ‘Mosh Pit.’
The icy winds and muddy grounds didn’t stop the enthusiastic crowd from dancing in the rain at the Bollywood stage, a colossal temple that featured deep house, pink elephants and a burst of flames at every drop. Jamie xx spun many tracks from his new album In Colour and kept the poncho-covered crowd entranced while he played a few unreleased tracks. Skream, Justin Martin and Nicole Mudaber followed with the same high-intensity sounds.
The Main Stage featured an eclectic lineup, which was a nice addition to the EDM dominated festival. Wavves had fans head-banging to their indie rock vibe while the Grammy winning Clean Bandit had the whole crowd singing along to “No Place I’d Rather Be.”
As the sun went down, many flocked towards the Main Stage to anxiously await Florence + The Machines’ performance. Florence, who has been part of the Bestival Family for many years, did not disappoint. After a day filled with techno, it was refreshing to hear her melodic voice sing highlights from her new album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful. She left the crowd wanting more when she closed with her popular hit “Dog Days Are Over.”
On Saturday it was time to put away the rain ponchos and bring out the costumes. Mother Nature brought some much-needed sunshine that sparked energy throughout the grounds. It was a perfect day to checkout the Sunday Best Balearic Beach Club that featured artists from Rob da Bank’s Sunday Best label.
Whether you were dancing barefoot in the sand or lounging in a beach chair sipping a cocktail out of a hollowed out coconut, it was without a doubt the best place to soak up the sun. At sunset, guests could reach nirvana with the help of the fascinating “acro-yoga” performers.
After a weekend full of non-stop two-stepping, hammocks and various other lounge areas provided a revitalizing break from the large crowds. The Day O of The Dead themed cocktail bus was a great place to kick back and enjoy a cerveza while listening to a live mariachi band. There were also many games you could get involved with from life-sized Jenga to a hula-hooping contest.
Just as the festival began to draw to a close, Nas took his audience by storm. He opened his set with songs from his legendary hip-hop album Illmatic. His deep lyrics and head bopping beats had his fans bustling hours after they left the island.
Toronto is home to many festivals that have already won the hearts of its attendees. Rob da Bank had big shoes to fill, as he stepped into uncharted territory this summer. His performance didn’t fail to please. It was amazing that organizers executed such an exceptional production with minimal hiccups. With so much buzz surrounding the weekend, I expect next year’s Bestival Toronto to have a much larger turn out.