JULY
Astral Harvest Music & Arts Festival
When: From Thursday, July 2nd until Sunday, July 5th.
Location: Hwy 2 and Range Rd 124A, Diftpile, Alberta. (Approx 3.5 hours north of Edmonton)
Why you should go:
Astral Harvest is a unique festival in Canada that aims to bring together music with workshops, art installations, visual arts, yoga, and much more in a family friendly setting. This 4 day festival boasts PK Sound and has been a great mix of talent that includes international and local DJs. If you're a drum and bass fan then Astral has got your number with the major U.K. talent Metrik and Technimatic headlining. There are also feel good acts like Croatia Squad, Satin Jackets, Pumpkin, and The Beatangers that will make you smile and dance - a perfect vibe for the summer. Of course there are plenty of local acts represented like Mat The Alien, Knigh Riderz, Longwalkshortdock, and much more. Astral Harvest is a festival to experience as they encourage you to immerse yourself by participating in workshops and various other activities on top of the great music offered.
Valhalla Sound Circus
When: From Thursday, July 2nd until Monday, July 6th.
Location: Paintball Paradise, 17 Wilson Road, Bryson, Quebec, QC, J0X 1H0
Why you should go:
Entering their 4th year, The Valhalla Sound Circus Music & Arts Festival is great 5 day camping festival that caters directly to the bass fan. Valhalla aims to create an environment of free expression from attendees by bringing art installations and music together. There's lots of great music to choose from like Downlink and Getter from the dubstep spectrum, to Eprom with trap, Marcus Visionary with drum and bass, and even a little funk with The Funk Hunters. There's a great mix of national talent as Valhalla has been deliberate by inviting key names within the bass scene from coast to coast like Mark Instinct, Mat The Alien, Gremlinz, and Hydee. For people who are looking to enjoy bass music in a natural and eccentric setting – then consider Valhalla.
FVDED In The Park
When: From Friday, July 3rd until Saturday, July 4th.
Location: Holland Park, 13428 old Yale Road, Surrey, B.C.
Why you should go:
FVDED In The Park is the first fully fledged summer festival organized by Blueprint and it will take place at Holland Park in Surrey, B.C – only a short distance away from Vancouver. With a capacity of 22,000 attendees a day, FVDED is in its first year of a long term plan to build it into one of the premiere summer festivals in Western Canada. The lineup features a mix of electronic artists and hip hop acts that aims to bring a bit of diversity and flavour for music lovers. There is a little of everything in this lineup as you get a decent cross section of genres represented. Expect FVDED to receive broad support from fans as ticket prices are kept at a reasonable rate.
Ottawa's Bluesfest
When: From Wednesday, July 8th until Sunday, July 19th.
Location: Lebreton Flats, Ottawa, ON.
Why you should go:
This festival has become a staple musical event in the Nation's Capital as its maturity becomes apparent in its high level of organization and execution. The food options change every year but they always manage to find tasty options for attendees. The electronic acts usually get their own stage nestled in the back of the venue which makes it an intimate setting for fans. It feels like a small enclave of like minded people all there to enjoy the electronic dance music that we all love. Bluesfest usually reserves one act every year to get on the main stage and this year we will see the return of the Full Flex Express featuring Jack U (Skrillex & Diplo). Full Flex will be kicking off the festival on July 8th, which is always a great way to start. Another notable addition is Porter Robinson, who will be bringing his live show with custom graphics new music from this Worlds album to Ottawa this summer.
Festival D'été de Québec
When: From Thursday, July 9th until Sunday, July 19th.
Location: Main venue located at the Plains of Abraham, Quebec City, QC. The Imperial De Quebec stage is located at 252 St-Joseph East St.
Why you should go:
By far the best festival for your pocketbook, the Festival D'Ete De Quebec provides the best value as you can grab an entire festival pass for only $82! That's 10 days of music in Quebec City with a lineup that includes The Rolling Stones, Jack U, and so much more. This year's lineup is a little light on the electronic music acts but it does offer the Full Flex Express featuring Jack U (Skrillex and Diplo), Zeds Dead, and Tycho as headliners on the first night. The main stage is set at the beautiful Plains of Abraham which is an historic and idealic place to check out some great music. Quebec City is a special city and getting to experience it during a festival such as this makes it a unique opportunity that people shouldn't pass up.
Evolve Festival
When: From Thursday, July 9th until Sunday, July 12th.
Location: Meadow Green Road, Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
Why you should go:
Evolve is a 3-day grassroots music camping festival that invites you to the beautiful Antigonish region in Nova Scotia. Started in 2000, Evolve is about combining music and social issues together in one harmonious package. This year they are bringing back headliners Keys N Krates, Grandtheft, and Skratch Bastid to play. All 3 artists have played at Evolve since 2013 so it's not far off to suggest that organizers have fostered a tight knit musical community. Evolve is also known for its emphasis on environmental awareness with a goal of holding a festival that generates zero waste. They take their environmental messaging seriously as Greenpeace, The Ecology Action Centre, and more are attached to this festival.
Bass Coast Electronic Music & Arts Festival
When: From Friday, July 10th until Monday, July 13th.
Location: Merritt, B.C.
Why you should go:
Bass Coast is an intimate festival with only 3,000 tickets available located at Merritt, B.C., only 2.5 hours from Vancouver. There are 4 stages in total that are all equipped with the famous PK Sound. The music bookings offers diversity with a tendency to veer towards the bass music spectrum but also include names from the deeper side like J. Phlip and Justin Martin from Dirtybird Records. Bass Coast is a festival that focuses on music and art which brings together international names with local DJs in a beautiful B.C. setting.
Pemberton Music Festival
When: From Thursday, July 16th until Sunday, July 19th.
Location: Pemberton Valley, 1835 HWY 99, Pemberton B.C, Canada (Approx. 2.5 hours driving from Vancouver; 1.25 hours drive from Squamish; 30 minutes drive from Whistler)
Why you should go:
Any festival that offers Kendrick Lamar, Weezer, and Jack U on the same lineup will have a special place in my heart. A diverse lineup is incredibly important because our tastes are rarely fixed on only one style of music and it also presents a great opportunity to roam around and discover new acts/music that you may not even have thought of before. This is what I feel that Pemberton is all about as you get a wide selection of music to choose over 4 days. Within the electronic dance music sphere Pemberton have booked an eclectic bunch like Bassnectar, Tiesto, Duke Dumont, What So Not, and even the more chilled out vibes of Giraffage. Of course the big daddy booking of them all has to go to B.C.'s only stop of the Full Flex Express Tour featuring Jack U (Skrillex, Diplo), Zeds Dead, Tycho, and more. After a 2 year hiatus, the Full Flex Express crew is a must-see festival experience.
Motion Notion Festival
When: From Thursday, July 23rd until Monday, July 27th.
Location: Beaverfoot Lodge & Resort, 4220 Beaverfoot Road, Golden, B.C. (2.5 hours drive from Calgary, 8 hours from Vancouver)
Why you should go:
Motion Notion is a festival that has entered its 16th year and has developed a strong community that emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between the music and the environment. The lineup is a drum and bass fans delight as many notable DnB acts have been added to the lineup like Noisia, Friction, Metrik, and more. This festival has always supported drum and bass throughout the years and if you're a DnB Junglist, then Motion Notion should be on your bucket list.
WayHome Music & Arts
When: From Friday, July 24th until Sunday, July 26th.
Location: Burl's Creek Event Grounds, 134 8 Line S, Oro-Mendonte, ON, L0L 2X0
Why you should go:
The people that brought you the famous Bonnaroo festival in the U.S. is expanding to Toronto this summer with the WayHome Music & Arts festival. Set at the Burl's Creek Event Grounds in Oro-Mendonte (just north of Toronto), WayHome is for the music connoisseur that enjoys a wide variety of acts from different genres. Even though they booked acts like Odesza, Bassnectar, and Kaytranada – WayHome isn't specifically targeting the electronic dance music crowd as other acts outside of EDM compose the vast majority of the lineup. That being said, the lineup still offers that eclectic flavour that will tickle the fascination of fans that are curious of what the good people from Bonnaroo can do in Canada.
Future Forest Electronic Music Festival
When: From Friday, July 24th until Sunday, July 26th.
Location: Warks' Point Wilderness Getaway, Wark's Point Rd, Keswick, New Brunswick, E6L 1T3.
Why you should go:
Set at the Warks' Point Wilderness Getaway, just a short drive away from Fredericton, N.B., the Future Forest Electronic Music Festival boasts a weekend with a few natural perks. One such perk is that you can enjoy the music until the early hours and then retreat to one of the many beaches available to relax. Future Forest's lineup is a mix of international and local talent that share their love of bass music. There is an emerging grassroots scene being created in Eastern Canada and Future Forest is a key ingredient in its continued emergence and growth.
Center of Gravity
When: From Friday, July 24th until Sunday, July 26th.
Location: City Park, 1600 Abbott Street, Kelowna, B.C, V1Y 1B6
Why you should go:
Center of Gravity (COG) is a multifaceted festival that combines music with various sport competitions like motorbiking, beach volleyball, and wakeboarding. Set in Kelowna, B.C., COG considers itself Canada's hottest beach festival as they make full use of their natural surroundings at Okanagan Lake. This year's big headliner is Diplo, who's had a massive year thanks to his work on Jack U and new tracks with Major Lazer. There's a good mix of big room and bass bookings, which will certainly attract mainstream fans looking to enjoy a good festival on the beach.
Osheaga
When: From Friday, July 31st until Sunday, August 2nd.
Location: Parc Jean-Drapeau, 1 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, QC, H3C 1A9
Why you should go:
Arguably the premiere festival in Canada, Osheaga has earned their top spot thanks to their diverse and smart lineups that aim to showcase up and coming talent. When Osheaga rolls into Parc Jean-Drapeau, the landscape is transformed into a musical paradise with plenty of space to roam around with great food options. This year's electronic lineup is the deepest I've seen it as names like Kygo, Robin Schulz, Zhu, and Oliver Heldens are taking up the marquee spots. Osheaga has been around a long time and its maturity in running a massive festival shows as you experience this festival first hand. Everything runs like clockwork so you can feel free to concentrate on what is most important, the music.
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