August
Osheaga Festival Musique Et Arts
When: Friday, August 2nd until Sunday, August 4th, 2019.
Where: Parc Jean - Drapeau, Montreal, QC.
Why you should go:
Montreal has no break of music this summer. Just the weekend before Ile Soniq and on the same festival grounds, Osheaga will host some very interesting EDM names during the three days of programming. Going outside of traditional raving, DJs like Flume, The Chemical Brothers, Louis the Child, RÜFÜS DU SOL, and Said the Sky will be showing off the art of electronic shows and how beautiful they are. On a side note, the booking of Black Tiger Sex Machine and GRiZ will bring in the hard raving to warm Montreal up for the proceeding weekend. Of course, House music can never be left out to make a successful festival. DJs such as Fisher, DJ Koze, and more bringing in the House while Charlotte de Witte gives us tech house and Monolink with the downtempo vibe. It’s set to be an unforgettable weekend at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal.
Veld Music Festival
When: Saturday, August 3rd until Sunday, August 4th, 2019.
Where: Downsview Park, 1-35 Carl Hall Road, Toronto, ON, M3K 2B6
Why you should go:
One of the biggest Canadian festivals is back with one of the hardest line ups of the whole summer! A price tag that correlates with the lineup, the festival attendees will witness the return of Skrillex to the world stage alongside the “EDM King” Tiësto and the tropical house master Kygo. This year, VELD has blended a solid Hip-Hop lineup with one of the most attractive EDM lineups. This festival is definitely a solid recommendation from the EDM Canada team for anyone looking to experience some of the biggest names in EDM history with today’s most talked about Hip-Hop artists. Notably, some Canadian artists such as Loud Luxury, Zeds Dead, Dzeko, Ekali, and Whipped Cream are making a name for themselves on one of the biggest Canadian stages.
Chasing Summer Music Festival
When: Saturday, August 3rd until Sunday, August 4th, 2019.
Where: Max Bell Centre Festival Grounds, 1001 Barlow Trail SE, Calgary, AB.
Why you should go:
Calgary is hitting hard the 2019 summer with its Chasing Summer Music Festival. Closing Ultra Music Festival for the second year in a row, The Chainsmokers will make their way up north to demolish Chasing Summer in August with Trance legends Above and Beyond closing the festival’s second night. Eye catchers such as Steve Aoki, Alesso, Kshmr, and W&W are attending with so many other acts to give you an experience that will make your summer. A personal recommendation would be Infected Mushrooms. They're big enough to attract a great crowd but underground enough to stay authentic. In the heart of downtown Calgary, the combination of the Albertan ravers and acts that are this good will make Chasing Summer Music Festival hard to forget.
ÎLESONIQ Music Festival
When: From Friday, August 9th until Saturday, August 1th, 2019.
Where: Parc Jean-Drapeau, 1 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, QC, H3C 1A9
Why you should go:
Looking for the weekend to remember? Ile Soniq is a brilliantly organized festival bringing in some of the biggest names in the world. This festival has a great blend of most EDM subgenres that will include all ravers for 2 unforgettable days. With world class headliners such as Marshmallow (closed the mainstage on night 1 at Ultra Music Festival) and Above & Beyond (legends of legends), you should also keep an eye out for Joyride, who has dropped fire all year, Peekaboo, a bass DJ with some crazy new sounds, and Oliver Heldens. You will see the time and effort put in to set up every stage as you can either head towards the main stage with the biggest EDM names, party your head off at the OASIS stage under giant mushrooms, or head bang at the bass stage that is floating on water. With some of the most affordable prices for a festival of this calibre, you better grab your tickets quick before they sell out.
Shambhala Music Festival
When: From Friday, August 9th until Monday, August 12th, 2019.
Where: Salmo River Ranch, Salmo, B.C.
Why you should go:
Shambhala has become a cultural cornerstone within the global dance music community; and a staple for BC bass music die-hards. The nineteen plus four day festival kicks off its twenty second year at the now fabled Salmo River Ranch on August ninth. With each passing year Shambhala seems to add to its renowned legacy, and at this point in time, even its individual stages—AMP, Fractal Forest, The Grove, Living Room, The Pagoda, & The Village—have their own personalities. Whether you are looking for laid-back rhythms/beach vibes at the Living Room, a spiritual timeless electronic journey at the seven storey Pagoda stage, or otherworldly funk vibes at the Fractal Forest...Shambhala has you covered. This year the fest has outdone itself locking down Diplo & Mark Ronson's side project Silk City for what is sure to be one of the most memorable festival sets of the year. Not wanting to rely on the pull of one renowned headliner Shambhala offers countless other diverse, and talented, acts including; GRiZ, Kaskade, Anti Up, ZHU, Zeds Dead, and of course a stacked line up of funk laden Shambhala favourites. For all dance music lovers in BC, Shambhala is essential—for everyone else it is heavily encouraged.
Electric Island
When: Saturday, August 31st - Sunday, September 1st, 2019.
Where: Hanlan's Point Stadium, Toronto Islands, Toronto, ON
Why you should go:
Electric Island is a summer event series that has been hosting the best of the underground scene at the Toronto Islands for the past few years. Almost anyone and everyone that is big in the underground scene has graced the Electric Island stage at some point along with the best electronic artists within the Toronto scene. The September lineup has yet to be released but I'm sure it will deliver, as it almost always does.
Riverside Festival 2019
When: Saturday, September 7th, 2019 until Sunday, September 8th, 2019.
Where: Musée Canadien de l’Histoire (100, Rue Laurier, Gatineau, Quebec, K1A 0M8)
Why you should go:
This Gatineau festival is a one of a kind. Set up on Gatineau’s beautiful Canadian History Museum that looks over towards the Canadian parliament, this event is a real spectacle to close out the festival season. With a capacity of only 10,000 people, Riverside festival has a big festival feel while keeping the authenticity and intimacy of an underground music festival. Smashing the last 6 years with world class lineups in a small city, Riverside is an event everyone in the Montreal/Ottawa/Toronto must keep an eye out for! Without releasing any lineups for the upcoming edition, tier 1 tickets sold out in 1 hour so grab your tickets before they run out.