Who to watch out for
The Hillside Festival posted their much-anticipated lineup for the annual summer festival that will be held from July 25 to 27 on Guelph Lake Island. With acts ranging from indie pop to ambient electronica, the festival brings some welcomed, familiar faces in Canadian music, as well as some international and budding regional acts that are sure to impress. Here is a preview of some shows that shouldn’t be missed (unless one is busy volunteering, of course).
Majical Cloudz
Montreal’s Majical Cloudz, consisting of Devon Welsh and Matthew Otto, are a duo marked by their Zen-like, gentle electronic sounds. Welsh’s baritone voice soars over Otto’s simple melodies and subtle arrangements, and a show like this would be perfect to wind down with after a long day in the sun. Their 2013 album Impersonator was acclaimed by music publications worldwide, and the two have collaborated with artists such as fellow Montrealer Grimes (Claire Boucher).
Hey Rosetta!
One of Canada’s most popular indie acts, Hey Rosetta encompasses the folk tradition of the Maritimes with emotionally-driven, anthemic rock sensibilities. As a band renowned for their live concerts, local fans will surely be welcoming this group’s energetic stage presence and rock-solid hooks.
Born Ruffians
Toronto’s Born Ruffians are a band in the same echelon of acclaim as Hey Rosetta – consistently touring and recording, these 20-somethings have enjoyed success across the country and around the world. Fronted by Luke LaLonde’s acrobatic vocals and angular, nearly primal guitar chords, the group’s music is bouncy, fun and often lyrically cheeky.
Four Tet
Hailing from the U.K. and originally a member of the post-rock outfit Fridge, Kieran Hebden carefully crafts vocal loops, obscure percussives and warm synth pads as a one-man act under the name Four Tet. Minimalist in timbre but heavy on the groove, Four Tet’s entrancing soundscapes can be enjoyed at Hillside the way they were meant to be – under the summer sky in the warmth of a summer festival.
Folly & The Hunter
Taking cues from at once traditional and contemporary music, Montreal’s Folly & The Hunter, in some ways, takes these influences to their extremes at fuses them to the point of unrecognizable. Blending pump organs and banjos with reverb-drenched vocals and warm synth textures, their sound is rooted in nostalgia but also forward looking in a unique way. With so much depth in their sound, Folly & The Hunter could be the next big thing in Canadian indie-folk.