Field Trip entertains fans with music, art, and comedy in a two-day weekend festival
Year after year, Field Trip is consistently my favourite festival to walk out of and this year was no different. The two-day weekend festival featured a wide array of acts such as The National, Robyn, Of Montreal, Santigold, and Lennon & Maisy. The festival also had a selection of comedy acts, and a variety of local food trucks. Held in historic Fort York, the grounds hosted two stages with room for a comedy barracks, and a day camp for kids.
The festival, run by Toronto label Arts & Crafts, kicked off the Saturday with all-girl band The Beaches, who replaced Tei Shi after a last-minute drop-out. The band debuted new tracks and had the crowd moving early in the afternoon.
Santigold continued the afternoon by treating the audience to a performance unlike any other at Field Trip. With multiple props and dancers, she entertained the crowd with all of her biggest hits, even inviting the crowd to dance onstage.
July Talk followed and the chemistry between lead singers Peter Dreimanis and Leah Fay kept the fans laughing, shocked, and entertained. Their personalities made for a unique performance, with Fay consistently interacting with the crowd, followed by Dreimanis, who would pull her hair or jump into the crowd with her.
The National concluded Saturday’s performances, and attracted a large bulk of the festival. Some were expecting the band to play some of their songs from their recent Grateful Dead tribute album, Day of the Dead, however, they were treated to something even better—two never-before-heard songs. Alongside the new tracks, they played a 19-song set that featured music from each of their albums.
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Field Trip had to overcome some hiccups on Sunday as a heavy downpour was followed by a thunderstorm. The festival announced it would be evacuating the site for everyone’s safety. For three hours the grounds were empty while the storm passed. However, in the evening the festival announced the grounds would be opened up and artists’ sets were pushed back. A few artists, including Dear Rouge and Lennon & Maisy, were cut from the schedule due to the storm. Fans were outraged at the uncontrollable weather. However, Lennon & Maisy staged a surprise acoustic performance near an entrance and attracted a large crowd, which proves once again how fan-oriented Field Trip is.
The day continued with Of Montreal, who gave an eclectic performance. The band combined theatre and music in their performance, which featured three backup dancers in costumes such as dog-headed masks and wedding dresses. The festival ended with a stunning performance by Robyn. Her infectious voice and anthemic beats got the crowd moving with the first song, and collectively brought together the entire festival to belt out her hits.
Field trip differs from other festivals in various ways that make me return year after year. The community the festival attracts is comprised of the ultimate in music-loving people. Not only do music fans attend the festival, but the festival also attracts local bands to enjoy the music along with attendees. It’s not hard sharing a dance with some of your favourite singers, or running into high-profile music industry workers. This year the festival brought out Hey Rosetta!, Hollerado, The Darcys, Lowell, and others to enjoy the music along with the fans.
Despite Sunday’s unfortunate events, the crowd returned to Fort York with high hopes and no disappointment. Those at Field Trip prioritized the fans and worked hard to make sure that festival goers saw everyone they wanted to see. The festival petitioned city council to extend the Sunday sound curfew in order to fit in longer sets for the bands, which they succeeded in. I have never encountered a festival that worked so quickly and smoothly in a situation that would impact so many fans.The festival brings out families, comedians, artists, and regular fans to celebrate a weekend of local and international music. Year after year Field Trip never fails to make it an unforgettable weekend.