40,000 fans gathered together to experience a curated weekend of music, entertainment, and art
Experiencing a nearly brand-new festival as an attendee is always an exciting experience, especially if the festival is in its sophomore year. You get the chance to see how the festival has improved from their inaugural year, and what its fallbacks are. As WayHome entered its second year, it was clear that it weighed heavily on the festival experience—not just the lineup.
This year’s bill brought in big-name indie headliners LCD Soundsystem, Arcade Fire, and The Killers. With Wayhome being Arcade Fire’s and LCD Soundsystem’s only Canadian gig this year, fans from all over the country flocked to the small town of Oro-Medonte for a three-day stint of music and arts. The festival hosts four stages, from the main WayHome stage to the small, intimate WayAway stage. Campers who arrived to the grounds on Thursday had the option of attending an art walk, which gave them the chance to immerse themselves in the installations and take a sneak peek at the festival grounds. Toronto band The Darcys kicked off the first performance of the festival on the Thursday, ending the art walk with an eclectic, tropical performance.
Where other big-name Canadian festivals splurge on extravagant headliners and lack a Canadian bill, WayHome prides itself on showcasing Canadian talent. The festival packed its lineup with acts such as BadBadNotGood, River Tiber, Arcade Fire, Shad, and Half Moon Run. From smaller, indie acts such as Braids and Little Scream, to big-name Canadian stars such as Arkells, Metric, and Mac Demarco, the festival wasn’t shy of pure Canadian talent. Support for The Tragically Hip resonated throughout the weekend—from Stars sporting Tragically Hip t-shirts during their set to a “My Music at Work” cover by the Arkells.
The Friday saw a diverse array of performers, including LANY, The Struts, Wolf Parade, and Chvrches. LANY saw a packed crowd from an early, hot 40 degree afternoon set. Devoted fans poured over lead singer Paul Klein as he sang the group’s newer singles. Shad kicked off the WayBold stage in the evening, drawing a massive crowd. The beloved CBC Radio One host preached to the crowd, interacting with fans throughout his set. Foals led the festival into the evening, drawing intense, devoted fans under the roof of the WayBold stage. The math-rock band saw one of the craziest crowds of the day; no one was immune to the mosh that occurred throughout the entire set. The finally reunited LCD Soundsystem headlined the night. The band belted out their hits, including “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House” and “Dance Yrself Clean.” Along with day acts, late night performances are hosted deep into the night past the headliner, giving campers a chance to experience music into the early morning. Mac Demarco, Matt & Kim, and Keys N Krates were among some of the artists performing on the late night bill.
Saturday had a packed lineup, and saw the most festival attendees of the weekend. Fans had a chance to opt into day passes to see the likes of Phosphorescent, X Ambassadors, A Tribe Called Red, M83, and The Last Shadow Puppets. A Tribe Called Red brought a massive, energetic environment to the venue.
Shad was brought out halfway through the set to share the stage with the electronic group. Blending the sounds of dubstep, hip-hop, and other eclectic genres, the group shook up the festival with subtle sounds of First Nations music. Hamilton rockers Arkells stole the WayBright stage, pounding out hit singles, including new music. Lead singer Max Kerman energized the crowd with old and new tracks, including their shiny new single, “Drakes Dad,” released the day before their set. Kerman jumped into the crowd, sang into faces, and jumped around his bandmates. Arcade Fire headlined the day, performing to long-time fans eager to see them live. Member Regine Chassagne stole the spotlight, prancing around the stage with props to enhance the live experience. The band ended their set with “Wake Up”, bringing the crowd together to sing the melodic lyrics. Towards the end of the song, fireworks lit up the sky behind the crowd as singer Win Butler and the crowd sang in unison. Between the fireworks and the band creating energy on stage, that moment was arguably the most magical the festival has seen. Late night acts, including Chet Faker, FKA twigs, and Major Lazer kept the energy going through to the a.m.
Despite the terrible heat throughout the weekend, patrons of the festival kept their energy high for the last day of the festival. Oh Wonder was the first to hit the WayHome stage in the afternoon. The couple belted out their hits to loving fans. “This is our first festival in Canada!” exclaimed singer Josephine Vander Gucht, “We are so excited to play for you.” BORNS saw one of the largest crowds despite the early set time. Playing major hits such as “American Money,” “Electric Love,” along with a David Bowie and an Arcade Fire cover, he kept the crowd energized. The day followed with a serene set by Beirut, an intense performance by The Arcs, and a loving fan-filled crowd for sister band Haim. The Killers concluded the last musical set of the festival. Singer Brandon Flowers, who performed solo at WayHome’s inaugural festival, flew around the stage. The crowd experienced a perfectly curated setlist, starting off with “Mr. Brightside,” a solo piano intro of “Human,” “All These Things That I Have Done,” and ending with “When You Were Young.” Fans returned to their campsites in awe, reflecting on the past few days.
Wayhome proves that it is much more than a festival of music. Between the Perrier Greenhouse offering refreshments and an area to cool off, free Vitamin Water throughout the camping grounds, to the Somersby Cider treehouse with an overlooking view, fans had the chance to take advantage of free sponsored products and experiences. Art was sprinkled throughout the festival grounds and the campgrounds, including video-based productions, street art, and The Do LaB. Those who stayed for the entire weekend were treated to surprise guests, a fantastic camping experience, and non-stop live music.
Although the festival is only in its second year, it saw a massive success with a larger attendance compared to their first year. It brought fans from around North America to experience the amazing weekend the festival has to offer.
Check out some more articles about WayHome from The Ontarion:
WayHome’s 2015 debut
WayHome releases 360 videos featuring lineup clues
WayHome video teasers released