FASHION Magazine

Music festival began in Toronto this past weekend with Field Trip, a two-day concert bringing acts like Alabama Shakes, Purity Ring, War on Drugs and My Morning Jacket to the city’s historic Fort York. Run by homegrown label Arts & Crafts, the now-annual festival virtually guarantees coolness, with many attendees eschewing the flower child, and […]

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Festival season had its official Canadian start this weekend, as the second annual Field Trip music festival hit Toronto with a series of cacophonous bangs. Run by indie label Arts & Crafts, the two-day festival brought together homegrown darlings and international favourites like Interpol, The Kills, Austra, Washed Out, Cvrches and The Constantines. As is a now two-year tradition, local gods Broken Social Scene closed out the weekend with a 46-person set, as the crowd didn’t let the rain spoil the lively mood.

In what had to be the most perfect weather day of the year so far, Saturday’s almost 30 degree high had festivalgoers making use of the skin-baring assets of shorty short jorts, crop tops (with this season’s update: the thin strap) and protective oversized hats. In stark contrast, Sunday’s drizzle had attendees piling on the waterproof layers and creative makeshift ponchos out of colourful woven blankets.

See the Field Trip festival photos »

This past Saturday, Toronto’s finest music label and 10,000 of its biggest fans turned out at the downtown Fork York and Garrison Common to celebrate ten years of Arts & Crafts goodness. The one-day concert may be considered a mini music festival in comparison to its much larger companions (Coachella boasts over 75,000 attendees per day, for one), it felt real maxi complete with a hula hoop party, Norman Wong photo exhibit and tricked out food trucks. Many of A&C’s current and formerly-repped bands returned home to play at one of two stages, including Feist, Trust, Stars and 24 members of Broken Social Scene, who thrilled the crowd with their entire landmark You Forgot it in People album from beginning to end.

Given the ever-surging popularity of choir vocals in top indie–thanks Antony, and the Johnsons too–I bet the Hidden Cameras are singing to a whole new host of converts. The Toronto ensemble’s fifth album of gospel, 60s-ish pop, and queer-as-folk tunes is out today, and holy! Such a congregration-pleaser. Though hardly a departure from past romps, Origin: Orphan (Arts & Crafts) has a purer, meditative sound–more uplifting, less down and dirty.

For years it seemed that the best band ever to come from…uhh…Milton, Ontario, would remain forever “that big band on Arts & Crafts that isn’t Broken Social Scene.” Will the Most Serene Republic’s grandiose new album, …And the Ever Expanding Universe, change their fate? Not likely.