Music festivals are not unheard of in our city. In fact, 2012 was a token year for some of the biggest festivals in Toronto’s dance music history. But a music festival in the winter? In the Canadian winter at that? Perhaps the idea is not so foreign, as Montreal has been host to Igloofest for a quite some time – but are Torontonians ready to embrace the cold like our northern friends? The people at Electronic Nation seem to think so. This weekend, we will see the first ever Brrrrr! Winter Music Festival in Toronto, hosted at Echo Beach, Ontario Place.
“As Canadians, we spend a quarter of our year in winter. To some, the winter can be daunting, however, we feel it’s all in the way you look at things. We created Brrrr! because we wanted to celebrate Winter. We want to embrace our roots…to make people dance, in snowsuits,” says Mark Russell, Marketing Manager for Electronic Nation. With a lineup abundant with house and techno artists, Russell insists Brrrrr! is important for the dance music scene in our city, “it gives people a chance to view some artists that have never been to Toronto, or even North America for that matter”.
So what can we expect at Brrrrr! this weekend? Electronic Nation promises a “unique outdoor electronic dance event that will combine cutting edge music with next level visual art experiences.” Running February 1st and 2nd, festival patrons will find two stages from 4:30pm to 11:00pm on both days. The main stage will be accentuated with a 3D set and the second stage will be in an outdoor heated dome with VIP zones. Thank goodness – if the weather is anything like what we experienced last week, our fingers and toes will need a place to seek refuge. On that note, it is recommended that patrons dress appropriately for the weather. Check the temperatures before you venture out, though we’ve been assured that hot food and specialty beverages will be available for purchase, along with official Brrrrr! merchandise for those who miss a layer…or two. As a special treat for early concert-goers, between 4:30-7:00pm on Friday, Corona is presenting “Chaud Time” with $5 drinks for those who are of legal drinking age. That’s not all; Brrrrr! vendor partners have also promised some great interactive experiences for fans throughout the festival, but we’ll have to wait until we get there to see what organizers have up their sleeves.
As far as the music goes, the line up is what some would call “cheese free”. The 20 artists have been handpicked to suit a less commercial atmosphere, combining the underground sounds of the up-and-coming with those of internationally renowned DJs. Amongst the talent we will see Toronto’s own Nitin, Dzeko & Torres, Jeff Button and DJ Addy representing our city alongside international artists Osunlade, Deniz Koyu, Moby and Dubfire who are rather familiar with the Toronto crowd and will be closing the nights. See below for official set times and transportation information.
While some people cannot fathom why anyone would want to party in the cold, others are breathing a sigh of relief – a winter music festival is just what Toronto needed. We at EDM TOR side with the latter group. What better way to bring us all together than combining our love for our country with our love for the music?
See you there.
Set Times
| Fri Feb 1st 2013 | Main Stage | Bacardi Dome |
| 5:00pm | Open @ Brrrrr! Winner | Jeff Button |
| 6:00pm | Jokers of the Scene | Nitin |
| 7:00pm | Moguai | Deniz Kurtel |
| 8:00pm | Mord Fustang | Miss Kitin |
| 9:30pm | Moby | |
| Sat Feb 2nd 2012 | ||
| 5:00pm | DJ Addy | Dzeko & Torres |
| 6:00pm | Justin Martin | Mikael Weermets |
| 7:00pm | Chus & Ceballos | Dberrie |
| 8:00pm | Magda (8:15pm) | Danny Avila |
| 9:30pm | Dubfire | Deniz Koyu |
Transportation
There will be a complimentary shuttle service to and from the CNE loop stopping at the front gates of Echo Beach (Ontario Place).
Other Links
For tickets to Brrrrr! Music Festival visit: brrrrrto.com
To find out about contests and other promotions, go to our event page.
Anjali Handa – EDM TOR
