Freedom 2014, the last Freedom at the Guvernment Entertainment Complex, was one for the bass heads! INKEntertainment must have been listening to its fan base and created a stellar lineup, one that had a little bit of everything from the bass-heavy genres under the growing and constantly changing electronic music umbrella. This night was easily one of the better nights we have had at the complex! Kudos to INK for emailing out countless free tickets to the very last Freedom! Couldn’t have asked for a better end to a great event series!
We arrived around 11 p.m. and entered the venue after waiting mere minutes in line, coat check was a breeze as well. After assembling the crew and deciding our check in point later on in the night, we entered Kool Haus with Ape Drums at the helm, kicking off and setting the tone for the night. Ape Drums’ remix of Recess by Skrillex was the first full song we heard that night. After buying water and claiming our spot on the dance floor, we quickly stretched and started moving our feet. Ape Drums’ set was the perfect mix of dancehall, meets grime, meets bass. From beginning to end we did not stop shaking our hips to the electric beat he provided. We really wish Ape Drums will come back soon for another night where we can leave everything on the dance floor.
Around 11:30 there was a Toronto Bass Community meet up at the back left of the venue. For those who do not know, TBC is a Facebook group of like-minded individuals who love everything to with bass music. Chat about upcoming shows, new releases or reminisce about the good old days when you first started raving. This group is a stark difference from Toronto Rave Community. Everyone is much more laid back, it’s about the music and we can happily and easily call TBC a community. We highly suggest anyone who enjoys bass music should join!
We decided to duck out of Kool Haus to check out Guvernment’s Main Room and Acid Lounge for a bit. For anyone who has attended a Guvernment all-access event you know things can become pretty packed early on in the night and man, was Guvernment packed! We must say, this is the most amount of people we have ever seen in one venue. It took roughly 15 minutes to walk from upstairs, back to Kool Haus through Chroma.
When we arrived back in Kool Haus 12th Planet was on the decks. The amount of dance room that was available throughout the entire venue was a welcome relief. Everyone had more than ample room to rinse out, and rinse out did we. The last time 12th Planet was in town was when he played in the Bacardi Tent at Veld 2013. His set, like before, was filled with his take on the electro, jungle and dubstep genres he, and we love, so much.
To no one’s surprise the subs with in full force that night. Standing in front of the stage your body was in for a head to toe rumble. Nothing beats feeling the bass pounding through your body while dancing to one of your favourite producers. 12th Planet, we are still, patiently, waiting for you to post the selfie you took with yours truly in the photo!
The last timeCapsawas in town was in January 2013 when he played at Bassmentality. (RIP!) Seeing the producer who first turned you on to UK dubstep and bass is always a blessing! By this time our legs were sore and we were beyond sweaty but we continued to pull through “the dopest ghost in town’s” set. Notable tracks include In for the Kill, Where’s my Money, his remix of Rusko’s Cockney Thug, deadmau5 & KaskadeI Remember and Emalkay’s remix of Fulham 2 Waterloo.
The main reason we wanted to attend was to see Chase and Status. We missed them every time they have been in Toronto since 2012. It’s shameful, really! The set started promptly at 2 a.m. Playing a little bit of everything, and including some surprising additions. The best surprise was hearing Eastern Jam, which brought a flood of positive memories. Time featuring Delilah, kept the crowd moving and singing along. Blind Faith could be heard pumping through the speakers to an OMG moment. This song will forever send shivers down my spine and to hear it on a proper sound system almost made me weep from pure joy. Saxon was also another song that reminds me of the joy of exploring music and the beginning stages of exploring a genre near and dear. LOUDPVCK was up next but our tired bodies could not take anymore so we ducked out as Chase and Status closed their set with Nero‘s new single Satisfy.
This is by far the best free show we have ever been to! If you have the opportunity to see any of the artists who played at Kool Haus you should definitely explore their discographies! To be surrounded by bass heads with the ability to dance like no one is watching with tons of dance room was a blessing over Victoria Day long weekend and a superb way to kick off the summer! Our legs are still wobbly after dancing for 5 straight hours. We hope to see all these producers in Toronto in the very near future. Thanks to INK for another wonderful night and it was a pleasure meeting so many TBC members and seeing friendly faces!
Adele is the owner of Tranceported. She manages and maintains the social media and the photo and video teams, and has been shooting our event photos since 2011. She has been a fan of Trance music since the mid-90s and started this website (formerly called EDM TOR) in 2012.
