Written by Kellie Boberek
Photos by Rebecca Hollman
In less than a month Toronto will once again be home to the Bud Light Dreams music festival. This summer staple is taking place at RBC Echo Beach on June 29th-30th and features over 35 artists across three stages. Headliners include Toronto native Rezz, Louis the Child, Nghtmre and Slander presents: Gud Vibrations, and special guest Don Diablo.
This year all three stages are packing a punch with diverse artists that are sure to impress any festival goer. RBC Echo Beach, the festival’s sandy main stage, covers a variety of genres from trap to future house and everything in between. This year’s main stage hosts all of the festival’s headliners along with other artists such as Anna Lunoe, Phantoms, and Lost Kings. The festivals second stage, “Waterfront,” is home to house and tech-house artists such as Gorgon City, Dom Dolla, and Claptone. This stage will be sure to keep you dancing all weekend long. Lastly, the Dream House tent is home to both bass artists and trance artists Saturday and Sunday respectively. Notable artists include Drezo, 1788-L, Andrew Rayel, and Sander Van Doorn presents Purple Haze. This lineup really has something for everyone at this beautiful lakefront location.
Although this lineup is dreamy my favorite artists bring the nightmare vibes with heavy, dark, or underground sights and sounds. Here are my can’t miss artists this year.
RCB Echo Beach: Rezz
Known for her spooky, unique sounds, and cult following, Rezz makes her Dreams Festival headlining debut. She posted on Twitter shortly after her headlining announcement “Extremely wild I’m headlining digital dreams. I used to attend this festival in my teens & would skip work at my restaurant job to come party here..” The artist also recently announced her new EP, ‘Beyond the Sense,” is coming out later this summer. With both of these things in mind Rezz’s set will be one you don’t want to miss.
Waterfront: Claptone
Widely known for his gold mask with a long bird like beak and white gloves, Claptone brings an air of mystery to every performance. Since 2012 Claptone has been bringing his illusive house sounds all around the world with hits like “No Eyes,” and “Under the Moon.” Coming off his #2 ranking in the 2018 DJ Mag Alternative Top 100 list for house and techno artists, his set will surely be a great way to close out the weekend.
Dreams House: Ghastly
Ghastly’s sets are a musical and visual experience from start to finish. Blending a variety of genres from bass house to heavy-hitting wubs his sets keep you engaged the entire time. Ghastly also focuses on the visual elements of his performance with mind boggling illustrations and videos. If you want a taste of what they are like check out his “Hello Festival Season Mix Vol. 2” on YouTube.
Beyond the music, Bud Light Dreams is offering an expanded amount of carnival games (with free prizes for the first 50 players each day), free yoga every day from 3-4pm and hula hoop lessons at the festival.
Bud Light Dreams is also partnering with the Get Real Movement for their official merchandise this year to promote unity, inclusion, and positivity at the festival and beyond. All attendees wearing the official merchandise to the festival will be rewarded with express entry!