A pair of emerging artists from Toronto will headline this year’s Rifflandia festival, which is set for Sept. 13-16 at various venues throughout the downtown core.
Jessie Reyez, who won breakthrough artist of the year at the 2018 Juno Awards, and Daniel Caesar, twice nominated at this year’s Grammy Awards, top the bill for the 11th annual festival. Other acts announced today include Lights, Adventure Club, bülow, Blitzen Trapper, Hey Ocean!, Mixmaster Mike, Bishop Briggs and Victoria favourites Current Swell, who will be performing with a collection of special guests to be named later. The JB’s, featuring members of the backing band for soul godfather James Brown, will also perform.
Rifflandia has a track record of booking artists well before their commercial peak — including Post Malone, Macklemore, Kiesza and Killer Mike — which always keeps things interesting, according to festival director Nick Blasko.
“Every year we have one or two artists that absolutely become those ‘Do you remember when?’ moments. In many ways, it makes for a better festival. We’re really trying to pay attention to a lot of new music. Although we’re trying to appeal to a broad audience, we’re trying to bring artists that have an upward trajectory in the market — new acts who may have played the market once but we know are due for a second play before an increased audience.”
Rifflandia had its most successful year in 2017, drawing 7,500 to flagship venue Royal Athletic Park. Blasko expects to match those numbers this year, despite a lin-up lacking performers on par with Rifflandia alumni Death Cab For Cutie, City and Colour, Arkells and Modest Mouse. “After 11 years of doing the festival, the only surefire thing is that people will be complaining [about the lineup] the day you announce,” he said with a laugh. “I look forward to it. It’s meaningful and its meaningless, but it’s the only thing that we can count on sometimes.”
Electric Avenue — the populated, multi-venue area along Discovery Street — will remain a focal point of the festival’s night programming, Blasko said. Another steady stream of artists and participating bands at this and other venues will be announced in the coming weeks, he added.
A variety of festival passes are on sale now at rifflandia.com and Lyle’s Place. Single-day tickets and a full list of participating venues will be available once the full schedule is announced this summer.
For more information, visit rifflandia.com.
