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Electric Island is back and headed to Woodbine park for the second edition of the summer concert series! For those of you that are first-timers and the others who are more well versed underground dance music fans, we’ve provided a stage breakdown below to help guide your experience based on your music tastes and party preferences. The party will feature the main stage, celebrating 7 years, as well as a prism sponsored Pride stage. Check out our breakdown below to see who you should check out, and which DJs we suggest depending on how you’re feeling this Saturday at Woodbine Park!

Tom Trago vs Pony 

  Breakdown 

Tom Trago is an eclectic track selector who restores honour to the tech house genre, while Pony from The Fitness and Pony comes with a friendlier listening vocal infused arsenal. This choice will ultimately depend on your preference to technique vs. the interest to just want to dance and party early on.

See Tom Trago if…

You appreciate a great track selection

You’re watching for technique and control behind the decks

See Pony if…

You want some easier listening to start the day off

You want to dance guilt free without focusing too much on technical components

We suggest..

Check out Pony, move on to Tom Trago. Tech house has become a style so diluted with cheesy tunes that even using the term itself implies an inferior and uneducated taste in music. Tom Trago is a DJ that stands in a small minority that brings a calculated track selection to the genre. Pony will be fun, but it’s going to lean on the commercial side, so the underground fans will want to check Trago.

Blond:ish vs Goddollar

The Breakdown…

Blond:Ish is fresh of an Art Department-esque mutual split, where Viv is at the helm of the moniker solo. Her new forte is a little focused on branching out from Blond:Ish’s former sound, which could go either way. Goddollars on the other hand, is a cheeky American DJ with a preference for more nostalgia filling funk and upbeat tracks.

See Blond:Ish if..

You’re not against experimentation, even with some commercial track selection

 You’re curious to see where Viv is taking the new direction of Blond:Ish

You like a DJ who’s fun behind the decks

See Blond:Ish if..

You like retro house and funk beats

You want to have a more outrageous and upbeat dance

You’re a nostalgia fiend

Our suggestion.. 

Blond:Ish will be fun to check out for a little while but she’ll be back sooner than later. Goddollar’s funky and disco beats will be a perfect midday soiree, and will bring the energy up heading into sunset. Viv’s new experimentation, specifically collaborations with Diplo, might be good for the first-timers, but Goddollar is our pick for the underground fans.

DJ Harvey vs. Tom Stephan

Breakdown…

DJ Harvey is a world renowned track selector and as Resident Advisor puts it, “A Living Legend”. Tom Stephan is a pride friendly DJ with a decent selection of more synth heavy house tracks.

See DJ Harvey If…

You respect technique behind the decks

You’re actually well indulged in the underground dance music scene

You want to see a maestro at work

See Tom Stephan if.. 

You want a more Ibiza like tech house cadence

You don’t mind synths

Our suggestion…

As avid music fans, we’re going to biased heavy for DJ Harvey on this one. We wouldn’t miss his set for the world, especially given how rare his Canadian appearances are. His vinyl collection is definitely well prepared for Saturday, and it won’t disappoint. We won’t even be objective on this one, be there for DJ Harvey start to end if you frequent house and techno shows.

Seth Troxler vs. Honey Soundsytem

Breakdown..

This one comes down to a matter of energy by the end of the day. Seth Troxler will be bringing a heavier selection of techno and acid to end the night with, while Honey Soundsystem will be slinging out some very proudly gay disco vibes.

See Honey Soundsystem if..

You want a guilt free and fun dance

You want to see a flamboyant production from the DJs

You’re celebrating Pride Weekend

See Seth Troxler if..

You’re looking for something heavier and darker to match the night

You want some serious techno and acid house

Our suggestion..

Start with Honey Soundsystem, make you’re way to Troxler to end the night. Honey Soundsystem will kick the party off just right and bring the best energy of any DJ booked Saturday. Eventually though, make your way to Seth Troxler for some seriously deep and dubby grooves to finish out with.

Local Love 

Gera, one of Toronto’s most talented selectors, will be warming the day up alongside a slew of other talented locals. Arrive early to check out some sets from Toronto’s very own.

Don’t Forget:

Play by the rules, be respectful, be safe, have fun!

Give the locals some love, check out the opening DJs if you can early on

The Coda after Party will be the place to be post-event

Tickets

    Who you should see at Electric Island (Woodbine Park) and why | Festival Stage Breakdown Electric Island is back and headed to Woodbine park for the second edition of the summer concert series!

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Preview: Electric Island Season Finale | September 2nd-3rd, Toronto

Preview: Electric Island Season Finale | September 2nd-3rd, Toronto

Electric Island wraps up an exiting weekend with a two part finale weekend on Labour Day. Split between the Sunday and Monday of the long weekend, each day gives an individual program more suited towards a different audience. Fans of the original islands and programming are sure to enjoy the Sunday showcase, which features Loco Dice on the main stage and Cabal (RIP) residents Borzoo, Aleksandar…

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Civic Holiday Electric Island Brings Best of Both Worlds

Civic Holiday Electric Island Brings Best of Both Worlds

Since introducing a second stage two years ago, Electric Island has been experimenting with how to incorporate the second area into the concert cohesively. Most festivals just book their headliners and split them up between stages to disperse the crowd evenly among concert grounds. This summer EI has taken a more dedicated approach, one that fosters growth among new attendees and yet keeps the…

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Electric Island makes a hot Canada Day return

Electric Island makes a hot Canada Day return

Photo by KURTHOOP and Wes C of Ded Agency

Electric Island returns for their Canada Day showcase amidst temperatures set to be in the mid thirties all weekend long. Though it might get a little toasty at times, there is no better place to be on a hot summer day than on the island soaking in some sun and some beats.

While the first Electric Island returned with a line-up that was pretty versatile…

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Preview: Motor City Drum Ensemble @ CODA | April 13, 2018

Motor City Drum Ensemble @ CODA | April 13, 2018

Coda has been on a mission to dominate the techno market in Toronto. Starting just before new years, the Toronto techno destination has been in a take-no-prisoner mode when it comes to its bookings in the city. Over the past few months we’ve seen everyone from the likes of Rhadoo to Kerri Chandler at the club, and we see no signs of slowing down in the future. Coming up this week, is revered…

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The BPM Festival Presents Bedouin, Lee Burridge @ Maison Mercer | March 29th

The BPM Festival Presents Bedouin, Lee Burridge @ Maison Mercer | March 29th

Toronto is in for a special treat this upcoming Thursday, as the BPM Festival has brought in two of the biggest names in the industry for a musical showcase at Maison Mercer. Both Bedouin and Lee Burridgewill grace the decks to kick off the Easter weekend in good style. Despite Toronto’s recent string of proper bookings it’s still often rare to see a double headliner on the lineup, so this is an…

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Preview: Walker & Royce @ CODA | Toronto, ON

Walker & Royce take over at Coda on Saturday.

Coda has found the sweet spot to success in 2018 with a string of non-stop jam-packed parties filling up the calendar. Whatever has recently aligned in the stars for the Toronto techno spot, it’s giving Toronto fans a more diverse electronic scene to choose from. Coming up this Saturday is Dirtybird phenomenons Walker & Royce. 

Walker & Roycehave been around since the beginning of this decade…

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5 Reasons To Go Electric Island This Summer

"This year, Electric Island could be on the verge of becoming an internationally renowned event to play at for DJs, and the bookings made by the promoters will ultimately determine if it heads towards that direction."

By Kaivan Adjedani.

Electric Islandis on the precipice of becoming not only a staple event in Toronto, but a world renowned electronic event. Over the past five years the summer concert series has grown from a local industry party to a must-attend event series bringing out dedicated techno fans and musical nomads from every corner of Toronto. Season passes that grant access to each individual…

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Preview: Blond:Ish @ CODA | Toronto, ON

Preview: Blond:Ish @ CODA | Toronto, ON

Coming up this weekend at Coda, Blond:Ish take over the decks for a “Love Hangover”. Taking place the night after Valentine’s Day, the Montreal natives and now international sensations will have everyone buzzing regardless of how lucky they got the night before.

Two years ago, Blond:Ish came to Coda and tore down the roomwith an eclectic mix of house, techno, and everything in between. Since…

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Coda cancels Stimming; books Maceo Plex | February 10th

Coda cancels Stimming; books Maceo Plex | February 10th

  Toronto music fans were displeased to find out, through no fault of Coda, that Stimming would no longer be able to make an appearance this Saturday. The German maestro cancelled all remaining dates on his tour, so the disappointment was shared in many other cities as well. Coda has always had a history of making lemonade from lemons though. Just this past summer they turned a rained out…

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Preview: Honey Dijon @ CODA | Toronto, ON

Honey Dijon returns to Coda to celebrate the clubs four year anniversary with a massive seven hour open to close set this Saturday. Honey Dijon has been a regular booking for the club since opening its doors in 2014, and her ecstatic style has kept her high in demand for promoters in the city. Dijonstill always returns to throw it down at Coda, possibly as an act of homage for the backing she…

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Since opening their doors four years ago on a chilly January night, Coda has become the staple venue for techno and house events in Toronto. They’ve hosted some of the worlds fastest rising producers just before hitting superstardom, and have had intimate sets featuring some of the worlds biggest superstars including Eric Prydz and James Blake. Celebrating four successful years, CODA is having a two night anniversary weekend featuring Format:B and Honey Dijon. Until then, we look back at some of the nights that made CODA live up to its name in the Toronto techno scene.

Sven Väth 

Electric Island, also run by Coda management, is arguably the best party in Toronto all summer. So when a massive storm forced fans to evacuate the season finale mere hours into the event, it was quite a disappointment to say the least. Not to leave fans without a proper summer sendoff, headliner Sven Väth was booked at Coda for a seven hour afterparty. The result, a Coda crowd and vibe that no-one had ever seen before. Everyone was happy, everyone was dancing, and Väth kept pumping out tunes that only increased the energy with each transition. It was the right way to end a great summer of techno.

Dennis Ferrer b2b Nitin

Dennis Ferrer is already an experience on his own. His charisma, mixing, and jovial facial expressions, bring an unmatched energy to any venue he plays in. Insert Nitin, one of the best track selectors in the game, and you have a mix that will have the crowd at full attention. The tracks were bumping and the dance floor was grooving; a simple sentiment but ultimately the archetype of a Coda night.

Kerri Chandler

This was one of the most anticipated Coda bookings seen in a while, and for good reason too. As soon as Kerri Chandler got on the decks he was pumping out tune after tune and the crowd did not stop moving once. Cutting up classic New York and Chicago house tracks with disco classics, Chandler had transformed Coda into Studio 54 for the night. He kept the floor full right until the very end, and even played a last encore track for the crowd after the clubs closing hours. It was nothing like Coda has seen before, but we only hope to see it again.

Bedouin

Never in Coda’s four years have we seen the club so packed. After killing their electric island performance two months prior, Bedouin were booked for a smaller show this past summer. The line to get in stretched almost an entire block, and the inside was packed wall to wall. Not to let a full crowd down, the two DJs kept the energy up with their unique blend of middle eastern inspired house and techno. It was a wild night but if you made it in, it was worth the wait. Two words of advice for next time; Advanced Tickets.

With such an ecstatic year in the books, join CODA in celebration of what’s now to come February 2nd and 3rd with Format:B and Honey Dijon.

By Kaivan Adjedani. 

Four Coda Sets We Loved Since opening their doors four years ago on a chilly January night, Coda has become the staple venue for techno and house events in Toronto.

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Preview: Rhadoo @ Coda | Toronto, ON

Since opening its doors almost four years ago now, Coda has always made sure to cater to a variety of sounds within the underground dance music culture. You can go from Miami beach house to Berlin subway tunnel techno all within a span of 24 hours. What makes Coda so great is that the promoters, owners, and DJs are all a part of the culture as well. What’s in demand is what’s on the bill, which…

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Preview: Coors Light Snowbombing

Warm weather is great, Canada doesn’t get much of it though. It’s hard to rock cute flower crowns and layered crochet crop tops when you have to prepare for the possibility of a thunderstorm, heatwave, and cold temperatures all in one day. So how do you plan a festival when the entire country is covered in snow for half the year? Climb 7000 feet. Literally.

Coors Light Snowbombing is a four day…

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Preview: Derrick May | Toronto, ON

Derrick May gets prepared to bring Toronto through one of his classic warehouse sets tonight in order to raise awareness for the Toronto cause “resistance”. Aimed at raising awareness for social injustices such as homophobia, racism, violence, and more; this event will not only provide Toronto with a great event but possibly some takeaway values. Alongside May will be New York’s very own Volvox.

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Preview: Kerri Chandler @ CODA | Toronto, ON

This Saturday night Coda nightclub brings in yet another house music legend to headline; New York’s very own Kerri Chandler. As of late the Toronto techno club, which many consider the go-to spot for techno in the city, has brought in a slew of high-profile bookings and fresh up-and-coming acts. Right about every month or so though, Coda really gets the big guns out and brings in a revolutionary…

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Preview: M.A.N.D.Y @ Everleigh | Toronto, ON

Kaivan Adjedani. On December 13th, the Century Room Series returns after a long hiatus at Everleigh to welcome M.A.N.D.Y. on the decks. While clubs and events in the city are host to many up and coming newcomers and trendy artists, the Century Room Series has been adamant on hosting industry icons, label owners, and old school legends; aka the house music establishment. No different this week,…