MY PEEPS! What’s the good word?
There is so much going on over this side, that it’s been a couple of months since y’all have heard from me. In case y’all are not aware, your girl is expecting her first little one! That’s right, my Sugar Plum is on the way, and I’m ecstatic! And swollen, sore and perpetually starving at most times of the day. However, I’m still around just keeping a low profile and working my tail off.
With that being said, I had to come through and share a few festivals happening in Toronto this summer that y’all should be privy to. Let me state that this list would have been much longer if I started it earlier, alas, the remaining festivals on deck should already be marked on your calendar.
- Beaches International Jazz Festival (July 7th-30th): With soothing sounds and stellar line-ups year after year, Beaches International Jazz Festival comes correct with some serious artists on deck. This year, check out Shi Wisdom on the urban stage as well as a Jazz/Latin carnival. Streets are blocked off and the area is turned into a street party with concerts, a streetfest and more. Check out the goods and more information here.
- UNITY Festival (July 12th-15th): Hip hop, hip hop! UNITY Festival is a celebration of, you guessed it, hip hop. Over a 4 day span, they will uncover the depths and many aspects to hip hop from breakdancing and beatboxing to a graffiti exhibition. The festival all comes to a collective end with the UNITY Concert featuring Main Source. Y’all. Main Source will be celebrating the 25the anniversary of their classic album Breaking Atoms with special guests. Check out the goods and more information here.
- OVO Fest (Monday August 7th): You can love him or hate him, Drizzy aka Drake usually has the non-Caribana-hip-hop-loving crowd on lock at OVO. His guest list always carries major weight. And he doesn’t only dabble with the hip hop set, but delivers the entire experience with soca (he had Machel Montano last year), R&B and of course, hip hop artists gracing the stage. While I still haven’t made it to one of his festivals as yet, I have been told by many that it’s an annual ambush of goodness. Check out the goods and more information here.
- iLive Radio Soulfest Festival (September 1st-2nd): Of course this one has my heart. Toronto is null and void when it comes to celebrating the soul music forces from the city and beyond. This festival is new on the block and hopes to change that perspective. iLive Radio presents Soulfest Festival taking place the Labour Day long weekend. If you’re a soul aficionado then I do not need to tell you to mark your calendar accordingly for this. The Foreign Exchange’s Zo! with Carmen Rodgers, Shi Wisdom, Carl McIntosh and Loose Ends AND Omar Lyefook? And I haven’t even listed all of the goodness transpiring and hitting the stage. I will be speaking more about this project in the upcoming weeks, so stay tuned. For now, make sure to check out the goods and more information here.
That’s all I have for y’all! Make sure to hit the websites and get in where you fit in. I don’t have that much time to enjoy the good vibes, but I intend to get out and enjoy when I can. Hope to see y’all there!