Purveyors of: Poetry, failing math, dance music
File next to: pHoenix Pagliacci, GZA, Hot Chip
Appearing: Wavelength Winter Fest 2025 Night 1: The OBGMs + pHoenix Pagliacci + Bonnie Trash + Gurpreet + Truss + Cadence Weapon (DJ Set): February 27, 2025 @ St. Anne’s Parish (651 Dufferin Street)
Cadence Weapon is Edmonton-born, Hamilton-based rapper, producer, DJ, writer and poet, Rollie Pemberton. Pemberton has an illustrious career in the Canadian arts scene, which includes serving as Edmonton’s poet laureate from 2009 to 2011. 5 of his 6 albums have been nominated for the Polaris Music Prize, including his 2021 release Parallel World, which won the award. In 2022, Pemberton published his memoir, Bedroom Rapper, via McClelland & Stewart and has already signed a deal for his next book. Pemberton turned heads again when his new record ROLLERCOASTER garnered unprecedented press love and attention. Being the non-stop creator he is, Pemberton is busy with a hot new Toronto residency series featuring some of the most influential names in Canadian music, a cross-Canada tour and the deluxe version of his latest record.
As part of Wavelength’s 25th anniversary interview series, we talked to Rollie – who played his first WL show back in 2005 – about his experiences with our series.
WL: In three words, can you describe the Wavelength experience to someone who’s never been to a show?
Communal, vibrant, eclectic.
WL: How has playing at Wavelength helped you connect with other artists in the community ?
Wavelength has been really good about providing space for forward-thinking artists to connect with each other and present their art to an audience. I ended up collaborating with myst milano and James Baley on my last album after playing at Wavelength with them.
WL: What is a ritual or a must-have drink/snack you need before you play a show ?
I usually sit in the green room and visualize the show going well. I mentally go through the whole thing. I’m a big proponent of visualization.
WL: Wavelength has been putting on shows for 25 years. What does the organization’s history mean to you as an artist ? How does it feel to be a part of that history ?
Wavelength has been supportive of me from the very beginning of my career. It was a show of theirs I played at Sneaky Dee’s for a handful of people many years ago that helped me get my first booking agent.
WL: If you could curate your dream Wavelength lineup who would play it and why ?
I actually got to curate Wavelength Summer Thing a few years ago so I literally did that already! But if I could do it again, maybe it would be DijahSB, myst milano and Yves Jarvis.
WL: Do you have anything you’d like to say/share about Wavelength’s 25th anniversary ?
Congratulations to a wonderful Canadian institution!
Cadence Weapon’s DJ sets join gothic post-punk drone sisters Bonnie Trash, hip-hop artist/activist pHoenix Pagliacci, raucous Afro-punk trio The OBGMs, and cross-cultural improv from Gurpreet + Truss on Night 1 of Wavelength Winter Festival.
Thursday Feb 27- Saturday March 1
St. Anne’s Parish Hall
651 Dufferin Street, Toronto
Doors 7pm
$25 single tickets
$55 weekend pass
plus taxes and fees at DICE.FM
Tickets: https://bit.ly/WLwinter25
All Ages + Licensed