Toronto Island is undeniably the most beautiful place in the City of Toronto, and one of our truly unique civic treasures. What other big city has a tree-lined, car-free park a 10 minute ferry ride from its downtown core? (Okay, New York might have Governor’s Island, but it’s a quarter the size and lacks an amusement park or hedge maze or beach, clothing optional or otherwise.) The Islands are the lungs of the city, the place we go to breathe deeply, relax and recharge.
We at Wavelength have been lucky enough to have presented live independent music on Toronto Island the past six years, thanks to our unique partnership with Artscape Gibraltar Point, the artists’ retreat centre located in the former Toronto Island Public School, where we co-produced the ALL CAP! Island Festival, which was the first music festival to feature overnight camping within Toronto city limits. This year, we’re beyond excited to bring camping and music back to the Island for a whole weekend in August, launching a new festival under a new name: Camp Wavelength features THREE exhilarating days and nights of music on two stages, plus two nights of overnight camping, interactive art installations, intriguing performances, and tons of fun games and activities.
Though we’re justifiably proud of the line-up we’ve just announced – which for the inaugural Camp Wavelength features hometown-hero-headliners Holy Fuck, The Wooden Sky and Do Make Say Think, plus an incredible array of creative artists from across Canada, as well as some U.S. friends making the trip across border… the location itself is just as much of a draw. The festival and campgrounds are located on the lawn next to the arts centre, tucked away between the iconic Gibraltar Point lighthouse and the bucolic beach – which by late summer will see Lake Ontario warmed up enough for some refreshing swimming (and maybe even some late-night skinny-dipping).
Come spend the weekend as an Islander with us – you really need to camp over to get the full Camp Wavelength experience – and you’ll see why this very special place inspired our theme for this year’s festival: Another World. You’re only 10 minutes from the concrete chaos of downtown, but it feels like you’ve stepped through a portal into a different dimension. One where everything is calmer, more civilized and creative – where everyone around you is your new best friend.
Here’s everything you need to know about Camp Wavelength.
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Photo by Kevin Parnell: Eons perform at the Final ALL CAPS! Island Festival, August 2013.