Wavelength Summer Thing 2022 (Night 1)

Announcing:

WAVELENGTH SUMMER THING
More info: wavelengthmusic.ca

Friday August 26
@ Lithuanian House, Toronto

Upper Hall:
Cadence Weapon (Toronto - Underground hip-hop icon, 2021 Polaris Prize winner & Bedroom Rapper author)
Ouri (Montreal - Acclaimed experimental electronic producer / Ghostly International)
James Baley (Toronto – Rising R&B/ballroom performer)

Lower Hall:
Backxwash (Montreal – Industrial horrorcore rapper, 2020 Polaris Prize winner)
Dreamcrusher (Brooklyn, NY – “Nihilist queer revolt musik”)
Morgan-Paige (Toronto – Classical/contemporary piano song)
+ LaFHomme (After-party DJ, Montreal)

Doors 7pm 
ALL AGES + Licensed
Accessible venue

Early Bird Tickets:
On sale at ShowClix.com
$15 - Night 1 (access both floors)
$15 - Night 2 (access both floors)
$25 weekend pass (access all shows)

More than a show, but not really a festival…. It’s just a Summer Thing. Introducing: The Wavelength Summer Thing, August 26-27 at the Lithuanian House in Toronto.

Headlined and co-curated by the last TWO years of Polaris Music Prize winners – Cadence Weapon and Backxwash – the Wavelength Summer Thing takes over two floors of gorgeous alternative space the Lithuanian House in Toronto’s west end, over two nights to mark a glorious end to summer. Beat the heat (and stay dry) in this fully air-conditioned and weatherproof ALL AGES venue that will be full of curated installations, projections and pop-up performances.

Spotlighting the contributions of Black and LGBTQ+ artists to the Canadian music scene, much of the Summer Thing lineup was originally scheduled for the Wavelength Winter Festival this past February, but was postponed due to Omicron. The Summer Thing’s two floors have been specially curated to maintain distinct vibes in each space, with a narrative flow guiding both evenings — and set times staggered to ensure no direct competition between performances. 

The atmospheres across the two stages will range from experimental queer horrorcore to celebratory, hip-hop dance party to psychedelic rock freak scene. Each night will close out with an after-party DJ set with guest selectors invited by the headliners. The announcement coincides with the publishing of headliner, co-curator and underground hip-hop icon Cadence Weapon’s new book, Bedroom Rapper. The opening-night convergence of Cadence Weapon and Montreal industrial horrorcore rapper Backxwash is not to be missed. 

Other featured performers include avant-rock local heroes Absolutely Free and Montreal post-rock shoegaze volume-crankers Yoo Doo Right as part of a showcase for the Mothland label & agency; buzzy Montreal underground soul/rap artist Magi Merlin; acclaimed experimental electronic producer Ouri alongside rising R&B/ballroom star James Baley; and a special appearance by New York noise musician and Backxwash collaborator, Dreamcrusher.

Taking place during the traditional August timing of Wavelength’s past summer festivities including Camp Wavelength and ALL CAPS!, the Wavelength Summer Thing will take you back to school while ensuring that summer feeling lasts all the way until next winter.

Wavelength Summer Thing is supported by:
Ontario Creates
The Canada Council for the Arts
Ontario Arts Council
Toronto Arts Council 
Department of Canadian Heritage
FACTOR
The SOCAN Foundation
Slaight Music
TD Bank 
ArtsVest
Collective Arts Brewing
Exclaim!
CIUT 89.5 FM

Poster art by Baylee Bonnell