Preview: VELD To Electrify Toronto With Deadmau5, Above & Beyond And More!

By: Sasha Kalra (@sashakalra) –

Get ready boys and girls; VELD is just around the corner.

The luscious setting of Downsview Park will host the second annual VELD Musical Festival on the weekend of August 3^rdand 4^th. The festival debuted last year too much acclaim and the organizers have returned with an even bigger lineup this time around.

Last year’s festival took place on the same day of HARD Toronto which featured Justice, M83 and Buraka Som Sistema at Fort York. Many were wondering how VELD would compete with another electronic-heavy Toronto event happening on the same day but the folks over at INK Entertainment passed with flying colours, with the likes of Deadmau5, Avicii, BASSNECTAR, and Steve Aoki electrifying Toronto.This year’s edition falls on the same weekend as The Grove Music Festival, OVOFest and Osheaga.

The weekend is playing host to some of the biggest names in EDM, but the organizers have done their homework with filling out the rest of the lineup. The likes of Deamau5, Above & Beyond and Steve Angello will draw the highest crowds but it would be futile for attendees to miss out on some of the other slated performances.

Having guys like Steve Aoki, Mat Zo, Madeon, Seven Lions and 12th Planet on the middle to bottom end of a festival bill is almost blasphemous. Seven Lions opened for Porter Robinson on a snowy Toronto evening in February and those who managed to brave the cold to catch his set weren’t disappointed. The OWSLA signee primarily creates melodic dubstep but his set contained an impressive array of dubstep, trap, electro and even a bit of hip hop. His earlier work drew primarily from metal influences, but the way he performs and produces electronic music is a definite must-see.

The name 12th Planet doesn’t need any introduction to people who have been into bass music for more than 10 seconds. Sure, he gained a galaxy of new fans after touring with Skrillex on the Mouthership Tour two years ago, but he’s been producing electronic music since the ‘90s. Skrillex’s mentor began in the drum and bass scene and was one of the first producers in North America to embrace dubstep. His energy-filled sets elicit huge reactions from the crowd and the LA native will be one of the acts you don’t want to miss.

Steve Aoki is so much more than the heir to the Benihana empire. Instead of entering the family business, the Miami native tried his hand at creating electronic music. Most would say he made the right decision and anyone who has been lucky enough to experience a classic Aoki performance would agree that the Dim Mak records head honcho often provides wild performances.

You can buy your VELD tickets here.