Music from hip—hop to contemporary classical, comedy, and more will showcase the depth of Indigenous talent at the UpFRONT Festival. It takes place from September 13 to 15 at St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and Meridian Hall.
Not coincidentally, that’s the area where the original shoreline of Lake Ontario was located.
Here’s a look at the lineup.
UpFRONT Festival, Indigenous Arts, Music And Culture
The Festival opens on September 13 with a celebration. Here are the ticketed events.
September 14
- The National Theatre of Greenland (1 p.m.) is an independent public company established in 2011, and devoted to producing performing arts based on the Inuit culture of Greenland.
- Amanda Rheaume (3 p.m.) is a winner of the Canadian Folk Music Award for Indigenous songwriter, known for her guitar-driven ballads and rootsy sound.
- Shawnee Kish (5:30 p.m.) is a two-spirit Mohawk singer/songwriter and multiple Juno nominee.
- Drezus & Semiah (7 p.m.) — The double bill features songwriter, producer, and multidisciplinary artist Semiah’s signature brand of electro-R&B, together with Anishinaabe/Nehiyaw hip-hop artist Drezus.
- The Tkaronto Stand Up Allstars (10 p.m.) include comedians who have performed on APTN, OutTV, Just for Laughs, and CBC.
September 15
- Rabbit and Bear Paws (1 p.m.) offers a family-friendly puppet show with characters from the show Adventures of Rabbit and Bear Paws.
- Tonto’s Nephews (3:30 p.m.) is an all-Indigenous improv troupe, reuniting for the first time in years to perform at the festival.
- William Prince & Cris Derksen (5 p.m.) — Well known cellist and composer Cris Derksen will perform in a double bill with JUNO Award winning songwriter William Prince.
Along with ticketed shows, there are free events and activities, an outdoor marketplace for the work of Indigenous artists and artisans, and a pop-up collaborative mural created by graffiti artists along the side of the St. Lawrence Centre where you can add your own mark.
Weekend passes, day passes, and individual tickets are available. Find more about the UpFRONT Festival, and get tickets, [HERE].
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