Due to the Pan Am games taking over Toronto this summer the 3rd edition of TURF (Toronto Urban Roots Festival) was moved to September. Praying to the weather gods we hoped that despite the impending fall weather that it would remain warm and rain free for at least one more weekend.
Rain jackets in tow we headed to Fort York. Having attended festivals at Fort York with multiple entrances the single entry point was challenge to say the least, breathless and sweaty we made it to the West stage as Built to Spill started playing. The band played a well balanced mix of old crowd pleasing favourites and new songs off of their 2015 album Untethered Moon.
As the day went on, we caught excellent sets by Murder by Death and Chuck Ragan the Camaraderie. When the sun began to set The Avett Brothers took to the main stage. They had the audience wrapped around their fingers encouraging everyone to clap and sing along. It’s no wonder the members of the TURF organizing committee have been campaigning for them to play year after year.
It was pitch black outside by the time Of Monsters and Men took the stage. Clad in all black playing in near blackness, it didn’t matter because everyone was instantly lifted out of the darkness as they closed out the first day of the festival.
The party wasn’t over yet, as we made our way to Lee’s Palace for The Elwins and Rich Aucoin. We danced and sang along to every word of both sets, leaving the club way past our bedtime and pumped for Day 2.
Here’s some shots from day 1.
Avett Brothers
Built To Spill
Chuck Ragan
Murder By Death
Of Monsters and Men
Rich Aucoin
The Elwins
