Last night Budweiser Canada and Live Nation kicked off the outdoor concert season with an opening event for the books at Budweiser Stage. This year the iconic outdoor venue in the heart of Toronto boasts the largest line-up to date with nearly 60 musical acts scheduled to take the stage in 2018.
Kicking off the season last night, Canadian supergroup Broken Social Scene teamed up with Portugal. The Man. Trust us, everyone in attendance could “Feel It Still” as the assembled masses danced away the warm spring night, happy to once again to be revelling in the music outside! Of course, no Opening Night is complete without a red carpet so you can feel VIP, Fireworks, because why not.
In the coming weeks, Bud Stage will host the huge TDE Tour featuring Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Schoolboy Q, and the rest of the label, as well as shows by Ms. Lauryn Hill, Imagine Dragons, Arcade Fire, Slayer, Keith Urban, and many more throughout the summer. It’s gonna’ be lit!
Aside from their mega lineup, Budweiser Stage also features a ton of new and cool things that will leave all fans in a state of Euphoria. With the freshly updated Artist Walkway, a series of local artist-created portraits of the upcoming performers. After a glimpse at this incredible series of art, be sure to hit up the Budweiser River Bar, located within the venue gates designed to extend the music experience with pre-and-post show entertainment on select nights. Last night the incredible Skratch Bastid got the party started with solid tunes, buds, and an epic view of the Toronto skyline. After the show Broken Social Scene’s Brandon Canning threw down some tunes for what quickly became the after after party! Last year, there were over 30 acts featured at the River Bar Stage, while this year they’ve managed to top that with more than 40 performers slated. Whoa!
Once you’re in the zone and head towards the main stage we recommend stopping by the Budweiser Brewery Fresh Booth on the lawn to grab the freshest Budweiser you will ever have! Delivered straight from the local brewery in London, Ontario housed inside premium copper tanks.
Understanding that sound is king, all the speakers on the lawn have been updated with a state of the art Adamson Line Array Sound System. That means lawn ticket holders will now be able to benefit from the highest quality audio possible in an outdoor venue. Going hand in hand with the new and improved sound, there’s finally venue-wide free WiFi!! So everyone who isn’t at the show can follow along and feel major #fomo!
Okay, so we have the new sound, free internet and a killer lineup, what else do we need… oh yeah, new food options! Fans looking to grab a bite at the venue will now have more options. Budweiser Stage will be offering new, crowd-pleasers like chicken and vegetarian quesadillas while also adding fries (again, finally!) to the fan-favourite Bud & Burgers, featuring Webers famous charcoal barbecued hamburgers. For premium ticket-holders, Budweiser Stage has partnered with The Drake to create an elevated culinary experience with more choices and items from the restaurant’s menu. Yes!
Peep the pics from last nights opening show and check out the full lineup HERE, now! See you this summer on the field!
Portugal. The Man
Broken Social Scene
Photos by Tristan Banning & Ryan Emberley