Toronto’s Riot Fest & Expo is coming at us fast and furious on September 19 and 20 at Downsview Park. Weezer, The Prodigy, Bleachers, Cancer Bats, Courage My Love, and Ritual join a diverse array of bands previously announced. To top it off, Weezer will play both days of the festival, performing their eponymous debut (known as the Blue Album) one day and Pinkerton on the other. For fans a little tight on budget – Riot Fest brings back its layaway program, with the option to pay ticket costs in several installments during the lead up to the fest.
Today we start off 1 of 10 Toronto’s Riot Fest & Expo Spotlight’s. Say hello to Wu Tang Clan and Tomahawk Love.
Wu Tang Clan
Emerging in 1993, when Dr. Dre’s G-funk had overtaken the hip-hop world, the Staten Island, NY-based Wu-Tang Clan proved to be the most revolutionary rap group of the mid-’90s – and only partially because of their music. Turning the standard concept of a hip-hop crew inside out, the Wu-Tang Clan was assembled as a loose congregation of nine MCs, almost as a support group. Instead of releasing one album after another, the Clan was designed to overtake the record industry in as profitable a fashion as possible – the idea was to establish the Wu-Tang as a force with their debut album and then spin off into as many side projects as possible. In the process, the members would all become individual stars as well as receive individual royalty checks.
Tomahawk Love
Streetsville’s Tomahawk Love draws influence from beyond raucous Canadian bands like the Sheepdogs and The Arkells.
“The roots are definitely classic rock, rip rock — The Kinks, the Beatles, the Stones,” says bass player Christian Marasovic.
They also plumb some Killers, Green Day, Nirvana, Billy Idol, Joan Jett, Lorde, some punked up Van Morrison, and Johnny Cash, and do a few of their own.
“We try to cover every era — ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s (and on up), ” he says.
The band benefits from having two lead singers, original members Jay McCurdy (lead guitar), and Kevin McGilp (rhythm guitar).
As singers go, McGilp likes the Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl.
“It’s his brutal honesty,” he says. “There are no masks, no cool.”
(Excerpts taken from http://www.mississauga.com/blogs/post/4533608-from-jam-to-gig-tomahawk-love-ready-to-rock/)
Check out Wu Tang Clan and Tomahawk Love at Toronto’s Riot Fest & Expo!
In previous years, Riot Fest and their partners at Union Events have cultivated lineups that have featured reunions and rare appearances—and 2015 is no exception. Bands such as Drive Like Jehu and Thrice will be making reunion appearances at Riot Fest & Expo. Moreover, rare appearances by Alexisonfire, Echo & The Bunnymen and Motörhead give 2015’s edition its unique feel.
Outside of the announced bands, this year’s festival will also include a circus tent featuring the Hellzapoppin Circus Sideshow Revue, a miniature golf course, a video arcade hall, and a wide array of food and drink options.
Link to purchase Riot Fest & Expo Toronto tickets:
https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/865671?utm_medium=bks
Thirty Four Flavours 