May 27 is nearly here, which means it's almost time for you to spend an entire day hanging out at Echo Beach in Toronto, listening to an all-Canadian lineup and getting that airbrush tattoo you've always wanted. (And if you can't be there in person, we'll make you feel like you were.)
Read on, below, for the rest of the details, and keep an eye out: 10 golden access tickets will be hidden all over the park for entry into the CBC Toronto VIP Lounge — look to @CBCMusic's Twitter handle (hashtag #cbcmusicfest) for clues.
Festival time: Gates open at 1:30 p.m., festival ends at 11 p.m.
How to get tickets: Buy them here. And remember: children 12 years of age and under don't require a ticket.
How to watch if you're not in Toronto: Head to CBCMusic.ca for a full stream of the entire day, or CBC Music' s Facebook page for Facebook Lives of individual sets.
How to watch after the event: Tune in to CBC-TV on Saturday, July 1, at 5 p.m. local for a one-hour special. You can also tune in to Canada Live for highlights on June 2 and 9 on Radio One (2 p.m. local, 2:30 p.m. NL) and June 5 and 12 on Radio 2 (7 p.m. local, 7:30 p.m. NL).
Stages: There are four stages running throughout the day. Times aren't yet confirmed, but below are the artists listed by stage.
Main stage
- The Beaches: 2:30-3 p.m.
- William Prince: 3:25-3:55 p.m.
- Bobby Bazini: 4:20-4:50 p.m.
- Scott Helman: 5:20-6 p.m.
- Ruth B: 6:30-7:15 p.m.
- Walk Off the Earth: 7:45-9:05 p.m.
- Serena Ryder: 9:40-11 p.m.
q stage
- The Long War (2017 Searchlight winners): 2:15-2:35 p.m.
- IsKwe: 2:55-3:20 p.m.
- Sarah Slean: 3:45-4:25 p.m.
- Bros.: 4:50-5:35 p.m.
- Alx Veliz: 6-6:45 p.m.
- Austra: 7:15-8 p.m.
- Keys ‘n’ Krates: 8:40-9:40 p.m.
Tent stage
- Mayfield Magnetics Choir: 2:20-2:40 p.m.
- Bird of Bellwoods: 3-3:25 p.m.
- Jon Bryant: 3:50-4:15 p.m.
- Valley: 4:45-5:15 p.m.
- Ralph: 5:55-6:35 p.m.
- Daniela Andrade: 7:05-7:50 p.m.
CBC Kids’ stage (hosted by Janaye, Victor and Cottonball)
- Bobby Bazini: 2:35 p.m.
- Ruth B: 3:20 p.m.
- Hang time with Walk Off the Earth: 4:20 p.m.
- Serena Ryder: 5:15 p.m.
Activities: Aside from the music, there are various places to meet your favourite CBC people, do some silkscreening and try out some instruments.
CBC Music and CBC Toronto tent
- Airbrush tattoos
- Green screen fun
- Phone charging
- Plinko and Jenga
CBC Kids' area
- Kids' stage
- Activity tents
- Rock 'n' Roll hair salon
- Rock 'n' Roll tattoo parlour
- Craft stations
- Instrument petting zoo
- CBC colouring pages
- Diaper change stations
- Giant sandbox with hula hoops, toys and sidewalk chalk
CBC Arts studio
- Silkscreening 101
CBC Podcasts
- Jump into a king-size bed with Sleepover host Sook-Yin Lee and the Dream Team to learn about Lee's new podcast. Watch videos and eat junk food as Lee gets a group of strangers to try to solve your problems — as long as you're ready to spill the beans.
Facebook Live booth
- CBC Music's Monika Platek will be interviewing festival artists all day in this booth — watch via our Facebook page.
CBC Docs
- Immerse yourself in Wild Canadian Year Virtual Reality: 360 degrees of Canadian wilderness.
CanadaSound
- Choose your favourite Canadian sound.
Jam or Not a Jam van
- We play you a song, and you decide: is it a jam? Or not a jam?
Food: There will be at least 17 food trucks to choose from, so come with empty stomachs. The trucks include:
- Mr. Softee (in the Kids' area)
- Augie’s Ice Pops
- Funnel Cloud
- Mighty Fine Brine
- Chimney Stax
- Fancy Franks
- FeasTO
- Heirloom
- Maestro Mac N Cheese
- Pappas Greek
- Poutine Supreme
- Puto Canton
- Rancho Relaxo
- Toben Food By Design
- Detour Mobile
- Station Cold Brew
- Summertime Lemonade
Other activities: We'll have a flea market, as well as canoe and kayak rentals via Yak Canoes and Turbo Tubes.
Bicycles: There will be a complimentary bike valet onsite.
What you can bring: homemade food wrapped in plastic; blankets; low-profile lawn charis; small, collapsible umbrellas; one sealed plastic bottle of water; refillable water bottles (there's a free water station for refilling); non-professional cameras (point-and-shoots, disposables); strollers.
What you cannot bring: alcohol; narcotics or illegal substances; cans; glass bottles; laser pens/pointers; audio/video recording devices; pro cameras with detachable lenses; glow sticks; any object that can be used as a projectile or weapon.
See you there!
More to explore:
First Play Live: Desirée Dawson at the CBC Music Festival