Queer Torontonians rejoice! Lavender wild, a music festival by queer people, for queer people, is returning to the city this weekend.
This evening a lineup of wicked performances and a curated vendor market will take over HISTORY for the second edition of the beloved 2SLGBTQ+ event.
“Back in ‘22 I went to a Fletcher concert, and I was just blown away at the community kind of gathering to enjoy their favourite music, and everyone singing along to the songs,” lavender wild founder Alex Simpson told Queer & Now. “I was so inspired by it, and [thinking] like, ‘Well, why is there not something, you know, on a larger scale that has a festival model that incorporates queer artists?’ And so from that night, lavender wild was born.”
Read More
Simpson shared that following the first festival held at Echo Beach in 2023, she received beautiful messages from attendees about what a special event it was.
“It was incredible… just to have our community gathered together and get to experience seeing new queer artists and having allies come out and support and finding new artists that they love to listen to.”
The name was inspired by the historical significance of “lavender” to the queer community, adding that she wanted the name to “feel important.”
“Lavender holds an incredible importance within the queer community, based on the resistance throughout the years,” Simpson explained, referencing the Lavender Menace and Lavender Rhino movements.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CURATING QUEER SPACES
Simpson shared how important it is for creatives to curate spaces dedicated to the 2SLGBTQ+ community, providing a space that allows queer people to feel welcome, seen and celebrated in a world where we don’t always feel at ease in our own skin.
“That feeling of empowerment and representation of [queer] artists on stage and visibility is so incredibly important for queer people. It’s a huge reason why lavender wild is an all-ages festival,” Simpson explained.
“It solidifies that there are others, like us. It fosters that community. And it’s just incredibly important to have that representation so that we do feel welcome.”
In a city like Toronto, which boasts a plethora of queer spaces but lacks a brick-and-mortar space dedicated to sapphic folks, lavender wild’s 2023 arrival as a sapphic-focused event was welcomed with open arms. After the announcement of this year’s event, some fans questioned whether the 2024 theme would follow suit or have less of a sapphic undertone.
“It has the underlining of a sapphic focus. Like that was always the intention of lavender wild,” Simpson explained. “But we obviously want allies to come out, and we never want to make anyone feel left out. So, it’s growing and building the brand to make everyone feel included.”
Read More
Simpson is a National Festival Manager at Live Nation Canada, travelling to different cities to work on various festivals across the country. She hopes to eventually take lavender wild on the road, bringing the festival to cities in Canada that lack queer spaces.
“The beauty of a brand like lavender wild is you can kind of go anywhere with it, right? So, whether that’s an outdoor festival or whether that’s a more intimate concert setting inside, or whether that’s a tour across Canada. So, I’m super grateful that I have the flexibility to take the brand into many different facets of music.”
She describes this year’s event as an intimate club night with a summer festival vibe. This year’s lineup includes artists like Slayyyter, Rebecca Black, Aliyah’s Interlude and Ari Hicks. Meanwhile, a local DJ, Thirdeyye, will play sets between the various performances to keep the party going.
SLAYYYTER AND ARI HICKS CHAMPION QUEER JOY AT LAVENDER WILD
You’ve definitely heard her music at a local queer bar or dance party, and now Slayyyter is in town for lavender wild. The singer teased that she will be playing some new music she has not performed live, as well as some new collaborative projects.
In an interview with Queer & Now, she explained that it’s important to promote spaces for queer people to live their truth and enjoy themselves.
“I feel that in this modern age, it’s important to keep sacred spaces for queer people and for women and for people to enjoy themselves without that kind of cloud hanging over your head,” she told Queer & Now, explaining that even as an artist you never know if you will be welcomed into a space.
She shared that as an artist she has experienced being cut off by electronic dance music “bros” or judged for wearing outfits she enjoys. But while she doesn’t let these things bother her in the long term, she believes in the importance of curating spaces where everyone can be themselves.
“I feel like it’s important to have spaces that you don’t have to walk in having a fear of judgment.”
Ari Hicks, a 25-year-old Toronto artist also performing at lavender wild, echoed Slayyyter and Simpson’s sentiments about the importance of creating and protecting spaces for queer folks to celebrate, and feel celebrated.
“It’s important for people to feel safe, especially in their communities, [and] to be able to gather and to be able to just have fun. Honestly, that’s what it comes down to,” Hicks shared, calling it an honour to perform for her community.
This year’s event will be her first time performing at a festival, and her first time speaking out about her experiences as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, something that will be integrated into her set.
“I think having a space for people to feel comfortable to be themselves and be able to celebrate who they are is super important,” Hicks told Queer & Now, adding that she enjoys seeing more artists be open about their identities in their art and performances.
Read More
A percentage of ticket sales from this year’s event will go to The Get Real Movement, a Canadian charity that works across the country providing educational programs that combat 2SLGBTQI+ discrimination in schools and workplaces. A portion of ticket proceeds will also be donated to the ongoing movement to save Glad Day Bookshop from eviction.
