Martin Garrix in Toronto
Martin Garrix in Toronto- Night One
Toronto is in the midst of an EDM takeover that’s pulling us right into June and the start of festival season, giving us a sample of what we can expect to see in the coming months. Martin Garrix is turning RBC Amphitheater into a progressive house hot spot for three whole nights, not evening including his After party at Rebel on May 30th. The dutch DJ is bringing the heat (literally, the pyro at the barricade was a needed heat blast on a windy night) and the good vibes back for his first headline show in Toronto in the last few years. On his Americas tour, he has a rotating line up of local talent supporting him. Night one blessed the fans with OYODASS, Nova Blue, and Citadelle.
Oyodass sets the vibe for the night
Oyodass, a DJ duo from Toronto kicked off the three nights of pandemonium with a 6pm doors set. While people were finding their way to their seats, they set the tone for the night, with high energy ID’s and some throw backs that got people dancing.
Near the pit a group of fans with signs and home made t-shirts that read their names cheered them on, with more people gradually orbiting into their group. As they closed out their set, the next DJ joined them and they played one last song before they finished.
Do it like Nova Blue
As Nova Blue took over the stage, she called out to the crowd, asking fans in attendance how they were doing. The sun was starting to sink, and as it fell on the crowd it illuminated dancers with their hands in the air, lost entirely in the music. Nova Blue is an DJ and producer known for collaborations with other musicians such as Fred Again…, Tate McRae, and Tiesto. While she stays busy working with others, she has been working on releasing an EP and played a few singles from it in Toronto.
The grass began to fill in, with lines of heads bopping and girls dancing along in shades of neon and black fabric and the pit was growing crowded with fans wearing merch and sunglasses. People were shuffling near the back where there was still space to dance while others twisted flow stars around their bodies. As Nova’s set time came to an end, she welcomed in the third performer of the night but not before playing her newest single ‘Do it like me’.
Citadelle keeps the energy high
French DJ Duo Citadelle took the stage next, bringing their deep house and progressive melodic sounds to a fresh audience here in Toronto. Known for their successful collaborations with Martin Garrix that have earned them accolades such as a feature in F1 Champ, Max Verstappen’s documentary, and having their track played on global stages like Tomorrowland, and Ultra Music Festival. They’ve been working on more new music, some of which they played for lucky fans in Toronto, while also playing a number of songs that have given them a solid foundation to build upon.
The pair were quiet while they played, focused on curating their set and ensuring they kept the energy high while preparing for the headliner. They played popular tracks like ‘Alive’, and ‘Peace of mind,’ which had the crowd dancing as the sun finished its descent, sinking low over the side of the venue. Lasers and lights darted overhead as the duo wrapped up their set, checking in with the audience again, as the anticipation for what was still to come grew.
Martin Garrix brings heat and heart
The screens flared to life and clips of a young Martin Garrix began to play, family moments, and the early days of his life Illuminated RBC Amphitheater, as fans began to scream. His opening ID began to play and the crowd exploded. Lasers and cryo streams billowed up; shadowing him as he played through his first song, then his second. Flashes of him between the haze and moments Illuminated by pyro wowed the audience. From the foot of the stage, he towered over fans and staff alike, his physical presence equal only to the anticipation of this night.
As he exploded through tracks like ‘Animals’ and ‘In the name of love’ fans danced wildly, hands thrown up in wild abandon in the rows of seats and the raging pit at the front of the stage. The music soared and swept along, as he danced at the deck, his short bursts of crowd engagement feeding the energy in the space, when it slowed all at once. The screens changed, switching to scenes of RBC Amphitheater where attendees were invited to leave a message for Martin Garrix at a telephone set up in the main bridge into the venue. People poured out messages of love and admiration, both for the DJ and for each other, for the world we live in, for the unprecedented times we’re living through. He spoke to the crowd, peace and love and a reflection of the adoration given to him, an important part of both the EDM and PLUR community, but also being a decent person in this phase of life.
As the lights came up
When the energy started to wane, and the clock moved closer and closer to eleven, he started into his rousing encore of sorts. A mash up that renewed and excited everyone. Cryo and pyro billowed from the stage, to a chorus of cheers every time. As he said goodnight and vanished from the stage everyone hung around. Some lounged in seats with their eyes closed, still savoring the moment, while others continued to dance and pull friends close. This was night one of three in Toronto, but it felt like it lasted a lifetime in only that one evening.
