Organizers near Toronto are hoping that the new WayHome Music and Arts Festival will become the Canadian version of Coachella, according to statements made by Republic Live and AC Entertainment to Billboard. The new music showcase will feature Sam Smith, Kendrick Lamar and Modest Mouse as its headliners for the July 24-26 event.
Republic Live has been running the successful Boots & Hearts country music festival, which has sold out in advance since its debut during 2012. That event will also move to Burl's Creek Event Grounds near Barrie, a little more than an hour drive from Toronto (mirroring how Indio California now hosts both Coachella and the Stagecoach Festival, a country music showcase). The connection to Bonnaroo is more obvious, as AC Entertainment now runs both.
The event will put emphasis on the entire experience, hosting art installations and a farmer's market as well.
Obviously the initial lineup doesn't quite live up to that of Coachella or Bonnaroo (it doesn't have the "white whale" headliners such as AC/DC or Billy Joel that the others have, respectively). You can check out the rest of the performers at WayHome below:
alt-j, Bassnectar, The Decemberists, Passion Pit, St. Vincent, Girl Talk, Vance Joy, Future Islands, The Sheepdogs, Odesza, The Gaslight Anthem, Walk The Moon, Run The Jewels, Kaytranada, Hey Rosetta!, G-Eazy, Sylvan Esso, Danny Brown, Cold War Kids, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Big K.R.I.T, July Talk, Fucked Up, Timber Timbre,Thousand Foot Krutch, METZ, Alvvays, Yukon Blonde, Courtney Barnett,Sloan, Delta Spirit, Broods, How to Dress Well, SZA, Viet Cong, Com Truise,Bear Mountain, Evening Hymns, Lowell, The Highest Order, Dear Rouge,Chris Stapleton, For Esme, Saxsyndrum. More talent will be announced as the event approaches.
