This weekend, the Red Bull Festival was raging in the sweet city of Toronto. Trying real hard to be part of anything labeled cool, I took a bus, and then a streetcar, and then walked through a sketchy, unending alley to make my way to the electronic music mecca (at least for the night): The Symes.

I’m fairly new to Toronto, keep in mind, so to me this was a first. Circling around the disaffected warehouse in search of an entrance, I finally found my way inside. A quick search and a ticket scan later, I was within the walls of this burgeoning party. 

I got there a little early. Probably because I’m dedicated, but also because I’ve never heard of being fashionably late. At the time, there were about 20 people inside. Also, I had consumed marijuana edibles earlier that evening, and don’t you just hate when they kick in before you’re in the club, and then you have to wonder the TTC like a zombie, trying to figure out your way in this crazy world? That’s me, I’m the bad boy of public transports.

But yeah, I’m a real pro and I like to show up early to shows to get the full picture. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

So Korea Town Acid X Raf Reza were busting some pretty experimental grooves on the ground floor, Chippy Nonstop and Karim Olen Ash were getting the party started upstairs. As always at those Red Bull events, the sound (the subs in particular) was insanely loud. But hey, if that’s what kids like these days, who am I to complain?

Being generally prone to fomo, I spent a part of my evening transiting up and down the stairs to see all there was to see, and to hear all there was to hear. And also, once in a while, to figure out which bathroom was the least coke-y. Or, err… Red-Bull-y? Who can tell anymore?

On the ground floor, Joel Eel was succeeded by Ceremonies + Efemmera + Kehdo, and than Machine Woman, which in turn was followed by Ciel. (I left before I could see City Dance Corporation, unfortunately. A man has got to sleep.)

They all were brilliant, very danceable, yet thought-provoking in their own way, channeling accents of colder techno and palettes of psychedelia. It’s hard to sum up so many great hours of music in a few words, but go see those artists the next time they’re partying in your area. You won’t regret it.

Meanwhile, things were heating up on the upper level. Equinoxx, Bambii and Madam X, followed each other. All expert DJs, they managed to get us in a state with different flavors of bass music ranging from industrial tech to UK jungle.

I’m always amazed to see the effect of a faster tempo track thrown in between a few 120 bpm ones. The crowd eats it up and goes berzerk, jumping up and down.

Things got a little fuzzy for this reporter as the evening went on in the wee hours of the morning. One thing is clear, though: Red Bull can throw one hell of a party. I’m still getting to know the artists from my amazing adoptive city, but one thing was clear in the Uber I took back to my bed: Toronto has a lot to offer in terms of amazing dance parties.

COVER PHOTO : Maria Jose Govea (@thesupermaniak) / Red Bull