Evolve just finished their second festival at their new location outside Moncton, New Brunswick. While the weekend-long dance fest didn’t come off without a few hiccups, it didn’t keep us from shaking our booties to some great artists. Here are some of our favourites from this year.
Nausikaa
Nausikaa’s rhythmic sounds made for some nice daytime dancing fuel, starting us off on a good note and keeping us going throughout the day. The bass put down a thick layer on our souls with a dark edge. Performing in the forest, Nausikaa naturally connected well with the setting. The psychedelic jungle flow brought us on a journey into the deep woods.
Eastcoast Love Story
“Not enough money but too many bills to pay.”
Sounds like an Eastcoast Love Story to me—just trying to get by.
Their performance in the Yurt this year featured some strong song writing with lyrics my ears loved listening to and stories to tell afterward.
Coleman Hell
Coleman Hell and Coleman Hell’s man bun made a strong appearance. The bun did not last long though, and when it came out of the oven it made all the girls scream. His enthusiasm was awesome. Paired with some dancing and confetti, he was a crowd pleaser who got people singing along to his indietronica!
Joyful Noise
Joyful Noise were fun to watch. The Fredericton-based fusion players hit the high notes with their renditions of nintendo tunes, including one of our favourites: the Zelda theme.
Their ballsy stage performance got heads bopping and feet stomping, but their tunes still left us feeling pleasant and relaxed while frontman Camilo’s big smile had an infectious energy.
Kytami
Kytami’s violin was set to beats that embodied penetrating liveliness. She can play that violin like no one else and detonates the place with her bold and unique fiddling style. She plays like a woman
possessed.
Her sets create a different vibe from the rest of Evolve—rather than watching a DJ spin from a distance, Kytami was front and center, entertaining the crowd with her dancing and massive stage presence. While Kytami was playing, the sand was flying everywhere and left our shoes dusty from trying to follow her moves. She leaves us wanting more with a sound that is intriguing and different.
Xavier Rudd
Australian legend Xavier Rudd dominated the list of headliners this year and warmed the crowd with his masterful didgeridoo performance. He connected with the audience in what seemed to be a religious experience, throwing us into a spiritual calmness.
His presence and music bring a smile to the soul. As he says, “I do what the spirit tells me to do,” it creates mindfulness and encourages us to enjoy the people and nature around us. He makes it easy to close our eyes and sink into a spiritual trance.
REZZ
REZZ is an upcoming DJ that is about to bounce off the walls. Amidst rumours that she’s recently been signed by deadmau5 (or at least touring), she’s been dropping beats in her own style unlike anything people have seen before. Her performances are insane, dominated by her trademark swirling glasses.
She’s a tiny martian [Editor’s note: from Neptune actually]; you wouldn’t believe the noises she makes come from a human. She stood out from every other performer at Evolve. Her beat stomps are dark and are a mix between trip-hop and psychedelic darkwave—especially when paired with vocals like in her song ‘Relax’.
You never know what is next with her; you’re always waiting for the next drop. Her music is like a drug. It brings you into a psychedelic trance and keeps you wanting more.