EXPOSURES captures the moods and experiences of fans and artists, both onstage and off.
After last year's Exposures-defining NXNE photo essay by unsung Canadian music hero Colin Medley, we decided to send him out again with his trusty Canon AE-1 and a few rolls of film. He avoided the big marquee shows and ended up with an intimate portrait of a thriving scene that just happens to coalesce around an annual music festival.
Another year, another NXNE. After covering the festival for the last little while, I will say that this year felt way smaller, as if the number of attendees had been cut in half. I'm sure that's partially because of which shows I chose to attend (none of the marquee shows were in my wheelhouse), but even some of the shows that I thought would be rammed had plenty of space for everyone. I'm not necessarily complaining, since it felt to me more like 5 days of good local shows, rather than a behemoth corporate music festival. So, kudos to the organizers, I guess? I mean, I had fun.
Here's what I saw, or at least, what I remembered to photograph.
Slim Twig debuted songs from his forthcoming opus Thank You For Stickin’ With Twig.
Twig takes a breather after slaying the crowd at the Horseshoe.
EZTV channeled all our favourite power-pop from years gone by. One of the best discoveries of this year's festival.
Biblical played amongst the arcade games at Get Well.
Tim McCready/M for Montreal threw their annual house party at 159 Manning.
Clairmont The Second got the afternoon crowd moving.
Pat Jordache was stoked to finally have vinyl copies of his new record Steps.
Christopher Shannon of Bart strikes a pose while setting up his gear.
Jessica Pratt mesmerized the crowd at the Garrison.
Jessica Pratt working the merch table after her show.
Ryley Walker played a special show at Likely General.
Healing Power Records co-owner Victoria Cheong and Jennifer Castle outside Likely General.
Soupcans remain one of the best bands in Toronto.
NXNE held a panel discussion about misogyny in music as a response to the Action Bronson controversy. From left to right, this is Anupa Mistry, Liisa Ladouceur, Dalton Higgins and Carla Gillis.
U.S. Girls played one of the best sets of the week…
… and she brought along back-up singers Basia Bulat and Isla Craig to really turn things up.
A quiet moment on Dundas St. with Meg Remy of U.S. Girls.
The always unpredictable Un Blonde delivered a fine set at the Smiling Buddha.
The festival wrapped up on Sunday night with a special advanced screening of Diamond Tongues, a new Toronto film featuring a lot of local talent, including Nick Flanagan and members of July Talk.
After missing their set at 159 Manning, we were happy to finally catch Bart as our final show of the festival.
EXPOSURES: The house parties, in-stores and arcade concerts of NXNE 2015 by Colin Medley | Chart Attack.