TO Stay has introduced the return of the UpFRONT Competition, an Indigenous-led celebration of arts, music, and tradition. For its second iteration, the competition of tune, storytelling, and visible artwork will likely be introduced outside, and all occasions will likely be freed from cost.
The multidisciplinary competition of Indigenous group, tradition, and creativity will characteristic over a dozen performances, interactive installations, an Indigenous arts and crafts market, and reside graffiti artwork on the partitions of the St. Lawrence Centre.
“The UpFRONT Competition is a celebration!” says Clyde Wagner, President and CEO of TO Stay in a press release. “It’s an honour to help our companions TKMF Productions to create a enjoyable area that celebrates Indigenous id, invitations significant dialogue, and showcases the vitality of Indigenous storytelling in right now’s city public areas. With inclusion and accessibility at its core, the UpFRONT Competition brings Indigenous tradition to the forefront of Tkaronto’s downtown arts scene.”
The competition will take over Berczy Park and Scott Avenue within the coronary heart of downtown Tkaronto from August 15 to 17, 2025.
Headliners
Susan Aglukark
Uuliniq Susan Aglukark, OC blends the traditions of her Inuit musical heritage with modern songwriting for a mode that’s uniquely her personal. Born within the Keewatin Area within the Northwest Territories, Susan sang in her father’s church choir, and first started to check the guitar at a Bible camp on the age of 15.
The JUNO Award-winning Inuk singer and songwriter sings in each English and Inuktitut. Her 1995 album This Little one bought greater than 300,000 copies in Canada, and have become the primary No. 1 hit for an Inuk performer. Amongst her many accolades is a Governor Basic’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Inventive Achievement in 2016 and the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award on the 2022 Juno Awards, and he or she was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Sebastian Gaskin
Sebastian Gaskin is an award-winning, multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter and producer initially from the Manitoba Tataskweyak Cree Nation, right now primarily based in Toronto. His music has been famous for a mix of insightful and emotional lyrics with a style defying musical type that pulls on parts of R&B, rock and hip hop. Lyrically, he balances political commentary with expressions of pleasure. Sebastian gained the 2025 JUNO Award for Modern Indigenous Artist of the Yr for his 2024 single Brown Man.
Different musical acts embody:
- Brothers Wilde, an Ojibwe country-rock duo from Kettle & Stony Level First Nation;
- Métis singer-songwriter Kaeley Jade;
- Mi’kmaq hip-hop artist Wolf Citadel;
- Mattmac, a blind Anisininew music producer whose melodic pop-trap beats have earned him over 30 million streams;
- Digital music innovator Traditional Roots (Ojibwe/Blackfoot) brings a fusion of powwow-infused techno and home music;
- Shawnee Kish, a strong Two-Spirit Mohawk soul singer and three-time Juno nominee;
- Mohawk and French-Canadian songwriter James Wilson;
- From the Mississaugas of the Credit score First Nation, MR. SAUGA is a singer-songwriter who brings collectively conventional data of the Michi Saagiig folks and activism in his music;
- Beatrice Deer, an Inuk/Mohawk icon from Nunavik, whose music combines indie rock, Inuk custom, and throat singing.
Extra…
Households will get pleasure from Rabbit and Bear Paws, created by Henvey Inlet First Nation’s Chad Solomon, and performances of conventional dancing by Odawa Wiingushk.
There will likely be a showcase of visible arts within the foyer of St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and Berczy Park at some point of the Competition from August 15 to 17, and a free Indigenous artwork exhibition on the Meridian Arts Centre Gallery by TO Stay’s Indigenous Cultural Curator Sierra da Silva-Canadien from July 28 to August 24, 2025.
The work of Indigenous artists, together with images, beadwork, sculpture, and extra will likely be on show.
“TKMF Productions was based with one goal: to place Indigenous artists on the principle stage. Our reciprocal partnership with TO Stay permits us to amplify our efforts by selling Indigenous artists from throughout the nation within the coronary heart of downtown Tkaronto,” notes Candace Scott-Moore, TKMF Productions.
Sista’s MexiKanata meals trailer will provide a tasty fusion of Indigenous and Mexican cuisines, and an Indigenous arts & crafts market will likely be working in Berczy Park from Friday to Sunday of the competition.
- Discover extra details about this free competition [HERE].
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Anya Wassenberg is the Toronto Metropolis Editor at Ludwig Van. Beforehand, she was a contract author with a specialty in tradition and journey for 3 many years, and a artistic writing teacher for Ontariolearn.