Downtown Yonge and 4479 kick off Play the Parks on June 16.
Downtown Toronto’s parks and public spaces will be alive with music once again, as the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area (DYBIA) presents its free Play the Parks program throughout the summer.
This year, performances are being curated by 4479, Music Canada’s music city initiative, which celebrates Toronto as one of the world’s great music cities.
“Downtown Yonge is a neighbourhood where music thrives and we’re proud to present our third year of music programming in our public spaces,” says DYBIA Executive Director Mark Garner.
To celebrate the partnership between DYBIA and 4479, Play the Parks kicks off its 2015 season on Tuesday June 16, 2015 at 4:47 PM with nine (9) artists performing live at Trinity Square Park.
The line-up features Project ATX6 – a film & tour project that follows six Austin, TX-based musicians to international music festivals – along with Toronto-based musicians Joel Schwartz on guitar, James McEleney on bass and drummer Sly Juhas.
The Regent Park School of Music choir will also be performing at the launch, which will be emceed by iconic Canadian musician Greg Godovitz, who fronted the band Goddo.
“Play the Parks is just one element of our multi-pronged Music Strategy, which was released earlier this month. It’s part of our ongoing efforts to re-establish Yonge Street as the city’s ‘Music Mecca’,” elaborates Garner.
Launched in 2013 with two locations, Play the Parks is now expanding to five venues throughout Downtown Yonge: Trinity Square Park, the courtyard behind College Park, the patio at 1 Queen East, MacKenzie House museum, and the newly refreshed McGill Granby Parkette.
This year’s line-up of musicians reflects Toronto’s diverse music scene: from indie-rock band Jane’s Party, to emcees and spoken-word performers from Unity Festival, to the funkiest Toronto buskers, Turbo Street Funk.
“Downtown Yonge is a powerful partner for the music community, and we are pleased to be supporting their efforts to activate the downtown with music programming,” says Amy Terrill, Vice President, Public Affairs, Music Canada.
A vibrant music city, as Terrill points out, needs spaces and places of all sizes and configurations where music can be recorded, performed and conceived.
“Yonge Street is the natural location given its deep musical roots.”
In addition to the main sponsor DYBIA, certain performances are being presented by Canada’s Walk of Fame and Slaight Music.
“Canada’s Walk of Fame and Slaight Music are committed to showcasing and providing opportunities for emerging Canadian music artists,” says Melanie Hurley, CEO, Canada’s Walk of Fame.
“We’re proud to partner with Slaight Music and the Downtown Yonge BIA for the Play the Parks concerts, and to work together to bring great live entertainment to Toronto audiences through this exciting music series.”
After the June 16, 2015 launch, which, like all Play the Parks events, is free to the public, 30 more performances will take place in June, July, August and September.