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PURPLE CITY FESTIVAL:

Just what the heck is it?
by Josaly
nn Lawrence

If you’ve stepped outside the last few weeks or so, you will by now have noticed the following: yellowed leaves beginning to line driveways, a cooler temperature adding a reprieve to the previous month’s sizzling heat and a steady campaign on both social media and on your local poster-wrapped pole of a music festival: PURPLE CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL.

Just what the heck is Purple City all about?

 

Established in 2013, Purple City is a multi-day and multi-venue festival aimed at inspiring the city’s youth to check out their local music scene.  The phrase ‘Purple City’ is a callback to an Edmonton local tradition: staring up at the Legislature floodlights for a minute, practically blind yourself momentarily before locking your eyes to the rest of the city where everything will turn a violet hue. The effect doesn’t last very long (for about 20 or so seconds); however, in that span, the city takes on an almost cyberpunk aesthetic. It’s one of those off-beat nighttime traditions that no one knows how it began  – but somehow exists in the collective local consciousness. It is a very Edmontonian way to kill time (and perhaps your eyeballs) with friends!

 

 

The Festival itself is a rebrand; formerly known as the ‘Up + Downtown’ festival, the name rebrand occurred around 2019 when now Purple City producer Ryan Rathjen took over. Post global pandemic when the world was getting back into the swing of things, Purple City boasted its first line up in 2021: local Calvin Thomas headlining (who will be playing Friday Aug 25th at McDougal United Church at 8pm), it also featured some classic acts such as Wares (member Cassia Hardy you can catch play a solo also at McDougal Church Saturday at 8:40pm) and Cayley Thomas.
 

2023’s lineup is stacked. Featuring some acts you can’t miss such as OFF! (an American punk band founded by Black Flag singer Keith Morris, Dimitri Coats from Burning Bridges, Stephen Shane McDonald from Redd Kross, and Mario Rubalcaba from acts such as Earthless and Rocket From the Crypt) and Canadian local legends Dead Fibre, Purple City Festival is taking over the weekend in the Edmonton downtown core (coincidentally, you can catch both OFF! and Dead Fibres play a set Friday at the Starlite Room up on the main stage).

A key factor in the festival is its walkable radius. Venues that are involved: Starlite Room and Temple stages, below that River City Revival house will feature local and free shows. Outside Starlite, you’ll have the Purple City Block Party (located at 10030 102 St). A few blocks from Revival and Starlite, Freemasons Hall  will house some incredible live performances (10318 100 ave NW). Another block, McDougal United Church (10086 Macdonald Dr NW). Nearby, Downtown Edmonton Community League (10042 103 St) will also be part of the roster.

The great thing about Purple City is its passion for live music. You may have heard rumblings about the economic turmoil surrounding the upkeep of venues. Over the last couple of years, Edmonton staples like The Empress and Station have shuttered their doors – because, let’s face it, there’s little to no money in running a venue. Not unless there’s blood, sweat and tears in keeping a venue alive.

So where does Purple City come into all this?

In looking at the line up and surrounding venues associated with the festival, Purple City is very much inspiring the current generation and the next to keep the spirit of music alive in the city. How? By creating a festival at the heart of the city in Edmonton, accessible by both vehicle and public transit, the festival is encouraging everyone – young, old, somewhere in the middle – to attend their local shows! And guess what? This year’s festival is all ages. Attendees of all ages can grab their wristband and experience something new and exciting. This particular access to a music festival – especially one that is happening just in a local fan’s backyard- is important. Each music scene’s generation is different. Artists grow and evolve; some move to different provinces altogether to try and make a name for themselves; venues open and close; new music fans spring up ready to explore their open taste for something fresh. In short, the scene is an ever-evolving community.

 

 

Music fans will have the chance to explore a wide variety of music that, for a majority of the acts, has their home-base right here in the city. Take local acts Open Eyes and Bat Scratch. The former is a group of Edmonton locals keeping the local punk rock scene alive. You attend one of their shows and you’ll see not only a talented trio busting their ass on stage (lead singer Eric in particular has a vibrant stage presence that’s fun to watch) but a group of friends enjoying what they do. Foothills Alberta’s Bat Scratch meanwhile is turning punk rock on its head with seven year old front-man Robbie.

 

The scene right now has never been more alive – you can catch all that and more this weekend in Edmonton.

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