Wavelength is pleased to share the news that over the second weekend of August - just barely two weeks from now - we'll be presenting the first-ever ALL CAPS! Island Festival. Taking place over two days in and around the Artscape Gibraltar Point arts centre, this will be an amazing weekend of independent music in one of the most beautiful settings anywhere — the far end of bucolic Toronto Island, far from the throngs of tourists and weekenders, next to a gorgeous beach and a haunted lighthouse. In addition to a dozen amazing live bands and artists, there will be film screenings, art installations, open studios, and tons of recipes for summer fun — swimming, frizbee, BBQ, booze and a bonfire. If you made it to our inaugural ALL CAPS! Island Show last fall, you'll have a taste of what's in store, but that was really just a warm-up.

Line-up-wise, there's a lot to be excited about... but I will play favourites and say I'm really stoked about a rare appearance by Rick White, the former frontman of Eric's Trip and Elevator (to/through Hell). The Bluefog recording artist hates playing bars, and will only play live in unconventional locations. We have something really special planned for his sunset set. And we're also thrilled to be presenting the Canadian debut of Brooklyn, NY's Buke and Gass, a boy/girl duo play amplified acoustic instruments that they home-modded themselves... and on which they play crazzy, ripping post-punk folk songs. (See my Big Ears post below for further gushing.) We're also happy to welcome back uke-pop queen Krista L.L. Muir (a.k.a. Lederhosen Lucil) as well as Haligonian drone-popsters, Dog Day, and Waterloo electro-rock crew, Bocce. There's a "magical" pair of Guelph bands — shoegaze duo Mathemagic, and an all-kids band (for real!) called The Magical Bunch. Toronto itself is well-represented as usual, by blues-punk assault trio CATL, drum punk duo Romo Roto, Latin dub noise squad Huelepega Sound System and new garage rock trio The Soupcans.

Tickets are now on sale at Rotate This (801 Queen W.) and Soundscapes (572 College St.). Thanks to Derek Ma for the amazing pair of poster designs.

And here's the link to the Facebook event.