After a 2-year pandemic-induced hiatus, one of Canada’s premier music festivals is returning like a phoenix rising from the ashes, bringing some of the most in-demand names from electronic and hip-hop music to Ontario this summer. 

While some countries hosted large outdoor gatherings last summer, Canadians have been experiencing a drought of the carefree bliss that music festivals provide. Last year’s vaccine rollout introduced a sliver of hope that the return was upon us, yet the countries most high-profile festivals ended up being cancelled per health and safety concerns. However, 2022 is a promising new year, and the Veld music festival has been scheduled for July 29th-31st in accordance with provincial regulations in Downsview Park. Since its inception in 2012, Veld has established itself as one of the most appealing music festivals in the country by bringing together 2 high-energy genres of music in one event. While the province of Ontario is no stranger to thrilling music festivals, with notorious events such as Bluesfest, Veld has carved out a niche for themselves specifically among the EDM crowd. Its inaugural year featured a memorable closing performance during the rain from Ontario local Joel Zimmerman (Aka Deadmau5) backed by a stunning visual display. The years that followed saw top electronic music acts such as the late Avicci and Tiesto grace the stages, all while the genre of EDM began to explode into the mainstream.  

The 2022 edition of Veld has expanded the action from 2 to 3 days, and with that extra day comes an exciting lineup of some of the hottest contemporary electronic music artists with a few hip-hop acts sprinkled in. World-renowned EDM duo The Chainsmokers are set to headline, as well as the Dutch DJ Martin Garix, and hit-maker Marshmello. As far as hip-hop acts, Gunna is locked in to make his Veld debut fresh off of his album DS4Ever. The Toronto-born entertainment and hospitality company INK, which has been in business since 1982, operates the Veld music festival amongst a string of nightclubs, restaurants and other venues. The Music Director of INK, Talal Farisi, expressed his joy that the festival was up and running again after the unexpected interruption. Saying: “We always strive to provide the best experience possible for our fans, and to celebrate our return we are taking VELD to a whole new level by adding a third day to the festival, featuring even more exciting artists across EDM and hip-hop, for an unforgettable experience.”. Tickets for the event went live on the 10th of February, and start at $359.50 for the full 3 days.