Venus Fest 2023

Venus Fest is back and better than ever!

This year’s lineup includes not one, but two Grammy Nominated artists, the city’s – possibly the country’s – first Queer Filipinx Country project, an artist critically acclaimed by Polaris, Pitchfork, NME and NPR, and an artist whose upcoming record is being produced by a member of Portishead.

Headlining this year’s Fest are multi-Grammy Award-nominated, Juno Award-winning musician, poet, singer, songwriter, and activist Allison Russell, Grammy Award-nominated jazz phenom Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Bay Area vintage garage-rock quartet Shannon and the Clams.

Also joining Venus Fest 2023 are genre-bending and gender-defying Toronto artist, CJ Wiley; Somali-Canadian doom-soul artist and mental health advocate, Ladan, whose soon-to-be released album is being produced by Portishead’s Adrian Utley; Edmonton-born Métis singer-songwriter, Sister Ray; and Louie Sanchez, the all-new, and possibly only, Queer Filipinx country artist in Canada.

To complement the musical performances, Venus Fest will also feature dynamic venue art installations by Toronto-based artists; creative director and stylist, Yung Guava, painter and textile artist, Mifi Mifi, and multi-talented Anishinaabe-Ojibway visual artist, Cedar-Eve.

Venus Fest is proud to continue to embrace the many identities within music and provide a platform for fresh voices and underrepresented artists, while also striving to create an accessible and inclusive Festival experience with ASL Music Interpretation provided by Phoenix The Fire, a theatre community hub for IBPOC Deaf artists, and a Festival Restorative Zone with curated activities for those who need a sensory break or a moment’s pause.