FVDED 2025: All Gas, No Breaks — 4 Day Two Artists You’d Be Crazy to Miss

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By Ryan Hayes

Last year’s edition of FVDED was all about the big names, & this year is about discoverability. In just over a month, 60 artists will descend on Holland Park—up 12 from 2024. It’s Blueprint’s largest festival to date.

A fourth stage—Propagate—has been added, allowing for a more diverse array of soundscapes from across the dance music spectrum. Propagate will serve as a platform dedicated to spotlighting emerging talent and underground sounds, taking over where FVDED Lab left off in 2022.

This year will also feature a new and improved Forest Stage experience. Last year, the vibes were high—both in front of the stage and tucked away, vibing in the trees.

The festival still brings the heavyweights. Disclosure are making their long-awaited return on Saturday, along with current king of bass Subtronics, Canadian mainstage favourites Loud Luxury—and seminal anthemic hitmaker Zedd.

But 2025 is about diversifying and discovery.

Without further ado, these are EDM Canada’s four Day 2 artists you can’t miss:

Levity

The trio was forged through a friendship born from a love of music. Although they have been honing their craft since 2019, their big break serendipitously came in 2023 with their unexpected performance at Electric Forest. While attending the festival as fans, they were offered a last-minute slot due to a cancellation. Those who witnessed the set can attest to its infectious energy… blending all genres of bass and sprinkling in a heavy dose of rhythm and funk, Levity push boundaries. Think GRiZ, Zeds Dead, & TroyBoi.

Breakout release: Flip It

On Repeat: Postman

Goddard.

Andrew Goddard isn’t your average Drum N Bass producer. With a master’s in music & management and a penchant for emotive vocals and rich, silky basslines—he isn’t just one to watch, he is a must-see. His earliest releases stem from a powerful loss, and that sense of raw healing can be felt in his tracks. His break came in early 2022 with his remix for Cat Burns’ “Go,” and it’s the perfect example of beauty and bass.

Breakout release: Go Remix

On Repeat: Green Light

In their own words—why this set’s one you won’t want to miss:

“I’ve been in the studio since January making new music nonstop to create a set where I play 90% of my own tunes. My new intro is the first step that bridges myself and my label ‘Rabbit Hole’ together showcasing new unreleased music and an immersive visual showcase that coincides the two realms together as one”

Jackie Hollander 

The drive and ambition of Jackie Hollander is infectious, and her live sets are high energy. She offers a mix of melodic house & techno driven by atmospheric synths and bouncing bass. It’s been less than a year since her breakout hit ‘All My Friends Are Hot’ catapulted her into the spotlight, and her follow-up release ‘My Power,’ all about taking control of her life and manifesting her future, solidified her as a player to watch.

Breakout release: All My Friends Are Hot

On Repeat: I Look Good

AC Slater 

In our minds, Aaron Clevenger, better known as AC Slater, needs no introduction. A pioneer of the bass house genre, founder of now-renowned Night Bass Records, and producer of anthems like ‘Bass Inside.’ His sets are raw, unrelenting journeys through a myriad of gritty, bass-inspired genres with throwback samples and a throughline of high-octane energy. Show up ready to go all-in.

Breakout release: Jack Got Jacked

On Repeat: Bass Face

In their own words—why this set’s one you won’t want to

“I’m excited to be back at FVDED. Canada crowds are top tier energy level, so FVDED an incredible opportunity to try out my new unreleased music and upcoming tracks from my label Night Bass. I’m honored to represent my unique sound along side so many different types of artists.”

FVDED 2025 is about more than just the headliners—it’s about the energy, the community, and the shared love of a sound. This year, lean in with the spirit of discovery. Step outside your refined taste, catch a set from an artist you’ve never seen, and let yourself be surprised. Whether you’re there for the music, the vibes, or to be part of the communal escapism—FVDED 2025 is your chance to explore the future of the scene while basking in aura of legends. Your weekend, built one set at a time.

The Escapade Music Festival in Ottawa is almost sold out!

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The Escapade Music Festival, which is set for June 21st to 23rd at the beautifully located Lansdowne Park, is almost sold out! With 93% of all of the tickets sold, there are only a few left and will for sure sell out by the time summer rolls around.

Escapade will be one of the most popular festivals on the EDM circuit and one can see why all of the hype is generated as the lineup represents a little for everyone. Whether you like bass, trance, house, or the biggest headlining acts, Escapade has it for you.

This year’s crop of artists include the legend Armin Van Buuren, Illenium, and includes a special Gouryella performance by Ferry Corsten, and the ever popular B2B with Tchami and Malaa. This is an EDM lovers festival as you are guaranteed to be electrified for all 3 days.

Don’t wait, get the last remaining tickets here.

The lineup for Veld 2023 is revealed

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The 10th Veld music festival has just unveiled their 2023 and it’s huge! Rezzmau5 (Rezz + Deadmau5) will be headlining which is sure to be a future classic. That massive combo will be joined by fellow headliners Above & Beyond, Illenium (live set), Tiesto, Zedd, and Loud Luxury. Set over 3 days in early August, Veld is bringing back the festival vibes in a big way.

The grind of up and coming NoWayOut

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By Dominic Wren

Maxim David is a Gatineau born up and coming DJ/Producer that played his first festival ever this past weekend at Riverside Music Festival. His musical peers and fans know him as NoWayOut. I sat down with him right after his set and he was still shaking from the adrenalin that was surging though his body. He had some very positive notes to say about the festival: “The festival itself is really nice. The line-up is sick. It’s stacked for both days. The organizers managed to get all the genres that the whole crowd likes like Bass and house music for example.”

He is more of a club DJ so the young DJ expressed that this was a major step up in energy. He mentioned that he was really nervous before going up on stage but once the spotlight was on him, but he managed to do what he loves the most. NoWayOut briefly explained that his set didn’t start off as smoothly as he was expecting. Before getting on the big stage looking towards the Canadian parliament, he realized that he forgot his headphones but luckily one of the NoWayOut team members helped him out by driving to his place only to come and give Max the headphones mid way through his set. “It made the first half of my set just that much harder than it had to be” said the young artist.

As an artist that is trying to make it in this unforgiving industry, you got to practice a lot. I mean A LOT. Maxim practices 6 to 8 hours a day trying new tricks and transitions methods. “That is only the DJing, claims the new talent, then there’s all the marketing, branding, producing, etc.” Today he focuses more of his energy into producing and learning the software. “That’s the next step for me” announced NoWayOut

His mom plays a massive role in his team and is his #1 fan even saying “she’s not a big dubstep fan but she’s always there supporting me.” What a trooper. I further asked him what keeps him motivated to keep up this grind. He responded by warning me that this would be a cheesy answer, but when you see a kid on the hockey rink and claiming that he’ll be the next Sydney Crosby or the next Stanley cup winner, he was and still is today that kid. He’s the kid on the hockey rink that’s really pursuing his dream. He also added: “To be on stage with a crowd is the best feeling in the world.”

Expect to see more of his name in the upcoming years. This DJ is setting his path for a successful career.

The 2018 Canadian EDM Summer Festival Guide

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The 2018 edition of the Canadian EDM summer festival guide - a comprehensive source for all upcoming summer festivals that are relevant to the electronic dance music fan. This year's guide features 25 festivals from coast to coast, big and small, and offers a variety of lineups to fit almost any taste. Whether you've already made plans, or are making plans, checking out this guide is well worth your time.