One of the winter’s premiere and most anticipated dance music events in Toronto is almost upon us. On March 8, Provoke and 1605 are teaming up to bring Subplot, Stefano Noferini, Pleasurekraft, and label boss Umek to the Sound Academy for what will undoubtedly be a night we won’t soon forget.
The night’s fi rst headline act, Pleasurekraft, is coming off a massive 2012 and will defi nitely be one of the many highlights of the night. The “Pleasurekraft” idea was started in 2009 by two Swedes named Kaveh Soroush and Kalle Bonnardh and by spring 2010, they released their fi rst hit track Tarantula that overtook Joris Voorn, Axwell, and Swedish House Mafi a atop the Beatport charts. 2011 saw the release of one of the year’s biggest house anthems Carny, which started to craft the signature sound that Pleasurekraft is so well known for now. If that wasn’t enough, their remix to Green Velvet’s La La Land found the tech-house chart’s top 10 and in 2012 they released the massive hit Skeleton Key in collaboration with Green Velvet. 2013 has only just begun and they have already had two Beatport top 10 hits with American Hustle and Skin Song of Long Island that are both from their latest and fi rst EP of 2013. Watch out for these guys as later this year they have another Green Velvet collaboration in the works as well as their fi rst artist album. In a word, fi re. Next up we have Stefano Noferini, the Italian with “the golden touch when it comes to dance fl oor destroyers” according to his bio. Stefano is one of Italy’s most respected house music producers, having adapted to changing styles over many years to constantly reinvent his sound and stay relevant. A favourite of the city of Toronto, Stefano combines his production prowess with a skill behind the decks that is rare to come by. His transitions are hard to notice and by the end of his set you may not even realize how many songs he just played.
The headliner for this event is Umek, the Slovenian born producer and DJ who has been at the top of his game for the last 20 years, directing one of the most infl uential techno labels in the world, 1605. With only about 100 gigs a year worldwide, it truly is something special to witness this guy perform live. Aside from his 1605 outputs, Umek has productions out on labels like Toolroom and Spinnin’ Records and over the years they have become legendary. So far this year, the Slovenian has performed at Ultra Buenos Aires and Ultra Chile and his set will defi nitely be one you’ll remember for a long time to come. As March 8th gets closer and closer, the anticipation for one of the best collection of artists to touch down in Toronto continues to grow. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of the scene or
wanting to experience the fi ner forms of dance music for the fi rst time, the Sound Academy will be the only place to be on March 8. Pleasurekraft, Stefano Noferini, and Umek all head up their respective labels and all will most likely be test driving some of their unreleased material. Alongside these veterans, we have a fi ne selection of homegrown Toronto talent to heat up the dance fl oor at The Sound Academy, which can swell to a massive 3,000 strong. This venue also boasts one of the best sound systems in the city and we are extremely excited to hear it in action with three of the biggest stars that house and techno have to offer. Click on the 1605 label logo to buy tickets, every single ticket purchase is entered into a draw for a chance to meet one of the headliners!