HARD festival | Toronto

Interview with Dean Marino from Papermapsphotography: Marcin Barciak

Originally founded by Gary Richards in 2007 HARD Festival was a 1-day LA winter party featuring Justice, Peaches and 2 Live Crew.  The tradition grew, and the parties spread across the world. You may have read out coverage of the HARD/MOUTH TAPED SHUT addition in Chicago, or you may have been there yourself. Either way you’d know, or you should know, that the name of these festival series stands its ground – a line up of high profile artists on large stage are the sure promise of a hard core party. And so it is.

The first edition of HARD Festival Toronto was competing for the crowds with such festivals as Lollapalooza, Osheaga and Veld but all things set aside, HARD TO filled the Garrison Commons and the surrounding area with freeloaders through sunshine and pissing rain.The TO lineup headlined with Justice, M83, and Austra with pre-shows by Buraka Som Sistema and Charli XCX. Torrential rain aside, everyone seemed to have a a good time dancing in the mud to M83’s “Midnight City” which was  an appropriate warm up to Justice’s finale, illuminated by countless lights reflecting off of the intoxicated crowd’s sunglasses. Happiness is as easy as a pair of Corey Hart shades and “‘Audio, Video, Disco”. There are only few occasions when sunglasses at night are acceptable,  and Justice’s live show is admittedly one of them.