VENUE: The Starlite Room - [ 10030 102 St NW, Edmonton ] DOORS: 7:30 PM SHOW: 8:30 PM TICKETS: $30 Advance / $35 Door All Ages/Licensed
About the Fest :
Purple City Music Festival 2025 takes place September 5 - 7th in Edmonton / amiskwaciwâskahikan. Curating the newest sounds from the global underground, this diverse & inclusive festival is entirely All Ages/Licensed. Enjoy 90+ bands,over 3 days on 9 different stages, along with live wrestling and free-access music industry educational sessions. All events take place within a 2-block vicinity of the downtown core
In late 2013ish Los Angeles California, Wand formed up and got right on it, playing, writing & plotting a path forward – a not-undifficult task for a special new band come to life in the twenty-teens and audaciously self-identifying as “Wand”. The original group – Cory Hanson (guitar, vocals), Lee Landey (bass), Evan Burrows (drums) and Daniel Martens (guitar) - recorded Ganglion Reef before too long and attracted the attentions of GOD? Records, In the Red and Drag City all at once. A deal was dreamed up and hammered down: first album with GOD?, second with In the Red, and then Drag City. What would the result of THAT be?
So began the years of furious activity; near-constant days of touring and recording and releasing. Between August 2014 and September 2017, Wand released Ganglion Reef, Golem, 1000 Days and Plum, a period in which they also reduced from quartet to trio (less Daniel) and then expanded to quintet (with the addition of Robbie Cody (guitar) and Sofia Arreguin (keys, vocals, percussion)). All this action had launched them onto the world-wide stage, which suggested increasingly more to do all the time. No prob: everyone was playing in other bands, and Cory started a solo career too. No time like the present! A maxi-EP, “Perfume”, appeared in the Spring of 2018 and the double-album Laughing Matter dropped in April 2019. Touring continued apace; it was only the CoCo craze of the following year that that forced any downtime – and even that gap was filled with the mixing of an epic live document, the 2xLP Spiders In the Rain, dropped in the pan in 2022. All this while Evan focused on his long-time other band, Behavior, plus Pink Trash Can, and Robby joined in on both endeavors, while Sofia played with Shannon Lay and Kamikaze Palm Tree, and Cory wrote and recorded two more solo albums!
When the smoke cleared on all the pandammit action, Lee and Sofia had decided it was time to get on beyond Wand, something the other three were still dedicated to doing while remaining in the band. Ayund… clock on the wall said it was time for another album, as it was suddenly a few years since Laughing Matter. That’s when Vertigo set in. Robbie began to record the new stuff at his place. The new Wand directive: recording only, no writing. That would come later. Surely the next great Wand album was somewhere at this end of this rainbow? Yep – by late 2023, all of it had boiled down to album-size, and Vertigo was soon slated for release on July 26, 2024. In the process, Wand had grown an extra hand – or more accurately, become a quartet again, with the addition of Evan Backer (known as Evan Too, for those keeping track). And what ho, more dates had been scheduled and played, and more scheduled. For the earth is round and we must continue in orbit. For Wand, this means North America in the summer and Europe in the fall, with Mars TBA. What next, man?
Formed in 2000, Faunts craft moody, introspective pop that blends ambient textures, electronic rock, and cinematic shoegaze. Their debut album, High Expectations/Low Results, and the M4 EP earned critical praise, with “M4, Pt. II” featured in the closing credits of Mass Effect. Their music has also appeared in NHL 2K10 and MTV series like The Hills and Laguna Beach.
Faunts’ 2009 album Feel.Love.Thinking.Of received acclaim from outlets like Pitchfork, Exclaim!, and Tiny Mix Tapes for its lush, emotional sound. With their Ostalgia series and beyond, Faunts continue to explore themes of memory and longing—delivering immersive, transportive performances that resonate deeply.
VERTTIGO is a Canadian dream pop project based in Edmonton, AB. Drawing influences from new wave and shoegaze artists of the 80s & 90s, VERTTIGO has carved out a niche all their own. Aesthetically, VERTTIGO is inspired by the darker side of the human condition and reflects on the notion that collectively we are in a constant spiral of love, death, loss, and rebirth… we are living in vertigo. Bands that are comparable stylistically include: Alvvays, Slowdive, Cocteau Twins, and Beach House. Notable festival acts include: a debut performance alongside headliners A Place To Bury Strangers & ACTORS at Purple City Music Fest 2022-2024 (Edmonton), Verboden Music Festival 2023 (Vancouver), Winterruption Festival 2023 (Edmonton), JUNOfest 2023 (Edmonton), Cherry Cult Fest 2023 (Edmonton), and Big Winter Classic Fest 2024 (Calgary). Sled Island 2024 ( Calgary )
Synesthesia is a 4 piece genre-defying band that blends heavy metal’s raw intensity with the rebellious spirit of punk and the mind-bending atmospherics of psych rock. We strive to take listeners on a sonic journey that explores the boundaries of aggression and creativity. With high-energy performances and a passion for pushing the limits, we craft an experience that leaves a lasting imprint. Our music is chaotic yet controlled, Synesthesia's songs are more than just music – we’re an immersive experience that challenges expectations and ignites the senses. We’re not just a band; we’re a force that thrives on creating an unforgettable atmosphere that resonates long after the last note fades. Catch us live and feel the sound in every sense.
VENUE: The Starlite Room - [ 10030 102 St NW, Edmonton ] DOORS: 7:30 PM SHOW: 8:30 PM TICKETS: $30 Advance / $35 Door All Ages/Licensed
About the Fest :
Purple City Music Festival 2025 takes place September 5 - 7th in Edmonton / amiskwaciwâskahikan. Curating the newest sounds from the global underground, this diverse & inclusive festival is entirely All Ages/Licensed. Enjoy 90+ bands,over 3 days on 9 different stages, along with live wrestling and free-access music industry educational sessions. All events take place within a 2-block vicinity of the downtown core
In late 2013ish Los Angeles California, Wand formed up and got right on it, playing, writing & plotting a path forward – a not-undifficult task for a special new band come to life in the twenty-teens and audaciously self-identifying as “Wand”. The original group – Cory Hanson (guitar, vocals), Lee Landey (bass), Evan Burrows (drums) and Daniel Martens (guitar) - recorded Ganglion Reef before too long and attracted the attentions of GOD? Records, In the Red and Drag City all at once. A deal was dreamed up and hammered down: first album with GOD?, second with In the Red, and then Drag City. What would the result of THAT be?
So began the years of furious activity; near-constant days of touring and recording and releasing. Between August 2014 and September 2017, Wand released Ganglion Reef, Golem, 1000 Days and Plum, a period in which they also reduced from quartet to trio (less Daniel) and then expanded to quintet (with the addition of Robbie Cody (guitar) and Sofia Arreguin (keys, vocals, percussion)). All this action had launched them onto the world-wide stage, which suggested increasingly more to do all the time. No prob: everyone was playing in other bands, and Cory started a solo career too. No time like the present! A maxi-EP, “Perfume”, appeared in the Spring of 2018 and the double-album Laughing Matter dropped in April 2019. Touring continued apace; it was only the CoCo craze of the following year that that forced any downtime – and even that gap was filled with the mixing of an epic live document, the 2xLP Spiders In the Rain, dropped in the pan in 2022. All this while Evan focused on his long-time other band, Behavior, plus Pink Trash Can, and Robby joined in on both endeavors, while Sofia played with Shannon Lay and Kamikaze Palm Tree, and Cory wrote and recorded two more solo albums!
When the smoke cleared on all the pandammit action, Lee and Sofia had decided it was time to get on beyond Wand, something the other three were still dedicated to doing while remaining in the band. Ayund… clock on the wall said it was time for another album, as it was suddenly a few years since Laughing Matter. That’s when Vertigo set in. Robbie began to record the new stuff at his place. The new Wand directive: recording only, no writing. That would come later. Surely the next great Wand album was somewhere at this end of this rainbow? Yep – by late 2023, all of it had boiled down to album-size, and Vertigo was soon slated for release on July 26, 2024. In the process, Wand had grown an extra hand – or more accurately, become a quartet again, with the addition of Evan Backer (known as Evan Too, for those keeping track). And what ho, more dates had been scheduled and played, and more scheduled. For the earth is round and we must continue in orbit. For Wand, this means North America in the summer and Europe in the fall, with Mars TBA. What next, man?
Formed in 2000, Faunts craft moody, introspective pop that blends ambient textures, electronic rock, and cinematic shoegaze. Their debut album, High Expectations/Low Results, and the M4 EP earned critical praise, with “M4, Pt. II” featured in the closing credits of Mass Effect. Their music has also appeared in NHL 2K10 and MTV series like The Hills and Laguna Beach.
Faunts’ 2009 album Feel.Love.Thinking.Of received acclaim from outlets like Pitchfork, Exclaim!, and Tiny Mix Tapes for its lush, emotional sound. With their Ostalgia series and beyond, Faunts continue to explore themes of memory and longing—delivering immersive, transportive performances that resonate deeply.
VERTTIGO is a Canadian dream pop project based in Edmonton, AB. Drawing influences from new wave and shoegaze artists of the 80s & 90s, VERTTIGO has carved out a niche all their own. Aesthetically, VERTTIGO is inspired by the darker side of the human condition and reflects on the notion that collectively we are in a constant spiral of love, death, loss, and rebirth… we are living in vertigo. Bands that are comparable stylistically include: Alvvays, Slowdive, Cocteau Twins, and Beach House. Notable festival acts include: a debut performance alongside headliners A Place To Bury Strangers & ACTORS at Purple City Music Fest 2022-2024 (Edmonton), Verboden Music Festival 2023 (Vancouver), Winterruption Festival 2023 (Edmonton), JUNOfest 2023 (Edmonton), Cherry Cult Fest 2023 (Edmonton), and Big Winter Classic Fest 2024 (Calgary). Sled Island 2024 ( Calgary )
Synesthesia is a 4 piece genre-defying band that blends heavy metal’s raw intensity with the rebellious spirit of punk and the mind-bending atmospherics of psych rock. We strive to take listeners on a sonic journey that explores the boundaries of aggression and creativity. With high-energy performances and a passion for pushing the limits, we craft an experience that leaves a lasting imprint. Our music is chaotic yet controlled, Synesthesia's songs are more than just music – we’re an immersive experience that challenges expectations and ignites the senses. We’re not just a band; we’re a force that thrives on creating an unforgettable atmosphere that resonates long after the last note fades. Catch us live and feel the sound in every sense.
Share With Friends