WEMF'd: A Review

On Sunday, the twelfth installment of the World Electronic Music Festival drew to a close. Even so, I expect most of the 5,000 or so sleep-deprived Torontonians who trekked out to Tweed, Ontario for the outdoor festival are still recovering. This was an odd year, with Destiny Productions opting to include a rock stage for the first time ever, partnering with Edge 102 to bring names like Broken Social Scene, Pilate and Mobile. This year, the promoters decided that teens in euroshag haircuts and studded belts would mix awkwardly with their binkie- and fun fur-clad counterparts.

Arriving in Tweed around midnight on Friday, we struggled to find a place to pitch our tents that wasn't knee-deep in dust. We postponed the task for when we decided to sleep, if ever. Napping next to a renegade soundsystem blasting hard trance from a U-Haul is just as difficult as it sounds.

Some highlights: Mampi Swift rinsing out for bohtastic junglists (Lighta!), Mark EG tearing up the four-four stage, Scott Brown's hardcore madness, the police restraining the "Son of God", and a lake full of E. coli. Other headliners included John '00' Fleming, D.A.V.E. The Drummer, Chris Liberator, Grooverider, Goldie, DJ SS and Neophyte.

Despite the obviously successful turnout and the good time had by rockers and ravers alike, if rumor holds true, this may be the last WEMF ever. Promoters cite barely breaking even after six months of hard work, which prompted the "Cutting Edge" stage this year. Now that the Docks, their usual choice of venue for indoor parties, is in dire straits, the future of Destiny parties is uncertain.