Venus Fest is a treasure in the Toronto music scene. What began as a single-day event in 2017 has evolved into an annual music festival, mentorship program, and concert series that has platformed hundreds of artists, including Bikini Kill, Jully Black, and Charlotte Cardin. 

Venus Fest celebrates underrepresented artists—making space for communities historically excluded from festivals: women, gender-diverse, Black Indigenous, queer and trans and disabled artists, and fostering a safe, creative and welcoming space for all to enjoy the transformative power of live music.

This year, Venus Fest will be spread out over three days at three venues (Monarch Tavern, It’s OK* Studios, and Allan Gardens), with art curated by Anique Jordan and an incredible lineup of performances: Claire Rousay, rEmPiT g0dDe$$ and Karen Ng on Sept 26, evicshen, Ahya Simone, and Kat Estacio on Sept 27, and Isabella Lovestory, a DJ set from rEmPiT g0dDe$$, and WeTurnToRed on Sept 28. 

In addition to local and international musicians, the festival will feature media and art installations, a local artisan market, and a Restorative Zone with curated activities for those who need a small sensory break or pause from the excitement.

After founder and former Artistic Director Aerin Fogel parted ways with Venus Fest last year, apé Aliermo has stepped in as the new AD. We connected with her ahead of this year’s festival to hear more about her vision for the Venus Fest, and the excitement that festivalgoers can look forward to this year. 

What are you most excited for audiences to take in at Venus Fest this year?

It’s impossible to rank! I’m excited for audiences to take it all in! Ahya Simone is coming from Detroit with her experimental harp and rEmPiT g0dDe$$ from Kuala Lumpur to play two different electronic sets. WeTurnToRed plays with an impressive modular synth rack. Suzanne Morrissette will have a motion activated media installation at Allen Gardens and Anique Jordan curated an art installation inspired by DUB, as well as a panel on Black Noise. I’m always excited about Phoenix The Fire’s live ASL interpretations. 

I want audiences to be inspired and to feel high on life. I want them to feel a sort of blend of feelings…that one you have after an amazing club night, but also the one after being fed warm milk and cookies by the sweetest grandma. 

This year will be your first official festival as Artistic Director! How does it feel to step into this role?

Aerin Fogel laid down a solid foundation and has put so much work and affection into building Venus Fest up to what it is today. I feel like its been a gift to be able to step in and just run wild with my ideas. Well, wild but not wild-wild, it would be really nice to have more $upport€rs *wink wink nudge nudge** With extra support we could take the festival to another level and further take care of artists and the Venus Fest ecosystem, and in turn, the music ecosystem at large. 

The festival has grown into a staple for the Toronto arts scene, and this year it will be held in 3 venues across the city. How would you describe what Venus Fest means to the community?

Venus Fest is a place where artists, audiences, staff and volunteers can be themselves and be part of a feel-good community. A place where we can connect with others through being immersed in forward-thinking art and music. Whether its through dancing, taking in new media or just chilling in the restorative zone, I would say that Venus Fest is a nourishing place to party.  

How would you describe the vibe at Venus Fest?

The vibe at Venus Fest is electric! This year, we have gone a slightly more experimental route. Folks can let loose and feel empowered during Isabella Lovestory’s sexy perreo-pop set and be wowed and mind-blown at evicshen’s noise set. At the end of the day, audiences, artists, volunteers and staff will feel a sense of community and nourishment. We put a lot of attention and care into the festival and do our best to ensure that everyone is having the best time, while feeling safe and looked after. 

We also love how Venus Fest features visual art and local artisans—what is so special about bringing art and music together in this way?

Bringing together visual art and music creates a truly immersive experience for all the senses! It really makes it feel more festive. As part of our Vazaar Arts Market this year, Claws Razzy will be offering nail art services, Denys Gamotin body work and Ms Fischer’s Bakery some yummy treats. Curated by Anique Jordan, artists Roya DelSol, Anna Binta Diallo and Pixel Heller will be sharing beautiful and thought-provoking visual works in the DUB exhibition. Go big or go home, know what I’m sayin? 

While much growth has happened in the music industry since Venus Fest was founded in 2017, in your eyes, what else needs to change?

More than ever, we are seeing so many incredible artists moving music, sound and art forward in beautiful and powerful ways. Stories and perspectives from racialized and queer communities are visibly at the forefront of anything thought-provoking and inspiring in our current artistic landscape.

Where does the power lie though? Who is really making the decisions here? We still need to shift the balance. We still need more Black, Indigenous and other Racialized arts workers in positions of power, more queer, femme, transfemme and gender-diverse directors, agents, managers, etc. running the industry. Unless institutions are actively putting in the effort to support femme, transfemme and gender-diverse arts workers, the industry status quo will remain. 

What is your vision for the future of Venus Fest?

To continue creating spaces for community to gather and grow, for artists and arts workers to really be taken care of, and curating forward-thinking programming that pushes boundaries. I also want to continue bringing artists in from outside of the western world. There are so many incredible artists all from all over South East Asia and other regions that do not get as many opportunities or attention in the global music industry. Imagine having to make music and performing it in very underground places because being gay is still illegal in the country which you live? This still happens! Bringing artists in from these regions would be a beautiful exchange.

Venus Fest runs from September 26-28. Tickets are available now.