THE CROWD WAS THE CATALYST: CHRIS LAKE’S “CHEMISTRY” TAKES OVER, CANADIANRAVERS EVENT REVIEW

Chris Lake’s album Chemistry showcases his signature blend of house grooves and polished production, balancing club-ready bangers with more melodic, dancefloor-friendly cuts that highlight his knack for catchy hooks and crisp percussion; the record cements his place as a mainstay in modern electronic music while offering moments of experimentation that broaden his sonic palette. His Toronto tour stop brought that energy to a packed crowd, where festival-sized drops and tighter, more intimate moments translated well in a venue known for its sound and atmosphere — the set featured several tracks from Chemistry alongside classics and bright edits that kept the floor moving, demonstrating why Lake remains a consistent draw for both longtime fans and newer listeners.

EVENT REVIEW: night 1

Well, history was made at History Toronto on November 28th. Grammy-nominated DJ Chris Lake came to Toronto, and we’re still dreaming about his amazing, high-energy, 2-hour set! 

From the moment the first beat hit, the sound was crisp and powerful, something we have come to love from History as a venue. Entering was seamless (as always), and the crowd did not stop dancing - in fact, everywhere we looked, we saw smiling faces. 

Chris Lake delivered a sold-out night one and wowed with a mix of fan favourites like his 2025 remix of ‘Messy’ by Lola Young, which had everyone singing along. We were also treated to a number of tracks from his latest album ‘Chemistry’, such as’ Memories’, ' On and On’ and our personal favourite, ‘Ease My Mind’.

Visually, the show was also a treat; the production quality featured lights dancing above the crowd, perfectly complementing the bass drops. And boy did he bring the lasers, with his mix of Ray Volpe’s “Laserbeam” erupting in a tidal wave of strobes filling the whole venue and shattering the darkness. 

What struck us most was how effortlessly Chris Lake always bridges new music with classics. His “Galvanize” remix by the Chemical Brothers had us levitating, and right before the end, he played “Kids” by Fezzo (MGMT mix) and the classic ‘sweet disposition’ by Temper Trap, which had the crowd feeding off both the familiarity of long-time hits and the freshness of his beats.

He ended the night with a mix of ‘Move Your Feet’ by Junior Senior, which brought a wave of nostalgia to all those in attendance, proving once again why he is such a prominent figure in House music. It’s also wildly refreshing to see larger-name DJs stick around after the show to meet and interact with their fans, which Chris Lake did for a good 30 minutes post-set.”

Written by Emma Staples

Follow Chris Lake on social media

ELEMENTS MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES PHASE ONE LINEUP FOR 2026

The Premier Immersive Electronic Festival of the Northeast Returns for its 9th Edition

Phase One Featuring Above & Beyond, Chris Lake, Cloonee, CloZee (Sunset Set), Crankdat, Daily Bread + Cloud Conductor, Excision, Ganja White Night (Sunset Set), I Hate Models, it’s murph, KETTAMA, Louis the Child (Sunset Set), LSDream + Lightcode, Of The Trees, Porter Robinson (DJ Set), Sub Focus, Subtronics, SVDDEN DEATH, A-Trak, ACRAZE, AYYBO, Hedex, HOL!, jigitz, Level Up, MPH, Walker & Royce, Westend, Zingara
+ More To Be Announced

August 7–9, 2026
in Long Pond, Pennsylvania

Tickets On Sale Now
www.elementsfest.us

Elements Music & Arts Festival has revealed the phase one lineup for its 2026 edition, returning to Long Pond, Pennsylvania for three days of music, art, camping, and immersive experience from August 7–9. Entering its ninth edition, Elements continues to redefine the modern camping festival by blending forward-thinking electronic music with large-scale art, participatory programming, and a deeply rooted community ethos.

Set within its signature forested grounds, Elements delivers a wide-ranging sonic journey that spans bass, house, techno, experimental, and crossover electronic sounds. The phase one lineup reflects the festival’s commitment to curating both headline-level talent and boundary-pushing artists shaping the future of the genre.

Lineup highlights include Grammy-nominated artist Porter Robinson (DJ Set), fan-favorite boundary pusher Subtronics, storied Anjunabeats founders Above & Beyond, house heavyweight Chris Lake, high octane bass pioneer Excision, drum & bass champion Sub Focus, and the mind-melting Of The Trees. The stacked billing expands with two head-splitting sets from Crankdat including one back to back set for the Thursday pre-party with an artist to be announced, Chicago-bred crossover duo Louis The Child (Sunset Set), and genre-blurring visionary CloZee (Sunset Set) who will host a special Odyzey takeover featuring OPIUO, ProbCause, and Skysia.

House and techno standouts include chart-driving UK tastemaker Cloonee, New York-bred club authority Westend, percussive tech-house riser AYYBO, and house hitmaker ACRAZE. Added highlights include raw techno force I Hate Models, meteoric Irish sensation KETTAMA, club agitator MCR-T, groove-focused selector Know Good, and emerging underground duo X CLUB.

Bass and experimental styles are provided by cinematic bass architects Ganja White Night (Sunset Set), the hypnotic audiovisual project of LSDream + his meditative soundbath project Lightcode, forward-thinking UK selector Level Up, D&B innovators Ivy Lab, and groove-driven bass fusion of Daily Bread + his deep cut alias Cloud Conductor. Fans can also look forward to low-end disruptor Effin, exploratory experimental producer Lumasi, powerful vocalist and DJ Kaleena Zanders, genre-fluid bass selector SIPPY, mystical bass storyteller Zingara, and uncompromising dubstep powerhouse SVDDEN DEATH.

“The Elements 2026 lineup is a curated collision of pioneers, risk-takers, and artists who reshape dance music culture. From genre-defining icons, to the next wave of boundary-pushers, this lineup reflects our commitment to booking artists who don’t just move crowds, they move the culture” says Tim Monkiewicz, Elements Founder.

Elements’ four core stages - Fire, Earth, Air, and Water - each draw inspiration from the natural elements they represent, creating distinct worlds of sound and design across the festival grounds. From high-energy nighttime performances to sun-soaked daytime sets, each stage offers a unique environment for discovery, connection, and exploration.

Tim adds, “We are excited to announce the Fire Stage is being redesigned from the ground up for 2026 as a living temple of sound – a collaboration with international designers to create something ancient, explosive, and deeply ritualistic. It’s not just a stage, but a shared moment of release, where music, architecture, and energy collide.”

Beyond the music, Elements continues to expand its reputation as one of the country’s most immersive camping festivals. Attendees can explore large-scale art installations, roaming performances, art cars, and fan-curated Vibe Villages, alongside wellness programming that includes yoga, sound baths, workshops, and movement-based experiences. Sustainability remains central to the festival’s mission, with ongoing initiatives supported by the site’s on-location solar farm and community-driven environmental efforts.

Brett Herman, Elements Festival Founder, also adds “We are so grateful to commence our 5th year at the Pocono Raceway, it's been an incredible journey growing our festival site and enhancing the woods and grounds every year. As a long time Burning Man participant I'm particularly happy to see the growth of Vibe Villages – last year they comprised about 1/3rd of our total camping population. Vibe Villages are a foundational part of the Elements community, you get to be a true participant in co-creating the Elements Experience.”

Phase one passes - including GA, VIP, and enhanced experience options - are available now via the official Elements Music & Arts Festival website. Additional lineup announcements, programming details, and participatory opportunities will be revealed in the coming months.

FREAKS OF NATURE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2026 LINEUP FEATURING ALAN WALKER, ALESSO, AMELIE LENS, ARTBAT, MEDUZA, MORTEN & THE FREAKS (LIVE)

MARKING A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RETURN, FREAKS OF NATURE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES THE FIRST PHASE OF ARTISTS FOR ITS SEVENTH EPISODE, FREAKYARD. TAKING PLACE ACROSS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, 5TH–6TH AND 12TH–13TH FEBRUARY 2026, IN RIYADH, FREAKS OF NATURE WILL WELCOME INTERNATIONAL TALENT, INCLUDING ALAN WALKER, ALESSO, AMELIE LENS, ARTBAT, MEDUZA, MORTEN AND THE FREAKS (LIVE) TO SAUDI ARABIA’S MOST DYNAMIC, IMMERSIVE, AND MEMORABLE BOUTIQUE MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE.

As part of the festival’s first artist reveal, which includes numerous globally recognised names and local talent, Freakyard also announces a special performance by The Freaks (Live), an immersive sound, light, and visual show presented as a b2b2b set by artists Yunite, Toby Romeo, and Yaz. Over the coming weeks, Freaks of Nature will unveil its full lineup, comprising 100+ artists. Famed for its diverse programming, sense of freedom, and vibrancy, Freakyard will attract more than 30,000 visitors per day across two weekends this February at the MDLBEAST Soundstorm site in Banban. The festival will transform the site into an industrial yet visually striking and fully immersive universe for attendees to explore, spanning across four nights, two weekends, and three uniquely designed stages.

As a highlight in the international clubbing calendar, the Mainstage will exhibit captivating artistic design paired with the festival’s curation of euphoric anthems, enhanced by distinctive special effects that will create an exhilarating atmosphere throughout the weekends. In parallel, the Underground stage will deliver a fully immersive holographic journey, featuring the latest in 3D mapping technology to transform the space in harmony with pulsating Techno beats, offering a cutting-edge visual and sonic experience. Adding to the festival’s diversity, the House of Freaks stage functions as an indoor venue, embracing flamboyant energy and confetti-fuelled moments, keeping crowds moving late into the night to the hottest House selections.

Accompanying the range across stages, the festival will feature an entertainment village showcasing the Freak Bazar, dedicated chill zones, alongside food and beverage offerings, gaming experiences, and an array of interactive activations, including local brands, designers, and creators, providing a vibrant social space for guests to explore throughout the festival’s programming.

Freakyard actively invites festival-goers to embrace a sense of freedom, leaving behind work, stress, and the pressures of daily life. It celebrates the “Freak”, an unapologetically authentic, fun-seeking individual, encouraging attendees to reconnect, lose themselves in the music and atmosphere, and create unforgettable memories that endure long after the night ends. As part of the 2026 experience, Freakyard will soon announce a new merchandise range, a DJ competition, and numerous other experiential activities for local and international guests to enjoy, complemented by immersive art installations and roaming characters that transform the grounds into a truly interactive and unforgettable universe.

Yazeed Al-Hashim, Chief Freak, comments:

“This first announcement is just an introduction to what Freakyard 2026 has in store. We’re starting with artists who set the tone, but the full story is much bigger. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be revealing names and experiences that reflect the scale, ambition, and creative direction of this edition. Freakyard is built to unfold, and we’re only getting started.”

Freaks of Nature is an internationally recognised series of boutique electronic music and arts festivals born in Saudi Arabia and loved globally. It provides a vibrant platform for international headliners, emerging artists, and local talent to showcase a diverse electronic soundscape focused firmly on the dance floor and encouraging freedom of expression for attendees. Each event is a multi-sensory experience, featuring electrifying dance, stunning visuals, immersive special effects, and flamboyant costumes. Freaks of Nature fluently transcends barriers, celebrates music, and continues to captivate audiences with its unforgettable, transformative atmosphere. 

As Saudi Arabia's first globally exportable entertainment brand, Freaks of Nature fosters cultural exchange and positions the Kingdom as a hub for world-class festivals, elevating its presence at the forefront of the international scene.

Taking place on 5th–6th and 12th–13th of February 2026 in Riyadh, early bird tickets are currently on sale for Freaks of Nature, 2026. With the full festival programming set to be unveiled over the coming weeks, attendees can be the first to enter the Freakyard and join the growing Freak family.

Phase 1 Lineup:

ALAN WALKER | ALESSO | AMELIE LENS

ARTBAT | MEDUZA | MORTEN | THE FREAKS (LIVE)

ALAA JAZARI | BJONES | BROOKS | DUBVISION | GIU

HANNAH | HNTR | IGNITER | JUSTIN MYLO

KREAM | LINSKA | MARTEN LOU | MATT PRIDGYN

MAX STYLER | MOONTALK | ONFAYA | RDJ

SAM COLLINS | SON OF SON | STASI SANLIN | THIRD PARTY

TOBY ROMEO | YAZ | ZAMNA SOUNDSYSTEM

AERES | AHMED ZAINAL | ALLEN HULSEY

AMMAR | ASPYER | B-HYDRA B2B RDLF | BASICZ

BASTIAN | BLACKCODE | BRQ | BURNR | CHRIS

CRÜPO | DAVID ALLEN | DUJAK

ETHAN ENGLISH | EVA KIM | GAZI | GHADERZ

GHOST | HAFFS | ISEK | JEME | K LED

KIMBERLY | LABI RAMAJ | LARGO | MAJID | MBP

MIDWAY | NHA | PRINCE | RAG | RSCL

SPACE GURRL | VIVA | WEDAMNZ | WELTRON 

WOOKA | YUNITE

Find out more & follow:

Website | Instagram | TikTok | Snapchat | X | YouTube