Otherland launches in Toronto with Model 500

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  • Starting later this month, the new party series also promises appearances from Joey Beltram and Floorplan.
  • Otherland launches in Toronto with Model 500 image
  • Model 500 will headline the first Otherland event at Tattoo in Toronto on July 25th. Otherland is a new series from Toronto's Mansion focused on booking "pioneers and innovators," in the promoter's own words. The gigs will go down at the recently-renovated Tattoo. The first one is a two-room affair that features Juan Atkins' live Detroit techno band—where he plays alongside Mike Banks, DJ Skurge and Mark Taylor—in the headline slot in the main room, with support from Junior Boys' Jeremy Greenspan and a back-to-back set from locals Gingy and Kevin McPhee. The second room features a selection of stalwart Toronto DJs, including Evening Standard residents, Nacho Lovers' Andrew Ross and Mikey Apples, a regular at Bambi's. The crew have also planned four future parties stretching into October. August's event, taking place on the 1st, will feature Simian Mobile Disco and a back-to-back set from Nautiluss and Iron Galaxy. On September 5th, they'll host an R&S label showcase featuring veteran Joey Beltram, Lone, Tessela and locals Jokers Of The Scene. On September 26th things there's a double-header from Robert Hood's Floorplan project and Efdemin, and then, finally, October 24th is a more uptempo affair, with Machinedrum will in the headlining slot along with Dance Mania men Paul Johnson and Parris Mitchell. We spoke with Mansion's Konrad Droeske via email to discuss the new night.
    Where does the name come from? Otherland describes the vibe of the night—we're creating this alternate club experience that emphasizes simple but often ignored concepts, like well-tuned sound, a harassment-free policy, no bottle service, and strong support for our most promising local talent. What inspired you to start the series? We always start a new project by asking ourselves what Toronto is missing. There currently isn't a year-round series dedicated to the underground artists we love, which to me is a glaring gap in our music scene. What's the overarching theme with the headliners you've booked? Pioneers and innovators, from the past and present. We're focused on bringing people that have pushed boundaries in electronic music—innovative artists, labels, and collectives from around the world. Toronto has had a lot of trouble with dance music events and venues lately—is it hard to put parties on in the city right now? There are some zoning issues that prevent "nightclub" style events anywhere but a few select areas of the city—the entertainment district and King Street West—and a few select locations which have grandfathered designations. Anything outside is technically not a permitted use and can be shut down. Thankfully, several councillors have begun to notice the cultural significance of these events and there is an organized movement to ease these restrictions. Will all the events be at Tattoo, and why there? It's a space that is undergoing a bit of a revival at the moment. There's been a genuine effort to make improvements by Jonathan Ramos (formerly of Union Events), who is seasoned promoter and passionate music lover. It's undergone a recent rebrand and renovations, and during NXNE they successfully hosted the RBMA showcases... On top of that, he's given us full creative control to turn our vision for Otherland into a reality.





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