Lavender Wild, Toronto’s new queer music festival, started with a love story

Alex Simpson, a festival manager at Live Nation, and Leandra Earl, who plays keyboard and guitar for Toronto band the Beaches, first locked eyes on O’Grady’s patio on Church Street. Their first date was a viewing party for the Budweiser Stage at Home episode in which the Beaches opened for Alanis Morissette. Three years later, the couple have built a beautiful relationship rooted in a love of music.

They’ve travelled all over together: Utah (soundtracked by Kacey Musgraves and Noah Cyrus); Vancouver (Harry Styles on repeat) and, most recently, to Florida. “We took the train from Miami to Alex’s parents’ place in Vero Beach and the Aces sent me their new album,” said Earl. “We each had a headphone in, listening to that for the two-hour ride.”

It’s Toronto, however, that has both of their hearts, especially as people who love live music.

“You can go anywhere, any night of the week and see a great band,” said Earl, name-checking favourite venues like the Horseshoe Tavern, El Mocambo and the Garrison.

On June 4, Simpson will add to Toronto’s musical offering, with the launch of lavender wild, a one-day queer festival at Ontario Place’s RBC Echo Beach. Headliners for the all-ages event include Girl in Red and Hayley Kiyoko. The festival also champions vendors and on-site staff from the queer community.

“The idea came to me when I was at a queer concert and I realized it was more than just a concert,” said Simpson. “It was this deeply impactful event where my community was gathering to celebrate music we all love. I was like, ‘Why is there not something like this on a grander scale?’”

The music industry hasn’t always been an inclusive place for queer artists. “In high school, Tegan and Sara were the only queer people in the industry that I had heard of,” said Earl. “They’re still around and so influential, but now they’ve inspired so many other queer people to do what they’re doing.”

Earl said she was “pretty scared” when she first came out publicly a few years ago.

“We’re a rock band and that genre can feel not as accepting, but apart from a few DMs that weren’t so nice, I’ve had this overwhelmingly great response,” Earl said, adding that she’s received messages from young women saying she inspired them to finally come out to their parents or friends. “It became about something more than myself and then it felt like my duty to our fans to create this safe space for them.”

Simpson feels a similar responsibility.

“Growing up, I didn’t have anything to listen to and now all of these young kids — they’re going through a breakup or they’re having the best day of their life with their friend in the park — and they’re experiencing it with queer music,” said Simpson. “That’s so special to me.”

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