Parlovr getting into it at Festival Music House (Image: J.J. Thompson)
Last night wrapped up the final eve of Festival Music House at TIFF, and much like the two nights before it, the booze was flowing and the bands gave it their all. Festival Music House curators Arts&Crafts (the label that brought us Broken Social Scene,The Stills,Timber Timbre and Jason Collett to name a few) did a great job creating unique lineups with different themes each night, with Monday’s performances appealing to a more mainstream crowd, Tuesday’s country and folk influence and last night’s indie rock thread with The Darcys, Parlovr, Hey Rosetta!,The Rural Alberta Advantage and headliners The Arkells. Check out who showed up and rocked out, after the jump.
Last night’s show was just as crowded as Tuesday’s, but we’ve got to admit that people were less rowdy than the previous night (perhaps day six of the festival is getting to everyone?). Hey Rosetta! seemed to be responsible for early traffic and played to a packed house while patrons guzzled free drinks for the third night in a row (we were too tired from TIFF to even think about consuming a free cocktail). The Rural Alberta Advantage also appealed to fans—we noticed a group of suits shouting along to every lyric and dancing rambunctiously to the band’s tunes. Closing the night were The Arkells, who brought style and charisma to the stage, even if their set seemed to go on for an eternity.
But equally as important as the bands are star sightings, of course, and we noticed the cast of The Oddsin the audience, as well as Don McKeller (back for another night after attending earlier this week), Niv Fichman, Meghan Heffern and members of The Sheepdogs out to support Canadian talent. The big star moment came when Geoffrey Rush pushed right past us to get a better view of the stage. Rush was spotted later with actress Tommie-Amber Pirie outside on the patio engaging festival-goers and aspiring A-list actors in hazy, smoke-filled conversation. The Rush star sighting closed a successful three days at the Mod Club, which can only mean one thing: only 365 days until we can do it all again next year.