Dayle's Playlist Playground: Favourite Festival Moments
I am the Production Manager with the RFF. I have been working for the Festival for 10 years now (wow time flies!) and absolutely love making this beautiful machine run as smoothly as possible. I balance my time between work and my family, with two little ones at home. I love that they love music, and share in this RFF journey. Instead of playing "house", they often "play festival" – directing traffic, sorting recycling, talking into headsets & walkie-talkies, and having dance parties. The RFF is as alive at home as it is at work, and I love working for an organization that has such a fantastic impact on our community and next generations.
I have been reflecting a lot on my past 10 years with the RFF, so of course, I had to make a playlist that brings back my favourite memories! It's a mash of all my favourite moments, from all year round!
"Torokh" by DakhaBrakha
Reason: My award for Best Daytime Workshops hands-down goes to Dakha Brakha (with Blitz the Ambassador & Charly Hustle in 2014, and the unforgettable borscht-making workshop in 2018).
"Hallelujah" by k.d. lang
Reason: This is my favourite Festival-Moment. I've never heard Victoria Park so quiet in this moment; everyone in the entire park was listening, entranced by this Canadian-classic. I re-live this moment every night, as this song is forever on my kid's bedtime playlist.
"Say Hey (I Love You)" by Michael Franti & Spearhead
Reason: And the Best Festival Finale goes to Michael Franti It was an absolute dance party on that stage, and I had so much fun celebrating with the amazing team of staff, musicians, and volunteers! Also, my hubby and I walked down the aisle at our wedding to this song – it's always a party when Michael Franti is in the playlist!
"Breathless" by William Prince
Reason: I love love love when William Prince graces our stage, whether it's on the Mainstage, a Daytime Workshop, or Winterruption. But my favourite William Prince moment was when he did a school show tour a few winters ago. As the coordinator of the School Outreach program, I've seen a lot of RFF artists perform at schools – and this one was so beautiful, I sobbed through the whole thing (in front of a bunch of elementary school children – yeah, I'm cool like that).
"Out of My Head" by Begonia
Reason: My favourite Winterruption artist – I literally can't get this song out of my head (see what I did there?); between her vocals, her amazing band, and her mind-blowingly beautiful wardrobe, listening to this particular song takes me back to the grungy Revival Music Room and I just can't get enough.
"Symphony 2 & the Click Boom Boom" by Emily Wells
Reason: Emily Wells is my favourite "discovery", both as her as an artist, and as, at the time, the emerging genre of building music on stage. I remember seeing her daytime performance on Stage 3 and thinking, "How is this even happening?". Then, she came back a few years later to play Winterruption at Darke Hall, and it was such a treat!