Alex Simpson, a festival manager at Live Nation, and Leandra Earl, who plays keyboard and guitar for, 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 ; Vancouver and, most recently, to Florida. “We took the train from Miami to Alex’s parents’ place in Vero Beach and sent me their new album,” said Earl. “We each had a headphone in, listening to that for the two-hour ride.”“You can go anywhere, any night of the week and see a great band,” said Earl, name-checking favourite venues like theOn June 4, Simpson will add to Toronto’s musical offering, with the launch of lavenderat 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?’”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.