Photography & Text Nayan Sthankiya
For Saskatoon indie band Greenwing, the inaugural Second Summer Festival in Toronto was an opportunity to take the energy of the Saskatchewan music scene to one of Canada’s most vibrant musical cities. With performances at Sneaky Dee’s, the legendary Horseshoe Tavern and Collective Arts, followed by a high-energy 2:30 a.m. finale at Drom Taverna, Greenwing’s festival experience became a whirlwind of music, new audiences and unforgettable late-night moments.
The festival began at Sneaky Dee’s, one of Toronto’s best-known independent music and entertainment venues. Known for its intimate atmosphere and long connection to the city’s alternative music community, the venue provided Greenwing with an ideal setting to introduce its sound to Toronto festivalgoers. The band brought the energy and character that have become part of its identity in Saskatoon, quickly turning the room into a lively showcase of indie music.
Next came the Horseshoe Tavern, a venue steeped in Canadian music history. Playing a stage with such a storied reputation was a significant moment for a band travelling from Saskatoon. Greenwing approached the performance with confidence, delivering its music to another Toronto audience and demonstrating the versatility and enthusiasm that are essential to a successful festival performance. The Horseshoe provided a different environment from Sneaky Dee’s, allowing the band to experience another side of Toronto’s legendary live-music culture.
Greenwing then continued its festival journey at Collective Arts. Moving between venues throughout a festival requires musicians to continually adapt, but the changing locations also create opportunities to reach completely different audiences. At Collective Arts, Greenwing continued to build momentum, bringing its Saskatoon sound to listeners who may have been discovering the band for the first time. The performance added another dimension to an already busy Toronto schedule.
But the most memorable moment of the festival came long after midnight.
At 2:30 a.m., Greenwing took the stage at Drom Taverna for its final performance. Rather than winding down after a demanding series of shows, the band turned the late-night slot into a high-energy finale. The early-morning hour gave the performance a unique atmosphere, with musicians and audience members sharing the feeling that they were part of something happening outside the normal rhythm of the city.
The energy of the Drom Taverna show brought Greenwing’s Toronto adventure to an appropriate conclusion. After travelling from Saskatoon and performing across several different venues, the band had one last opportunity to give everything it had to the audience. The late hour only seemed to heighten the intensity, transforming the final set into a celebration of live music, connection and the freedom that comes with playing well into the early morning.
Greenwing’s appearance at the inaugural Second Summer Festival was ultimately about more than a collection of performances. It was a chance for a Saskatoon indie band to step into Toronto’s music culture and make connections with audiences far from home. From Sneaky Dee’s and the Horseshoe Tavern to Collective Arts and a 2:30 a.m. high-energy finale at Drom Taverna, Greenwing’s festival journey demonstrated the excitement, resilience and adventurous spirit of independent music.
For Greenwing, Toronto provided a new stage, new audiences and a memorable chapter in the band’s continuing story.
