Hayden (ON)
Since he first emerged from Toronto’s burgeoning alternative scene in 1995 with the now iconic Everything I Long For, Hayden has intrigued, not only for his music but also for his highly introspective personality and his fierce musical independence. He usually performs most instruments on his records, and almost always engineers, mixes, and produces them. Hayden ended a four year performance hiatus last fall with a European tour, and celebrated the release of Us Alone earlier this year. Lyrically, Hayden continues his strength in crafting stories that range from the highly autobiographical, to the quiet and contemplative, to the unsettling. His power to grab your attention, to take you on an emotional journey remains – and that is why you want to be there on the first night of the festival to watch him perform.