Kensington Market

10 songs that capture the spirit of Kensington Market

Chic storefronts, designer boutiques and trendy bars are the telltale signs of gentrification, but Kensington doesn't care. The Market is where culture comes to be recycled, reimagined and repurposed - the abandoned car-turned-flower-garden that used to sit on Augusta, the lawnmower-robot-insects outside the house on Wales Ave, the endless 'sketch-comedy-and-tragedy' of Bellevue Square. Kensington is in a constant fluid state between trash and treasure; Toronto's cultural basin where the city's artistic run-off settles, stews and brews something anew.

My Kensington playlist consists of artists who frankly don't give a f*ck. They're loud, abrasive, and messy - Dilly Dally, Brutal Knights, Cellphone, S.H.I.T.; and they're relentless and eccentric - Zoo Owl, Yamantaka//Sonic Titan, Human Performance Lab. The title track for this mix could be Maylee Todd's "Successive Mutations" - the odd one out with its harps, and vibes and jazzy feels. But that's Kensington, where the odd one out feels at home.


Which 10 tracks would you use to celebrate Kensington Market? Make your own Spotify playlist and tweet us the link, or leave it in the comments below.

Image by Aldrin Taroy


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Music

VELD just released its full 2025 lineup and it includes a number of hometown heroes

Country star Morgan Wallen is bringing his 2025 tour to Toronto

Some fans shelled out $1,200 for Keith Urban's intimate surprise show in Toronto

5 music festivals coming to Toronto in 2025

Woman wins Drake look-alike contest in Toronto

Three-day winter music festival is celebrating its 25th year in Toronto

Kendrick Lamar to perform in Toronto for first time since his feud with Drake escalated

Taylor Swift shares message to Toronto fans after 6 'incredible' shows