We began recording sets with an iRiver at System Soundbar in the early 2000’s.  We figured recording live DJ mixes and posting them on bringthebeats was the best way to help our friends know more about our underground and sign up for our Breathe Friday's guest list.

System closed after NYE 2006 and soon after we used the concept to be a part of another very special vibe at Sonic Nightclub.  In the summer of 2007 we joined forces with three promotions to form EXPOSED.  We made soooo many incredible memories and even more lifelong friends at the parties we hosted at The Mod Club.   EXPOSED was definitely the inspiration we needed to do this promotions thing on our own and that’s what we set out to do in the summer of 2008 when we began to plan INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND at TOiKA.

After 27 I&U's, three INTIMATE & ON THE BOAT's, four bringthebeats NEW YEAR’S EVE’s, four homegrown jams named after our Toronto mix series The LocALe, many co-promotions and the occasional reunion, TOIKA remains our preferred space. Terence and his staff are very much our family, so for as long as they're looking after our second home and we throw reunion parties, that's where you'll find us.

Not all of our magical nights have been recorded—some were best left on the dance floor—but it’s certainly nice to have these musical memories to share in this playlist.

club BEATS

Cesar Caballero is the unsung hero of the bringthebeats / GROOVE GARDEN movement.  His design skills allow our promotion to consistently stand out from the rest, and of course his DJing talent sets the tone perfectly for each one of our events.  Cesar is an absolute pro, through and through.  We definitely wouldn’t be in this game anymore if it weren’t for him.

Cesar has humbly warmed the Toika Lounge dance floor for over a year, which isn’t always the most glamorous role in an underground scene that’s always fashionably late.  He ensures the system is tuned just right and everything in our guest’s rider is absolutely satisfied.  There’s so much to look after over and above the music, it’s amazing he can look after it all and still be in the groove by the time the room takes shape.

We wanted to release Cesar’s INTIMATE & ON THE BOAT set before any of the other coverage because in so many ways this cruise was for him.  He still had to deal with all the technical crap he so graciously looks after for us, but for this event, he didn’t need to wait for the dance floor to fill in.  Even before the boat left the dock, the entire top deck was packed and ready to rock.

As you can hear, Cesar totally delivered.  So much so, the hand off from Cesar to Luke Fair was the seminal moment of the voyage for us.  And it’s been absolutely amazing to hear all the incredible feedback from this set.  We really hope it’s the turning point in Cesar’s popularity in Toronto because there’s nobody who deserves it more than him.

"I decided to edit my INTIMATE & ON THE BOAT set in studio because I wanted to tell the whole story the best way possible. It was such special day with the bringthebeats / GROOVE GARDEN family; I wanted to keep the memories alive with the same tunes and vibe I presented aboard the Stella Borealis.  The goal was to deliver the best quality recording, instead of sharing just half of my set, which is what I would have had to do if we released the live version.  There were a lot of interruptions and volume / EQ issues throughout the first 35 minutes because of restrictions on the boat while docked.  Anyway, it was a very magical day / night that will remain in my spirit forever.  I feel truly blessed to have had the chance to communicate through this music with my favorite crowd on earth!" - Cesar Caballero

SOUNDCLOUD: @groove-garden-recordings
www.facebook.com/djcesarcaballero

INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND

Cesar Caballero - INTIMATE & ON THE BOAT - July 13, 2013

Many in the music business are in it because they don’t want a real job. It’s frustrating to work with them. Then there are people like Eelke Kleijn who are professional to the max.  It’s always exciting to collaborate with guys like him.

It’s not easy selling our intimate concept and modest budgets to established artists. Bigger is better for so many in this industry, but it’s not that way for Eelke. He reaps the benefits of events both big and small.

There can be just as much magic in a room of 150, as there is in a club of thousands – often more. We’re creating pure underground experiences for the house-music lover, and with pros like Eelke Kleijn on board, we’re almost guaranteed success. Both of his events with us this year are an indication of this.

Eelke’s first Toronto appearance in May was many years in the making. We met at the WMC in 2007, but because of his worldwide popularity, we’ve always known he doesn’t need to play a small shop like ours. We wanted to be sure his debut was a good one, and thankfully it was with Ozmozis Productions on board.

Oz’s crew is fresh and filled with insane energy.  With his people carrying most of the load, we couldn’t have been more satisfied with how Eelke’s first visit to Toika Lounge turned out. Many thanks also go out to Way of Acting  for kicking it off proper with a very memorable Warm-Up Session.

The only blemish on an otherwise flawless party was the minimal bringthebeats / GROOVE GARDEN presence on the dance floor. With our second co-promotion alongside Ozmozis – featuring the mega-hot Henry Saiz – the very next weekend, too much of our crew held back for part two.

So when the opportunity arose to bring Eelke back for an INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND in August, we immediately said yes. The second gig allowed us to expose Eelke to the entire Toika community and cement the Dutchman as a reliable artist in our core.

Eelke’s professionalism shined through at a phenomenal I&U. Faced with a more subdued group, Eelke maneuvered through his collection much differently than he did in May. In the booth for most of Cesar Caballero‘s warm up, he sensed we’re more on the house tip, so he tapped into his deeper bombs. They worked perfectly on us, as we were locked in a serious groove from start to finish.

The icing on the cake: Eelke used the set for Episode 88 of his Outside the Box podcast… a HUGE score for us!

Within four months Eelke exposed two merging groups to the entire spectrum of house music. In the process, he displayed why the progressive style of DJing is by far the most effective way to move the dance floor. Whether its Oz’s crew jumping up and down or ours gliding side to side, Eelke Kleijn can perform magic inside any vibe. He’s absolutely welcome back to Toronto anytime.

SOUNDCLOUD: @eelke-kleijn
www.eelkekleijn.nl

Eelke Kleijn - INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND V22 - August 10, 2013

The cards were stacked against us. Toronto’s longest-running underground club was celebrating its closing weekend. Guy J was less than a week before… Sasha at Stereo and Halloween the week after… John Digweed at Stereo and Henry Saiz Live at Toika the week after that! It’s been a long time since our market was saturated with so many of our scene’s marquee talent, how could we expect the niche to fit in our little anniversary jam?

Heading into the event, it appeared they wouldn’t. Our advance tickets were a tad low for a Luke Fair party and Cesar Caballero played for a way-too-empty dance floor for way too long. It’s like pulling teeth to fill any room before midnight on the best of nights, but with the odds definitely not on our side, we were a bit worried. The party that’s traditionally the best for us had become a stress.

Then, just before the witching hour, the flood gates opened. The Luke Fair faithful stormed through the door. Cesar’s fans slide-stepped in front of the booth and the energy amped in a matter of minutes. The frustrated folks from around the corner began to filter in and soon after they called their friends to come over and experience what was shaping up to be our most memorable Toika party of the year. And that it was.

There’s a feeling of comfort we all have when Luke Fair’s at the top of the bill. The transition from Cesar to Luke is always seamless. They’ve played together so often Luke knows exactly what to expect and Cesar knows exactly what Luke plans to do next. Their trust certainly creates a fluid night of music.

For us, we always know we’re going to see our best friends on the floor when Luke is in the booth. The vibe is priceless when the room is full and the DJ knows most everybody’s name, and on this night, he tailored his set especially for this crew. Countless edits and special cuts kept the memories flowing from the start (below) to the unwelcomed finish (which we’ll leave for those who know).

SOUNDCLOUD: @lukefair
www.lukefairmusic.com

Luke Fair - INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND v24 - October 19, 2013

The cards were stacked against us. Toronto’s longest-running underground club was celebrating its closing weekend. Guy J was less than a week before… Sasha at Stereo and Halloween the week after… John Digweed at Stereo and Henry Saiz Live at Toika the week after that! It’s been a long time since our market was saturated with so many of our scene’s marquee talent, how could we expect the niche to fit in our little anniversary jam?

Heading into the event, it appeared they wouldn’t. Our advance tickets were a tad low for a Luke Fair party and Cesar Caballero played for a way-too-empty dance floor for way too long. It’s like pulling teeth to fill any room before midnight on the best of nights, but with the odds definitely not on our side, we were a bit worried. The party that’s traditionally the best for us had become a stress.

Then, just before the witching hour, the flood gates opened. The Luke Fair faithful stormed through the door. Cesar’s fans slide-stepped in front of the booth and the energy amped in a matter of minutes. The frustrated folks from around the corner began to filter in and soon after they called their friends to come over and experience what was shaping up to be our most memorable Toika party of the year. And that it was.

Despite some worries on the home front of his own, Cesar warmed the room to perfection, as he always does. Even when the room was more baron than usual, you could hear (below) Cesar was focused and in the groove. He steps into the booth with a plan and executes, regardless of the circumstance. And when it’s time to turn it on, Cesar is always primed to please. Cesar Caballero has become satisfaction guaranteed.

SOUNDCLOUD: @groove-garden-recordings
www.facebook.com/djcesarcaballero

Cesar Caballero - INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND V24 - October 19, 2013

With an extra month off to prepare for the incredibly exciting opportunity to open a party for one of his musical idols, Cesar proceeded to drop his best Toika set ever!  Here's the last hour of his proper journey of deep and groovy house, only of the underground variety. 
  
SOUNDCLOUD: @groove-garden-recordings
www.facebook.com/djcesarcaballero

Cesar Caballero - INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND v25 - December 14, 2013

Our first party of 2014 was the definition of bittersweet. Bitter because the room was not as busy as it usually is for a DEMI appearance. Sweet because the vibe and music were per usual, amazing!

Two weekends after Hugz & Tugz, our Facebook feed was littered with anger for one of Toronto’s biggest clubs and one of the industry’s marquee names. For absolutely no good reason – that we know of – the jam-packed venue was disappointed from beginning to end. The promoters failed their patrons and the talent failed everyone. Once again, the people behind the wheel take the punters’ passion for granted.

That will never happen at a bringthebeats party at TOiKA.  It certainly won’t be the case when DEMI’s on the decks. Like DEMI pointed out when we finalized this live set; “Whether there are five or five thousand on the dance floor, I treat every gig like it’s my last.”

The feeling’s mutual, for different reasons.

DEMI’s approach stems from an honest desire to always be his best. He loves and respects the underground so much, he wants to experience the butterfly feeling every time he steps into the booth.  It’s what drives him to continually push forward decades into a roller coaster ride of a career, and in our ears, it’s working. DEMI – back on the solo tip – has never sounded better.

SoundCloud: @DEMIofficialMUSIC
www.facebook.com/demidj

CLUB BEATS

DEMI - Hugz & Tugz at TOiKA, Toronto - April 12, 2014

It’s an incredible rush to organize a party and have it go off. To see smiling faces and feet shuffling on the dance floor, knowing you are largely responsible for the good times, is a rush like no other. However when you’re working the party, you’re usually not listening to it, so we want to take this opportunity to thank the DJs who’ve allowed us to record their sets and enjoy them time and time again.

Neil Quigley has always been so great with this. Each time he’s performed for bringthebeats he’s provided the music as a post-event treat. He understands we want to feel the vibe many more times. The music is a release for us, and if we can attach the warm feelings of a memorable night, it brings the tunes even closer to the heart.

Only a few of our live sets will ever be as special as the one below. INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND was a huge part of our lives for almost five years. We met so many great friends, heard so much phenomenal music and experienced an array of euphoria throughout the series. Without fanfare or commercialism the parties thrived through 27 instalments, ending with an artist we always yearned to hear in the I&U environment.

Admittedly we would’ve loved to fill TOiKA for Neil and the INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND send off, but that’s not always how it was for us. Some parties were packed, others weren’t. But regardless of the numbers, the energy remained high and the music was always stellar. It’s a true testament to the quality of the bringthebeats crew, on the dance floor and in the booth.

SoundCloud: @neil-quigley 
www.facebook.com/neilquigleymusicpage

Neil Quigley - INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND v27 - June 21, 2014 - Part 2

Neil Quigley - INTIMATE & UNDERGROUND v27 - June 21, 2014 - Part 1

A live recording of @eelke-kleijn & @missmelera's incredible back-to-back session aboard the Tall Ship Kajama in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Weather wise, it was a pretty lousy summer for boat parties. At least it was for ours. It was cloudy, rainy and cold throughout the day leading up to both of our supposed sunset cruises.  Our friends who were married this summer didn’t need to sweat the weather because the worst of it seemed isolated to our nautical adventures.

Thankfully for our season finale with Eelke Kleijn and Miss Melera the showers let up just before boarding and the skies cleared for an evening of absolute ecstasy. The crappy weather certainly hurt the numbers on both cruises, but it created a closeness that may not have been possible if we were spoiled with sunshine. When you brave the elements to be with friends and your favourite tunes an uninhibited energy forms and the atmosphere is priceless.

The most unified part of the experience were the DJs. It’s like Eelke and Miss Melera are conjoined twins, bound by an acute sense of groove and good vibes. Their back-to-back programming was flawless. Without your eyes fixed on the booth, you’d never know it was two minds working as one. It was the first telepathic DJ set we’ve ever hosted… absolutely unbelievable.

Despite their unworldly ability to predict each other’s tracks, there’s nothing complicated about their choices. Whether they’re on the house, tech or trance tip, all the music is accessible.  Despite the music being exclusively underground, everyone can connect to what they play because it always sounds familiar; but in actual fact, it just feels that way.  It’s the feeling of exhilaration oozing from the melodies that’s unforgettable and undeniable. Eelke Kleijn and Miss Melera have perfected the art of making you feel great.

INTIMATE & ON THE BOAT v3 may have been the best event we ever organized and definitely a perfect way to go out. All the elements, both good and bad, came together in perfect unison to create an intimate extravaganza, highlighted by some of the best party beats we’ve ever heard on any bringthebeats stage. But as we’ve said time and again, it wouldn’t be anything if it weren’t for our crew.

For twelve years we’ve spread the word about house music and it’s gatherings, because we truly love this community. The small but eternally mighty crew that has supported what we do have carved out a permanent place in our hearts.

We really don’t know what’s next. This could be it.  We may continue our efforts online and we might even come back for a reunion party or two. Who knows what the future holds for bringthebeats, but we can guarantee you this; the groove will never stop thanks to amazing artists like Eelke Kleijn and Miss Melera. Thank the cosmos for them and the beats they indulge us with…

Eelke Kleijn & Miss Melera - INTIMATE & ON THE BOAT v3 - August 16, 2014

bringthebeats NYE 2016 with Luke Fair, Cesar Caballero and Craig Anderson was certainly the bringthebeats underground at it's finest. Big thanks to everyone who helped us take TOiKA to an entirely new level. We put more time and effort into this party than any other in our 13+ year history and it definitely paid off. From the decor to the lighting and of course the music, we were all hands on deck to create an experience nobody would ever forget. And thanks to the memories locked inside the pics and Luke's recorded set, we’ll never have to…

Check out the pics: www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153869500054559.1073741849.61737909558&type=3

Read a step-by-step review of how we put it all together: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qiru-D0o3XNkAXrBmIDflyqmXProo_GkSvKSLe-i0Ag/edit?usp=sharing

SOUNDCLOUD: @lukefair
www.lukefairmusic.com

BTB CLUB BEATS

Luke Fair - bringthebeats NYE 2016

A little rain can’t keep our good times away… It was the third time in four tries it’s rained for an INTIMATE & ON THE BOAT aboard the Tall Ship Kajama and once again the music and bringthebeats vibe overshadowed the overcast skies. It really was never in doubt with Luke Fair and Cesar Caballero spinning under the sails.

The party was absolutely trending toward a sell out, but the weather forecast for August 13th looked menacing for 14-straight days.  At no point did it ever let up, causing our tickets sales to slow to only a fraction of what they usually are in the days leading up to a party.

Of course, it’s disappointing not to have the entire crew on board, but there’s always something special about a rainy day party that people who are afraid of a little water continually miss out on. We find people work harder to have a good time when they’re a little wet and trapped on the lake.  With a “we’re all in this together” attitude, people’s inhibitions are left on shore and everyone dances like nobody’s watching.

Luke Fair definitely felt it.  He said it was his favourite bringthebeats cruise so far and that’s saying a lot since the sun was shining bright for last year’s INTIMATE & ON THE BOAT.  With the sails down the sound’s a lot tighter and the lighting achieves maximum effect, as you can see by the blue haze in the later night pics.  And most of all, that feeling of togetherness is priceless.

It’s comforting to know that whatever the conditions, we can make good times happen.  It’s a total team effort and that’s certainly led by the people we employ in the booth.  We could be in a full-on blizzard and Luke Fair could still warm the floor.  No matter how much time he takes off, he always steps up blows minds.  Make no mistake, he works hard to do what he can do, but the talent is natural and plentiful.

Thanks to everyone who supported our Summer Reunion once again this year.  Your dedication is what keeps us grooving.  That and these incredible tunes, of course.

Check out the pics: www.facebook.com/pg/bringthebeats/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10154500210229559

SOUNDCLOUD: @lukefair
www.lukefairmusic.com

bringthebeats - 2016

Luke Fair live at INTIMATE & ON THE BOAT Summer Reunion part 2 - August 13, 2016

Luke Fair live at INTIMATE & ON THE BOAT Summer Reunion part 1 - August 13, 2016

We probably shouldn’t say we’ll never throw another party, because our track record isn’t so good when doing so.  However, if our 14yr anniversary party was our final jam, we couldn’t have ended our run in better fashion. We were on the Luke Fair and Brad Copeland tip from the very beginning and it would only be fitting if they were the ones who saw us out in the end.

Luke and Brad have already somewhat moved on themselves.  Both only play select gigs, but you wouldn’t know it by how amazing it sounded inside Populus on this night. Brad hadn’t been in a booth in almost a year, but it was like he’d been preparing for our anniversary party every single day since. He was that on point.  And Luke is one of those special talents who will never lose his touch.  For almost a decade and a half, we’ve been unbelievably lucky to have these guys play for us and that was certainly the case on October 1st 2016.

Luke Fair’s set was a master class in groove, but we scored his INTIMATE & ON THE BOAT Summer Reunion set to share, so we thought it best we leave his anniversary set for those who were on the dance floor.  However, it’s been way too long since we hosted a live Brad Copeland mix in our archive, so that’s the memory we have to share here.

Part 1 is some of the most beautiful deep and ambient house we’ve heard, maybe ever at a bringthebeats event (Find it here: www.soundcloud.com/bringthebeats/brad-copeland-live-at-bringthebeats-14yr-anniversary-pt1-october-1-2016) And when Brad really starts to warm the room in Part 2, we can virtually place ourselves back in front of the booth, lost in ecstasy.  After all these years, Brad hasn’t lost an iota of his mixing precision and his ear for gems is quite simply something he’s been blessed with. If this is the last live bringthebeats recording we ever share, Brad Copeland's given us the perfect mix to go out on.

We couldn’t have been happier inside the club and now we can relive Brad’s precious moments for as long as our hearts desire. Huge thanks to everyone who supported us on this incredibly special night. Thanks to Luke Fair for always doing what he does, to Terence and the Poplulus staff for treating us like family and to Brad for his triumphant return. Be sure to check out the pics and of course, enjoy this melodic bliss…www.bringthebeats.com/2016/12/16/btb-14yr-anniversary-brad-copeland-has-still-got-it

Brad Copeland live at bringthebeats 14yr anniversary pt2 - October 1, 2016

We probably shouldn’t say we’ll never throw another party, because our track record isn’t so good when doing so.  However, if our 14yr anniversary party was our final jam, we couldn’t have ended our run in better fashion. We were on the Luke Fair and Brad Copeland tip from the very beginning and it would only be fitting if they were the ones who saw us out in the end.

Luke and Brad have already somewhat moved on themselves.  Both only play select gigs, but you wouldn’t know it by how amazing it sounded inside Populus on this night. Brad hadn’t been in a booth in almost a year, but it was like he’d been preparing for our anniversary party every single day since. He was that on point.  And Luke is one of those special talents who will never lose his touch.  For almost a decade and a half, we’ve been unbelievably lucky to have these guys play for us and that was certainly the case on October 1st 2016.

Luke Fair’s set was a master class in groove, but we scored his INTIMATE & ON THE BOAT Summer Reunion set to share, so we thought it best we leave his anniversary set for those who were on the dance floor.  However, it’s been way too long since we hosted a live Brad Copeland mix in our archive, so that’s the memory we have to share here.

Part 1 is some of the most beautiful deep and ambient house we’ve heard, maybe ever at a bringthebeats event.  And when Brad really starts to warm the room in Part 2, we can virtually place ourselves back in front of the booth, lost in ecstasy (Find it here: www.soundcloud.com/bringthebeats/brad-copeland-live-at-bringthebeats-14yr-anniversary-pt2-october-1-2016).  After all these years, Brad hasn’t lost an iota of his mixing precision and his ear for gems is quite simply something he’s been blessed with. If this is the last live bringthebeats recording we ever share, Brad Copeland's given us the perfect mix to go out on.

We couldn’t have been happier inside the club and now we can relive Brad’s precious moments for as long as our hearts desire. Huge thanks to everyone who supported us on this incredibly special night. Thanks to Luke Fair for always doing what he does, to Terence and the Poplulus staff for treating us like family and to Brad for his triumphant return. Be sure to check out the pics and of course, enjoy this melodic bliss... www.facebook.com/pg/bringthebeats/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10154871771094559

Brad Copeland live at bringthebeats 14yr anniversary pt1 - October 1, 2016

This is obviously an incredibly meaningful set for the BTB crew. 471 Richmond Street West was essentially the house that Luke Fair built.  He headlined the space 13 times, with many of the sets of an open-to-close variety.  

The all-nighter’s allowed Luke to find his comfortable zone in the early hours, while playing some of the deeeep bombs we don’t often hear in his peak-time sessions.  He knew the room better than anyone and a lot of that familiarity came from being the one who dropped the first track. 

Today, we gift to you the first hour-and-a-half of Luke’s final set at Populus (aka TOiKA & Toika Lounge).  This is how Luke set the tone for what turned out to be an absolutely magical night—an event that was strictly about our friends and this music.  

SOUNDCLOUD: @lukefair
www.facebook.com/luke.fair.live
Design by www.reformavw.com

LUKE FAIR dj sets:
www.soundcloud.com/bringthebeats/sets/luke-fair-dj-sets

bringthebeats exclusive [m]

BTB exclusives

Luke Fair live at the Populus Closing Party - August 26, 2017 pt1

You didn’t think we’d leave you hanging forever, did you? 

Considering the Populus Closing Party could very well be our last club event ever, we wanted the crew to savour the sounds of this magical night for as long as possible.  So here we go, the next hour-and-half of absolute musical bliss from the always fresh… always funky... Luke freaking Fair!!

SOUNDCLOUD: @lukefair
www.facebook.com/luke.fair.live
Design by www.reformavw.com

LUKE FAIR dj sets:
www.soundcloud.com/bringthebeats/sets/luke-fair-dj-sets

bringthebeats exclusive

Luke Fair live at the Populus Closing Party - August 26, 2017 pt2

Without a doubt one of the greatest open-to-close sets in Toika Lounge history.

SOUNDCLOUD: @groove-garden-recordings
www.facebook.com/djcesarcaballero

Cesar Caballero - The LocALe @ Toika Lounge - January 19, 2013 - Part 4

Cesar Caballero - The LocALe @ Toika Lounge - January 19, 2013 - Part 3

Cesar Caballero - The LocALe @ Toika Lounge - January 19, 2013 - Part 2

Cesar Caballero - The LocALe @ Toika Lounge - January 19, 2013 - Part 1

The bringthebeats underground is a Toronto-based collective dedicated to the electronic dance music scene since 2002. Our preferred style is funky progressive house, but we promote any sound with depth and substance. This SoundCloud stream features exclusives, live sets and classic favourites.