AlunaGeorge

WayBold Stage, Oro-Medonte ON, July 22

Photo: Atsuko Kobasigawa

BY Ian GormelyPublished Jul 23, 2016

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Despite a three-year gap since releasing their debut Body Music, a packed tent made it immediately clear that AlunaGeorge's stock has only risen. And while their slinky electro-R&B makes perfect headphone music, front-person Aluna Franics made it perfectly clear how the duo, augmented by a live drummer, have become festival mainstays. 

Wearing a strappy sports bra and plastic skirt, she looked like an extra from one of Dom and Nick's videos for Chemical Brothers — fitting given the throwback nature of AlunaGeorge's music. Seeing them live however reveals the synthesis at work in their music – multiple strains of '90s dance, lover's rock and even dancehall all make appearances, but are mutated into something unique in the hands of multi-instrumentalist George Reid. But he was close to invisible, despite standing on a riser behind a rack of keyboards. Francis was, rightfully, the focal point, stalking the stage, playing percussion or triggering sounds from an MPC. 

"White Noise," their high-profile collaboration with Disclosure, made an appearance early on to cheers, but their own songs illicited similar responses from the crowd, clearly hungry for a bit of swing in their dance music. Even slower songs that showcased Francis's formidable voice – she was often singing with backing tracks – went down well with the sweaty crowd.

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