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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Prepare the Ground IV June 4 - 6, 2027 Toronto, Ontario Three day passes are now available, we cannot wait to welcome you back to Toronto, our fourth iteration is gearing up to be wholly unique and special, join us! Tickets: link.dice.fm/v32fe54bdeb0

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Pass pickup has begun! Weekend & Friday pass holders can come by our festival hub at 295 Brunswick Ave to snag their passes early, and get a drink in the annex lobby bar! Here is some behind the scenes footage of our friends at Presstime for making all of the merch that is now available.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Thursday we are continuing our early pass pickup tradition! From 6pm - 10pm you can make your way to the Prepare the Ground hub, located at 296 Brunswick Ave, to pick up your weekend passes early to save you time on Friday! You will also get first crack at our amazing and limited festival merch!

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

We present to you our timetable for our upcoming 2026 edition. There are surprises and secrets in store, but for you lovely Preppers you can start to plan your weekends accordingly! The schedule is also now live in the Prepare the Ground App that is available in the google play and apple app store.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Steve McGill attended the first edition in 2024, this is the festival through his lens. What is your favourite memory of the festival? Orchid surprise set at the Baby G? KEN Mode levelling an overpacked Garrison? Let us know

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Unwell were here in 2024, and in 2026 they return to push things further, stretching their sound into new and more exploratory territory. There’s a restless quality to Unwell’s music, as though Colohan is using the band to channel untold stories, opening space for reflection and expression.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

We are truly sad to say that ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead will no longer be able to play Prepare the Ground. In their stead on Friday, May 29 we are honoured to welcome back one of the most important bands in North American Black Metal, Yellow Eyes.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

The band pushes and pulls through shadowed passages and climbing crescendos, inviting you into a soundscape that is overwhelming and mesmerising, & ultimately beautiful. By the end of their set, Hell Is Other People leave a lingering weight in the air, their presence will resonate at PtG.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Fusing black metal ferocity and the velocity of hardcore, Austin’s Portrayal of Guilt punishes from opening screams to closing roars. Dissonance and abrasion go hand in hand with pulsating rhythms, moving to create a vortex of sound that hypnotises and overwhelms... no space for safety or control.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Ramping up the volume to its maximum, Indian Handcrafts turn that weight into pure momentum, letting their songs surge with crackling energy and frenetic dynamism. The riffs hit hard and the band fills the room from wall to wall with an unstoppable drive that demands attention.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Pretty lean into free-spirited energy, rhythms stretch and shimmer as songs unfold with effortless cool. The performance is carried by warm riffs and playful beats - the kind of set that invites you to drift along - time softens at the edges and the glow of psychedelic colour takes hold.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Volunteer registration is now open for Prepare the Ground 2026. The festival's beating heart is the community of volunteers and attendees who make it possible. View all of the info and the application on our website. Join us in making PtG a special experience for everyone descending on Toronto!

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Witch Club Satan emerged from the Norwegian underground, channeling the primal energy of black metal, stripping the genre to its raw core and reshaping its legacy with incendiary intent.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Wayfarer's music is expansive and echoes across evocative landscapes with powerful immediacy, offering audiences a tangible sense of living the past through the present, a journey perfectly captured on their latest album, “American Gothic.”

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Last year’s debut, Die Close, showcased just how committed to the craft Olds truly is. Rooted firmly in heavy metal’s classic foundations, the record embraces touches of doom, goth, and black metal, expanding the palette without losing sight of its core intensity.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Tomorrow, Wed February 11 @ 5 PM EST on Instagram Live the one and only Metal & Coffee will be in conversation with Prepare the Ground Co-Director & Curator KW to chat all about the festival, the quantity of coffee they each drink ( its too much ) and who they're most excited to see this May!

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Borne from extreme isolation in the Spring of 2020, Toronto’s lowheaven sit in the shadows left by the melding of darkness and light, their post-hardcore style pushing for weighted contrast and emotive candor - finding balance between heaviness and softness.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

There aren't many bands who encapsulate what Prepare the Ground is about from an ethos and musical aspect more than Mizmor, and finally welcoming them to our stage is as thrilling for us as it is for you.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Drawing influence from post-punk and deathrock, Boston’s Final Gasp channel darkness through driving rhythms, melodic guitars, and a deadly attachment to the past, their music echoing the underground vibe of 80s goth clubs.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Built on slow-moving riffs, Vancouver’s Tribunal craft a deliberate and imposing monument to sound with their patient, weighty doom. Songs unfold in calm measure, each moment living in the present, melting into the next, creating a weight that carries through each track and into the live setting.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

A recap of the new additions we put out yesterday. From legendary ambiance of William Basinski, to the feral rage of Witch Club Satan, to guttural roars of Portrayal of Guilt, to the meditative destruction of Mizmor & the pageantry & brutality of Blood Vulture there is truly something for everyone.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

We are honoured to welcome 18 more artists including William Basinski, Witch Club Satan, Mizmor, Portrayal of Guilt, Wayfarer, Indian Handcrafts, Blood Vulture, Final Gasp, Tribunal and more. As always, we have a few tricks up our sleeves. Single day tickets now available.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Soft daylight breaks through the darkness, a whisper of promise floats on the breeze, and the calmness in the air stirs as branches snap underfoot. A wanderer seeks redemption and offers gifts to the coming dawn as warm rays bathe the world in renewed light and take what is owed.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

Repetitive cycles of guitar are juxtaposed against harsh vocals and climbing melodies, bringing a sense of dread to fleeting moments of beauty, the rot creeping into the spaces between sounds and taking root at the very base of the heart.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Controlled chaos imbues tension into songs that marry frenzy with longer passages, fuelling the passion that seeps into the intensity of Wiegedood live performance. Be prepared for bold, authentic despair, stark atmosphere, and ferocious bite when they take to the Prepare the Ground stage next May.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

At the heart of UUGGHH’s sound lies bass and drums, forming a driving backbone that anchors the chaos. Layered over this foundation is glitchy noise rock and weirdo hardcore, punctuated by frantic shouts, impassioned spoken word passages, and an attitude that has to be seen to be believed.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Tómarúm bring together the bleaker elements of black metal and the curiosity of prog in extended songs, fantastical lyrics, and shifts in tempo. Songs transform from mysterious rhythms, climbing solos to crystalline vocals with such ease and precision that you are swept into their world imagined.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Torche will carry that revitalized energy into Prepare the Ground in 2026, bringing riffs and joy to the forefront of the festival. Their unique take on heavy music is one that is as beloved now, years after we thought they were over, as it was two decades ago. Welcome back to the world of heavy.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Gritty and entrenched in the local DIY scene, the quintet use their own experiences to inform their sound - emotionally raw, wearing its heart on its sleeve, Dear Evangeline’s discography is one transformed by passion, positive and negative, which is apparent in the intensity of their live shows.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

The Keening are heavy. Emotionally and musically, The Keening will capture you in their warm, soothing arms, only to rip out your heart in the next moment.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Not every moment can be so full of rage, and Conjurer often weave in subtle passages that reflect memories and bygone eras, pulling you closer to the essence of the band. With their newest opus, Unself, we welcome Conjurer to Prepare The Ground with open hearts and a willingness to be transformed.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Deftly melding the boundaries of the past with the present, the Toronto-based quartet are armed with songs so slyly catchy that you’ll be lost in their movements before you even realise what is happening. Prepare yourselves for a voyage into the vast unknown.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Ten years have passed since Minsk released a new album, seven years since new music at all and a good while since the band even performed live. 2025 marks a shift for the Illinoisans as they hit the road for the summer and have announced they're joining the line-up for Prepare The Ground in 2026.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead rarely play live anymore and, rightly, garner huge response when they do. Now, they are slowly regaining their footing and for Prepare The Ground, Trail Of Dead will be performing two classics: Source Tags & Codes and The Secret of Elena’s Tomb.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Oathbreaker have been in the shadows for a long, long time, with their last album Rheia, released in 2016 and live performances being few and far between, Nevertheless, Oathbreaker are held in high regard some ten years later and will be performing Rheia in full at Prepare The Ground next year.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Yesterday we added ten more artists to our 2026 edition. Three days of heavy, dark, cathartic music in the core of the city of Toronto awaits you May 29-31. Join us, won't you?

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Today we welcome more artists to our ever growing celebration of all things cathartic. This addition further cements Prepare the Ground 2026 as one not to be missed. Prepare the Ground takes over the Annex district of Toronto May 29 - 31, 2026. 3 day passes are available. Join us, won’t you?

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

It seems fitting that Amenra will perform their public catharsis within the hallowed walls of Trinity St. Paul’s. Performing twice in this sacred location, Amenra will bring their self-flaggelation to the masses in an acoustic session and an electric appearance.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

Slow, sublime moments are interspersed between the classically heavier, screamo style passages, as Malevich navigate philosophical concepts and personal realisations.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Taking a journey into the farthest reaches of space and time are Finland’s Oranssi Pazuzu, an entity so mind-boggling that even repeated listens of 2024s Muuntautuja has yet to reveal its full depths. Step into the void …. if you dare.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Swirling storms, driving rhythms & punchy beats underpin the sound of the Philadelphian's music, making them an exciting prospect no matter year they exist in, or wish to have. August’s frenetic A Sullen Dark Sky fresh in mind, Unholy Altar are primed for a heroes welcome at Prepare The Ground.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Prepare The Ground is Svalbard’s first and final performance in North America as they announced their amicable dissolution earlier in 2025. Expect a ferocious, precise, emotional time this coming May at PtG.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Tijuana finest is pushing the boundaries of crust in their use of melody and glowing structures to propel the music on April’s Mil orquídeas en medio del desierto to stratospheric heights. Habak are a vital voice in underground music, and it's an honour to host them in Toronto next May.

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Prepare the Ground, May 29 - 31 2026 in Toronto. 3 day passes are now abilable, along with limited new Under-19 (Canada's version of All Ages) pass which grants access to our two all ages venues, arts market, and movie scores strictly for those under the age of 19 (is check at pass pickup)

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Just announced! We will be co-presenting the upcoming Pelican show at Lee's Palace with Collective Concerts on July 23rd 2025. 🎫 on sale February 14th at 10AM EST link.dice.fm/ea48c3be3215

link.dice.fm

Pelican Tickets | CA$37.87 | 23 Jul @ Lee's Palace, Toronto | DICE

Pelican

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

we are thrilled to share our full lineup including Baroness performing the Red & Blue albums in full, Burning Love's reunion, two silent movie scores by Planning for Burial & Pygmy Lush and so much more. Single Day & 2-Day passes are all live at preparetheground.com

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

"We're so excited to return to Toronto! We'll be playing a set that spans the majority of our discography. Endless gratitude to the folks at Prepare the Ground and all of you who keep the world of underground metal alive. See you in Toronto this May!" preparetheground.com

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Prepare the Ground Toronto @ptgtoronto.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Midwife is the rare project that brings together fans of all walks of music. Introspective, serene, devastating, her self described Heaven Metal is awash with reverb and meditative repetition that is sure to swell your emotions as it does the noise.

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