About
Second Summer is a brand-new multi venue music festival in Toronto’s West End – built by music people, for music people. In a time when algorithms decide what we hear, we’re bringing music discovery back to real life. No scrolls, no hype, just great artists doing what they do best.
This isn’t about chasing trends – it’s about soul, community, and putting independent talent front and centre.
Because we missed this.
Because the scene needs this.
And because the best music still starts small.
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Second Summer was inspired by years spent in packed showcase rooms, tiny clubs, and festival basements around the world, chasing that unforgettable feeling of discovering an artist before everyone else catches on. The idea began with founder and Artistic Director Brendan McCarney, who envisioned a new kind of independent music gathering for Toronto rooted in discovery, community, and artist-first curation. He later invited fellow artist manager Claire Rosenbaum to join as co-founder and Festival Director, helping shape the festival from the ground up. Together, they bring decades of frontline experience working alongside artists, touring internationally, and attending the global showcase festivals and conferences that inspired Second Summer’s ethos. With support from MODO-LIVE on talent buying and programming, and produced in association with Future 5th, Second Summer is building a festival experience centred around independent music, real-life discovery, and meaningful human connection.