Since 2013, the annual UP+DT festival has brought an eclectic mix of musical acts to Edmonton. In this year’s instalment, the festival brought Tokyo Police Club to town as one of the 70+ artists that performed shows Friday through Sunday of the Thanksgiving long weekend.
The Needle Vinyl Tavern served as one of 16 venues for the festival. Alanna YeeIn addition to being a live concert space, The Needle is also a restaurant and bar. Alanna YeeThe Needle puts a unique spin on what a typical restaurant menu looks like. Alanna YeeHighly recommended: the lazy lasagna soup and crispy cod fish tacos. Alanna YeeThe Den, an Edmonton-based alternative rock band, played a short opening set. Pictured: lead singer Mollie Wassenaar. Alanna YeeThe afternoon picked up pace with Born Ruffians’ performance. Pictured: Luke LaLonde on vocals and guitar (left) and Andy Lloyd on keyboard (right). Alanna YeeAn alternative rock quartet from Ontario, Born Ruffians energized the room with their catchy riffs. Alanna YeeAs the headliners for the afternoon, Tokyo Police Club pleased the crowd with a mix of favourites that ranged from songs off their newly released album Melon Collie and the Infinite Radness: Part Two and back to their first album, A Lesson in Crime, Released in 2006. Pictured: David Monks on vocals (left) and Graham Wright on keyboard (right). Alanna YeeThe Needle was an excellent balance between just large enough to enjoy the rock atmosphere, and just small enough to still feel intimate. Alanna YeeTokyo Police Club and Born Ruffians each brought their own 200% to Edmonton, as later in the evening they played a second show at The Starlite Room (not pictured). Alanna Yee