While November in Toronto typically signals indoor activities, this year, the city will come alive with an extraordinary PWYC (Pay What You Can) open-air festival celebrating East European music and culture. BLOK, curated by Toronto’s own Mark Marczyk, ringleader of city favorites Lemon Bucket Orkestra, is set to captivate audiences on November 18th at The Bentway under the Gardiner Expressway near Fort York.

BLOK is proudly an all-ages festival that is the perfect activity for the whole family that promises a music-forward extravaganza, featuring an eclectic lineup of international talents. The festival stage will be graced by the presence of Ukrainian pop sensation KAZKA, Estonian folk enchantress Mari Kalkun, the 18-piece brass punks Detroit Party Marching Band, the Macedonian-Romani trumpet virtuoso Nizo Alimov from Kocani Orkestar, and the hyper-folk-noir trio Balaklava Blues, presenting a multimedia show with special pan-slavic guest singers Blisk, plus slavic ska band Dumai Dunai, hurdy gurdy techno guru Gordiy Starukh, bandura indie-pop sweetheart Maryna Krut, and Czech pianist Bara Zmekova. With three meticulously designed stages by ABSRTKT and an immersive audio system providing 360-degree sound at The Bentway, attendees are in for an unparalleled auditory experience.

BLOK’s roster also includes the esteemed installation artist Daria Alyoshkina, renowned for her large format paper-cuts exploring Ukrainian traditions within the context of recent events. Alyoshkina will not only showcase her art but also conduct a free workshop earlier in the day, a presentation made possible by St Volodymyr Institute.

In addition to the captivating performances, attendees can indulge in a variety of delectable cuisines and both hot and cold beverages, all available within the festival's fully licensed area. A bustling market featuring vendors offering Balkan to Baltic delicacies and clothing will add to the vibrant atmosphere. Moreover, a silent auction, organized by Second Front Foundation Ukraine, aims to raise funds for female battalions in Ukraine.

This marks the triumphant return of BLOK, which initially debuted in September 2019 and took a hiatus to focus on supporting Ukraine during the war. The festival owes its success to the generous support of the Ministry of Canadian Heritage and the Ontario Arts Council, along with an extensive network of community partners, including St Volodymyr Institute, Estonian Music Week, City of Toronto, Small World Music, Toronto Jazz Festival, Polski Piknik, and many more.

To ensure a seamless event, BLOK kindly requests patrons to register and make a donation via EVENTBRITE, allowing for efficient management of capacity and contributions to this remarkable celebration of East European music and culture.

All festival information can be found on our website (blokmusic.ca) or Instagram @blokmusic.ca.