LuminoCity

Hundreds of students. 45 minutes. One stage transformed into a musical playground of ukuleles, harps, cellos, turntables, melodicas, guitars, steel pans, and voices raised in collective, youthful joy. this isn't your typical music recital – it’s a powerful testament to what we can create together. LuminoCity’s Rebecca Singh was on location to experience You’re All in the Band when it took pla...

One of LuminoCity’s describers, JJ Hunt, tags along with Ramya Amuthan as they explore, appreciate, goof off, and run around in a human hamster wheel. The Rainbow Dreams series of public installations in downtown Toronto are pitched as immersive wellness experiences. Imagined by internationally acclaimed artist Hiromi Tango, they truly are one of a kind. Where else will you see serious looking bus...

In this episode, you’ll hear JJ Hunt’s vivid primer description for Last Words: Talking in Cemeteries, a unique show that features honest conversations about the taboo subject of death, all under nightfall in Toronto’s most historic cemeteries. A few days later, JJ returned to one of his favourite cemeteries to bring us along on a stroll as he describes all the sights that make these places the un...

In this episode, Ramya Amuthan and JJ Hunt share with Christine their experience of visiting the 2025 Luminato Hub at Harboufront Centre. They also share on-location audio of the events they visited, featuring JJ’s always excellent description.  This episode highlights the three following pieces in this order: Dandyism, Cirque Kikasse, and Terceradix Luminarium Music by Ty Simon.

Like a cross between a womb and a cathedral, join JJ Hunt, Ramya Amuthan, and Christine Malec as they experience the one-of-a-kind installation, Terceradix Luminarium. More information on the Luminato Festival website: https://www.luminatofestival.com/teceradix-luminarium Music by Ty Simon.

LuminoCity hosts Christine Malec, Ramya Amuthan, J.J. Hunt and technical producer Jacob Shymanski were all in attendance on June 7th for Immersed by Justin Gray. The show was an album release like none other, featuring a top-of-the-line and one-of-a-kind 38-speaker surround sound system. It did not disappoint. This episode has the four LuminoCity team members debriefing shortly after the experienc...

A colossal block of ice hangs suspended above Sankofa Square. On it, a solitary figure fights against time and heat, scrambling to protect what's already melting away. As sunset approaches, what will be left?  LuminoCity's J.J. Hunt was on location on Sunday, June 8, 2025, describing all 8 hours of this mesmerizing piece of performance art. This episode is an immersive stereo compilation...

When the city sleeps, Toronto comes alive in unexpected ways. Award-winning photographer Nadya Kwandibens captures the hidden world of the people who keep our city running through the night - transit workers, healthcare staff, entertainers, and countless others whose stories are rarely acknowledged.  LuminoCity’s Christine Malec and describer JJ Hunt embark on a city wide art crawl under the stree...

What does a Rainbow sound like? Sonifications can help us with that question. Christine Malec interviews the creator of the Rainbow Dreams installations displayed in Downtown Toronto. Music by Ty Simon.

Rebecca Singh connects with Heidi Reitmaier, curator at the Museum of Toronto, to discuss the fascinating show taking place at the usually closed to the public, but beautiful Toronto City Archives. It’s opening its doors for The 52 Live.  Information about The 52 Live: Hidden in archives, carved into city streets, woven through Toronto's history—the stories of women who built this city wait t...

LuminoCity’s Christine Malec and JJ Hunt combine in this episode to provide a primer for Immersed by Justin Gray. First, JJ gives us a detailed description of the many non-western instruments found in Justin’s compositions, then, {12:25}, Christine chats with Justin himself about the show and everything it took to make it happen. Join us for Immersed on Saturday, June 7 2025 at the TD Music Hall,...

In this episode, Rebecca Singh learns about the fascinating history behind Dandyism with Theodore Walker Robinson, who himself is a dandyism connoisseur.  Flamboyant, defiant, and timelessly cool - dandyism transformed resistance into an art of supreme style. Born in the streets of Brazzaville and Kinshasa, this aesthetic of Black jubilation now arrives to the Toronto https://www.luminatofestival....

Rebecca Singh sits down with award winning and prolific musician Larnell Lewis. He shares his inspirations and experiences that have led him to his upcoming show, “A Glimpse of Quincy”. The show features world class musicians along with Larnell as they perform through a killer setlist that highlights the best the legendary Quincy Jones created over a lifetime.    Catch Larnell Lewis on Friday, Jun...

Is theatre supposed to be believable?  Playwright and actor Tim Crouch fearlessly tackles that question in what some describe as his “experimental storytelling”. LuminoCity host, Ramya Amuthan, sat down with Tim to better understand his unique approach to story telling. His performance of An Oak Tree is being featured this year at the Luminato Festival. Tim Crouch’s full TED Talk: https://youtu.be...

Rebecca Singh sits down with the artists behind the instillation performance, Nigamon/Tunai, which is featuring at this year’s Luminato Festival. Nigamon/Tunai Is described as an act of solidarity and a poetic manifesto against extractivism, land destruction, and displacement.    Voices heard in this episode: Rebecca Singh, Émilie Monnet, Waira Nina, Trina Moyan, Archer Pechawis Support Inga Peopl...

In a quest to better understand the origins of stories, Rebecca Singh connects with her mother, Josefine, to look back at the folk tales of her home country, Germany. Music by Ty Simon.

How can someone who’s blind or low vision come to appreciate dance? It’s a complicated question but the panel Christine Malec assembled for this episode to tackle it is well equipped to answer it. We have professional dancers, a ballet expert, and an accessible art consultant all working together to satiate Christine's insatiable curiosity. Music by Ty Simon.

Luminocity’s Rebecca Singh sits down with award winning writer, director and performer, Rick Miller. He’s also a co-writer of HANS: My Life in Fairy Tales, a performance featured at this year’s Luminato Festival that celebrates the ongoing influence of Danish writer, Hans Christian Andersen. Please note: HANS: My Life in Fairy Tales will premiere at Young People's Theatre with shows on Saturd...

In Red Like Fruit, Governor General’s Award-winning playwright Hannah Moscovitch crafts a gripping, provocative new work that unpacks power, memory, and complicity in the post-#MeToo era. Rebecca Singh sits down with Christian Barry, the co-founder and co-artistic director of 2b theatre, Red Like Fruit’s production company.    Catch Red Like Fruit from Friday, May 28 - Sunday, June 15 at Young Cen...

How often do you question the link between a performance and the venue in which it's taking place? Christine Malec, JJ Hunt, and Ramya Amuthan break down the undeniable importance of venue.  To illustrate their point, throughout the conversation, you'll hear an original song performed by Christine and Ramya placed in three distinct venues using the magic of impulse responses. The first i...

The same podcast you know and love is back as LuminoCity! In the first episode of season 5, Rebecca Singh leads the hosts in a reflection of land acknowledgements and what they mean to them, followed by an interview with Luminato Festival’s new Artistic Director Olivia Ansell, hosted by Christine Malec. Music by Ty Simon.

One of the most intriguing, high-energy performances in Toronto’s early summer season was R.A.V.E., produced by Outside the March in association with Luminato Festival Toronto. As an immersive, participatory experience merging narrative and dance, staged in an unused office building, accessibility was a concern for producers and festival goers alike. To provide notes and recommendations, Radio Lum...

This year Luminato is heading underground with a series of murals, paintings, and photographs adorning the walls of Toronto subway stations. SPACED, curated by Branded Purple, celebrates the notion that art can be found in every corner of our lives. As strong believers in that philosophy — and avid transit users! — hosts Christine Malec and JJ Hunt spend a day on the TTC, checking out SPACED artwo...

Radio Lumi goes back on location to David Pecaut square for an amazing display of acrobatic skill and circus swagger with the internationally acclaimed 360 Allstars. To help describe the troupe’s outrageous BMX, breakdancing, and basketball tricks to host Christine Malec, JJ Hunt gets a big assist from guest describer Janis Mayers. Buckle up for a wildly energetic crowd-pleaser! the show featured...

In I Am From Reykjavik , artist Sonia Hughes invites us to forge meaningful connections in unexpected places, and examine our relationship with time and space, by building and dismantling a small home in public places. To capture the day-long, lived performance, host JJ Hunt followed Sonia and the Luminato crew to Toronto’s Withrow Park on a recent Saturday morning. Listen in as he records sounds...