Heilung, An Experience To Remember

Written By Timothy Voldemars
Johnston

What an incredible night. Heilung was more than music, it was an experience. It was like Wardruna mixed with Cirque du soleil (in a good way).

So, to start my story off, let’s start at the beginning. I got off work at 4 and by 5, I was headed downtown in Toronto Ontario. As it was rush hour traffic, I knew I needed to give extra time to get down there and wanted to be at the venue early as I’ve never been there before. I arrived around 6, found parking easy enough, grabbed a quick Subway sandwich for dinner and headed to the venue.

The Meridian Hall is huge. Looks like a high class theater venue. Odd choice for a show like this I thought for a band that is so earth/forest/nature based, so, my hopes were somewhat lessoned. I got in the venue at 7 and headed right into the merch line. It wasn’t long before I got into a conversation about music with two fascinating folks behind me and my evening started looking up. It must have been 30 minutes before we got to the front of the line. I got myself a hoodie and a couple CDs.

As I wandered the lobby I ran into some friends and had good conversation with them. Then it was time. Headed into the auditorium and found my seat. I started up a conversation with the people beside me and settled in. Then I get a text from a good friend who is on her way and wanted to know if the show had started. I told her not yet and I’d let her know when the lights went off. Still having time I checked my Facebook. I saw another one of my friends was coming to the show. I liked the post. Not 30 seconds later I look beside me and there she is sitting down beside me LOL! What! That’s crazy. And she is such a fascinating person to talk with in person so, the Norns definitely had a hand in this. Shortly after, lights go down. The invocation begins. I text My other friend to let her know the shows about to start. From there the journey of Heilung began.

A trance-like journey back in time. Their rythmic beats and chanting building and changing, the ebb and flow drawing us all in. It was beautiful, it was magical, it was awe-inspiring and when the final song began, a wave of bodies rose and I rose with then, cheering and swaying to the beats. It was something else. An experience I wish you had all been able to feel.

After the show I wandered and ran into friends and hung out for a bit outside. Overall, quite an amazing night. And the venue turned out to be perfect for the show. The sound was amazing.