Festivals
2024 Grey Cup Festival Unveils Entertainment Lineup
As excitement builds for the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, the 2024 Grey Cup Festival committee announced six new sponsors, and revealed 19 artists set to perform at both free and ticketed indoor and outdoor events. The highly anticipated festival will take place from November 10-17 in Vancouver, BC, marking the Grey Cup’s return to the West Coast.
“Hard to believe there are just two months to go until Grey Cup! You can feel the excitement building in the city, and today’s announcement only adds to the anticipation. As a music fan, I am particularly looking forward to the great line-up announced today,” said Sxwixwtn, Wilson Williams, a spokesperson for Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw. “Squamish Nation is honoured to be hosting Grey Cup on our shared traditional territories and I am looking forward to the music, the game, and the fun we will have together.”
“We’re excited to welcome football fans throughout British Columbia and Canada to the 111th Grey Cup right here in B.C.,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “The Grey Cup and 2024 Grey Cup Festival will be an unforgettable week filled with free, family-friendly events that celebrate Canadian football and showcase the incredible community spirit that defines our province. Our government is proud to support the Grey Cup, which will leave a lasting impact for the people of British Columbia and communities.”
Michelle Collens, Director of Tourism & Destination Events for the City of Vancouver, shared her enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to welcome the Grey Cup Festival to Vancouver for the 2024 Grey Cup! This event is more than just a celebration of football; it’s a vibrant showcase of Vancouver’s music, arts, culture and diversity. At Sport Hosting Vancouver, we’re excited to bring together fans from across the country to experience the dynamic West Coast spirit of our city.”
The festival’s sponsorship lineup grew with six new partners. World Vision joined as a Silver Partner, while ICBC, Old Dutch, Pacific Blue Cross, SiriusXM, and White Spot joined as Bronze Partners.
“The corporate support we have seen this year for the 2024 Grey Cup Festival has been outstanding,” said Riley Wiwchar, Executive Director of the event. “This is a top-tier class of brands set to add even more star power to an already standout field. Their investment directly helps us craft an unmatched week herein Vancouver.”
“It’s been a decade since we last hosted Grey Cup in Vancouver, so many people in BC and the Lower Mainland haven’t yet experienced the passion, energy, and charm of a Grey Cup Festival in their city,” said Duane Vienneau, President of the BC Lions and Co-Chair of the 2024 Grey Cup Festival. “The Grey Cup Festival intersects with business, sports, entertainment and culture, allowing Canadians to engage with both the BC Lions and the CFL through a wide variety of activities and experiences. There’s really something for everyone. If you’ve never been to a Grey Cup Festival before, you’re in for a real treat.”
The Vancouver Convention Centre (West Building) will host many of the festival’s ticketed events, including the Coors Light Team Party Headquarters (Nov. 14-16), CFL Awards (Nov. 14), Business Summit (Nov. 15), CFLAA Legends Luncheon (Nov. 15), Gala Dinner (Nov. 15), Spirit of Edmonton Breakfast (Nov. 16), Coors Light Saturday Night Concert (Nov. 16), and Indoor Tailgate (Nov. 17). The Lordco Auto Parts Block Party (Nov. 17) will take place outside BC Place on game day.
Tickets for the CFL Awards, which will honor top CFL performers, are $175 plus taxes and fees. Hosted by CFL ON TSN favourites Kate Beirness and Milt Stegall, the event will be broadcast live on CFL+. The Business Summit, themed ‘Uniting Sports and Business for Social Impact,’ will bring together business leaders with tickets available for $199.
One of the festival’s highlights is the Gala Dinner, where fans, players, and dignitaries will gather for a night of entertainment and celebration. Attendees are encouraged to embrace the theme of “Black Tie and Team Pride.” Gala tickets are $375 and sold in tables of 10.
The Sam Roberts Band will headline the Coors Light Saturday Night Concert on November 16 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, with The Trews opening the show. Tickets are $75 plus fees.
For game day, country artist Tebey will headline the Indoor Tailgate on November 17, with tickets available for $199, including food, beverages, and shuttle service to BC Place. Also on November 17, the Lordco Auto Parts Block Party will feature a performance by Canadian rock icon Bif Naked. Tickets are $75.
The Jonas Brothers will headline the Twisted Tea Grey Cup Halftime Show at BC Place, capping off a week of entertainment leading up to the big game.
Riley Wiwchar emphasized that this year’s festival would offer an exciting lineup of free entertainment. Vancouver-based artist Felix Cartal will kick off the free performances at the Save-On-Foods Street Festival on November 13. The festival’s outdoor Payworks Entertainment Stage will host 22 artists from November 14-16, featuring a range of music genres and daily themes.
Sunday, November 17, will feature the PlayNow Sports Backyard Street Party at Terry Fox Plaza, headlined by singer-songwriter Devon Cole, along with DJ duo VAVO. “Not only have we been able to achieve an all-Canadian lineup of musical acts for this year’s festival, but we also have strong representation from British Columbia born-or-based talent,” said Wiwchar, who hinted that there’s still more to come from festival organizers. “We’ve still got a few more surprises left up our sleeve that we’ll announce later.”
The festival’s tagline, “All ROARS Lead To This,” was also revealed. Caitlin Buckell, Director of Marketing & Communications for the festival, explained, “Fans across the country have been roaring in stadiums or at screens from their homes, bars, or wherever they’re watching from all season long, so the tagline is meant to serve as an invitation to every fan, from every fanbase, to bring that energy here to Vancouver. ROAR really is what you make of it—be it an expression of celebration, pride, passion, or perhaps even a little frustration. Either way, it all leads to Vancouver November 10 to 17.”
Tickets for the 111th Grey Cup game and the festival’s ticketed events are now available at Ticketmaster.ca. Tickets to the 2024 Grey Cup Festival ticketed events go on sale to the public September 24 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET, with the exception of the Spirit of Edmonton Breakfast and Athletes In Action Grey Cup Breakfast which will be sold on separate platforms. All can be accessed through the festival’s website at greycupfestival.ca.
Festivals
FIFA Fan Festival™ Vancouver – Walk Off The Earth, Fionn, Felix Cartal, and France Fans
The FIFA Fan Festival™ at the PNE kept the World Cup excitement rolling on Saturday, July 4, as fans gathered for another full day of football, live music, and celebrations. With two Round of 16 matches on the giant screens and a lineup of Canadian artists filling the Amphitheatre Stage, the atmosphere remained lively from morning through the evening.
The day had already delivered plenty of drama before the concerts began. Morocco had stunned host nation Canada earlier in the day to book a place in the quarter-finals, ending Canada’s historic World Cup run after its first-ever appearance in the Round of 16. A few hours later, France defeated Paraguay to secure the final quarter-final spot, setting up a meeting with Morocco in one of the tournament’s most intriguing matchups. As the final whistle blew, fans quickly shifted their attention from the football to the music just a few steps away.
Vancouver-based band Fionn, consisting of twins Alanna and Brianne Finn-Morris, was first on stage, offering an engaging performance that fit the late afternoon perfectly. Their warm vocals and heartfelt indie-pop songs gave the crowd a chance to catch their breath after another emotional day of World Cup action. Many fans who had spent hours watching the matches stayed put, creating an attentive audience that truly enjoyed the show.
Right after, Walk Off The Earth took over and instantly changed the pace. The Ontario group has built its reputation on creative arrangements and infectious energy, and they delivered exactly that. Their performance blended pop, rock, folk, and plenty of crowd interaction, turning the Amphitheatre into a giant singalong. The band’s playful chemistry and multi-instrumental approach kept fans engaged from start to finish, with many dancing along and singing every word.
At the Park Stage, Vancouver-born DJ and producer Felix Cartal took over. A familiar face on festival lineups across the country, Cartal delivered a polished electronic set that kept fans dancing until the festival closed. His mix of melodic house, upbeat remixes, and crowd-pleasing drops provided the perfect soundtrack to cap off a day that had already been packed with football drama and live music.
The FIFA Fan Festival has consistently shown that it offers far more than football. Saturday’s schedule paired knockout-stage drama with live performances that gave supporters another reason to stay long after the matches had ended. Even with Canada’s elimination still fresh in many minds, the festival remained a welcoming place to celebrate the global game, discover Canadian talent, and enjoy a summer evening surrounded by thousands of fellow fans. With the quarter-finals now set, anticipation continued to build for another unforgettable week at Vancouver’s Fan Festival.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
WALK OFF THE EARTH
FIONN
FELIX CARTAL
FRANCE FANS
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Festivals
Montréal Jazz Festival 2026 – Patrick Watson
July 3, 2026
If you thought the outdoor main stage at Jazz Fest was packed earlier in the week, it had absolutely nothing on the sea of people that squeezed into the Place des Festivals for Patrick Watson. The site was packed right to the limit. The last time he played the festival back in 2021, it was to a strictly limited, socially distanced crowd, and he actually took a moment to contrast that eerie, quiet landscape with the overwhelming wall of faces looking back at him this time around. The massive turnout made it feel like the city had just been waiting for the perfect moment to properly welcome him back.
The whole night felt like a massive, curated homecoming celebration with his favourite people on earth. By the third song, he already had the crowd cheering when he brought out Montreal’s own Martha Wainwright, who has been heavily involved in the local scene and festival circuit this year, to share the stage. Right after that, he raised the bar even higher by bringing up a string quartet for a stunning performance of “Ode to Vivian.” He took a second to tell the story behind the track, explaining how it was inspired by the street photographer Vivian Maier, who secretly kept her incredible work to herself until she passed, only to posthumously become an inspiration to thousands of photographers worldwide.
The emotional peak of the set came during “To Build a Home.” Watson talked about how deeply the experience of growing up in Montreal shaped him both as a person and a musician, noting that his music could only ever be written in a city with this exact type of creative spirit. As the song played, vintage 1960s video footage of Montreal rolled across the massive backdrops, which gave the whole performance an incredibly nostalgic, cinematic weight. He kept the collaborations rolling through the night, too, pulling the brilliant November Ultra onto the stage for “Silencio,” and later bringing out the rising indie-folk artist Solann.
The years might be passing, but Patrick Watson proves every time he steps on a stage that he remains an absolute force of nature. He doesn’t care about shifting trends; he just cares about his craft. A few people floating around the crowd might have been a little disappointed not to hear some of the older classics like “Lighthouse” or “The Great Escape,” but honestly, what better setting is there to test out your newest material than the Montreal Jazz Festival in front of your home crowd? Besides, when the performance is that stunning from start to finish, you really can’t be mad about it.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
PATRICK WATSON
All Photo Credit: Andres Amaya