Festivals
All Things Go Toronto 2025 – Day One Recap & Photos
It might be October, but All Things Go 2025 brought full summer energy to Toronto. The Budweiser Stage felt like it had been teleported to July with warm sun, endless smiles, and a crowd that felt more like a community than a festival audience. Everywhere you looked, people were making friendship bracelets at the Kandies World tent, dancing to DJ Levi’s remixes, and having a good time. Toronto showed up for the festival’s Canadian debut, and the all-female Day 1 lineup delivered exactly the kind of vibe All Things Go is known for.
EMEI opened the day, bouncing onto the stage with a kind of energy that made you forget it was barely noon. She was clearly having fun, dancing across the stage and winning over a still-filling crowd. Even though it was early, those who showed up were rewarded. She threw in a new song, “What’s the Point?”, and even covered Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe,” which hit perfectly for a Toronto crowd. EMEI’s enthusiasm was contagious, and she proved she’s one to watch live.
ELIO followed, bringing a hometown glow to the stage. With her guitar in hand, she mixed synthy bedroom pop with emotional grit. Her set felt personal, like she was letting the crowd in on her mind. She performed her hit song “Charger,” a track that features her mentor Charli XCX. The audience responded with steady cheers, proud to see one of their own shining.
Julia Wolf amped things up next, trading pop for something louder and bolder. She tore through her set with sharp confidence. Her rock-leaning sound catching everyone bobbing their heads. Between songs, she thanked the crowd for showing up early to her set. Gratitude was her theme, but power was her presence.
Blondshell continued the shift to a rawer sound. Dressed in a vintage Miley Cyrus “Wonder World Tour 2009” tee, she looked as cool as she sounded. Her songs hit like diary entries read through a distortion pedal, intimate but unapologetic.
Then came Chelsea Cutler, and the festival hit peak singalong mode. A quick mic hiccup at the start didn’t faze her. She laughed it off and earned a cheer once her voice came through clear. She mentioned performing at another All Things Go the week before, joking, “If I wasn’t gay before seeing The Marías…” which got the loudest laugh of the afternoon. Chelsea’s set mixed fan favourites like “Your Shirt” and “Crazier Things” with two great covers: Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need,” a song that brings her peace, and The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside.” Between songs, she opened up about nerves and gratitude, making her already emotional songs hit even harder.
Ravyn Lenae arrived right on time for sunset. Bathed in soft orange light, she looked like she was born for the stage: elegant and locked into every note. Her voice floated over the crowd like silk, especially during “I Wish,” a song she called the hardest she’s ever written, dedicated to her father. She thanked old fans and new ones alike, radiating the calm confidence of an artist stepping into her moment.
In between sets, the festival kept things light with “Kiss Cam” moments on the big screen. Each one was met with massive cheers from the crowd.
Then came the chaos. Remi Wolf turned Budweiser Stage into a full-on carnival. Her stage was covered in flowers, she wore a tutu, and she immediately declared, “Our job is to keep the party fucking going!” before leading the crowd through a “warm-up” routine that included fanning yourself and “slapping your vagina.” It was pure Remi, wild and hilarious. She even hopped on the drums mid-set and surprised fans by bringing Julia Wolf back on stage for a “Wolf Squared” moment. “Disco Man” was the true crowd explosion. She wrapped things up leaving everyone buzzing and ready for the headliner.
Reneé Rapp closed the night like a star who knows exactly who she is. Before she appeared, screens lit up with a message encouraging donations Save The Children, a charity partnered with her tour. Then a short video introducing her playing herself and other characters pressuring her to release a new single. It ended with her screaming “I need everyone to fucking leave me alone!” When she finally emerged, rising from behind a three-tiered star platform, the place erupted. Fans, many who had camped out since the night before, lost it.
Her set swung between rock-driven anthems and stripped piano ballads. “Leave Me Alone” set the tone, confident and biting. For “Isn’t It Funny” and “Sometimes,” she sat at the piano, showing off the kind of raw power that doesn’t need a light show. She talked openly about heartbreak and friendship breakups, calling “poison poison” her revenge era song and “lessons learned” her reflection era. “Good Girl” ended with a searing guitar solo that brought the house down.
Then came the night’s big surprise: Role Model stepped out during “At Least I’m Hot.” The crowd went absolutely feral. It was a perfect tease for Day 2, leaving everyone wondering who would be Role Model’s Sally tomorrow?
As the crowd spilled out of the gates, Day 1 had felt like a statement. Every act was a woman, every fan was respected, and every moment felt like joy. Call it what you want, but “Lesbopalooza” fits just fine.
Stay tuned for our recap of Day 2!
Check out our favourite photos of the day below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
RENEÉ RAPP
REMI WOLF
RAVYN LENAE
CHELSEA CUTLER
BLONDSHELL
JULIA WOLF
ELIO
EMEI
FESTIVAL
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Festivals
KATSEYE, XG, Dabin.Kr and More Perform at Head In The Clouds Music Festival 2026
Fans Brave High Temps to Catch KATSEYE, XG and More at Head In The Clouds Music Festival
88 Rising’s Head in the Clouds returned to Pasadena’s Brookside at the Rose Bowl on August 8, 2026. The festival, a celebration of Asian music, brought global superstars XG, KATSEYE, rapper Dabin.Kr, Indonesian pop group no na, K-pop group LNGSHOT and more to the Los Angeles stage.
The festival, beginning in 2018, and spanning across Los Angeles, New York and Indonesia has made some changes over the years, this year’s bringing a stark contrast to years prior. Normally a two day Los Angeles festival, its usual large stages including catwalks with three dimensional stage design (usually featuring their mascot CLO), and large photo op installations were now condensed to one day, a rather barren main stage and a lonely bus as a photo op. As most people packed tightly toward the main stage, it left much of the festival grounds uncovered. The Music Den stage lay tucked away in a corner, where if you didn’t know it was there you could easily miss it.
As doors opened at 1PM, fans raced across the festival grounds to secure a spot at the barricade. Japanese boy group ONE OR EIGHT opened the festival, also promptly at 1PM, leaving many who were there to see the group either miss their ten-minute set entirely or arrive late to the stage. The group, consisting of Souma, Mizuki, Tsubasa, Reia, Ryota, Takeru, Yuga, and Neo rode full speed into hit hip-hop track “TOKYO DRIFT,” and their latest release “YANKEE SQUAT.”
Get on the angok! With another vehicular hit, Indonesian girl group no na hyped the crowd with dance-pop “honk!” off their upcoming full length album, island girl. LNGSHOT made their way through the crowd, exciting fans who had been waiting all day to see them – many sporting hand made signs and curated outfits dedicated to their favorite members. Though just rookies, the four member group, produced by Jay Park, has taken global audiences by storm with tracks like “Moonwalkin” and “Saucin’.”
With high anticipation, Dabin.Kr, previously known as DPR Live, took the stage. “Tonight, you’re meeting Dabin.Kr” he told the crowd. Just as the sun was beginning to set, Dabin opened up to the audience about the struggles he has faced the last several years and his journey of starting over, stating “a lot of us here right now, are still trying to figure ourselves out.”
“Who’s still sleeping on XG?” asks the global group before launching into their hit track “WOKE UP.” Seven member Japanese group XG turned HITC into their very own mini concert. Appearing atop a large scaffolding set and accompanied by a full band, the group performed songs like dance track “GALA,” and slower hip-hop number “PS118” before closing with a rock-infused version of “SHOOTING STAR.”
Who knew HITC was for kids? Many children filled the audience, their parents bringing them to risk heat stroke to catch a glimpse of their favorite girl group KATSEYE. With scorching temperatures and packed crowds, (the festival needed to provide free water to attendees, many stationed in large ice buckets just to keep it cool) along with people passing out left and right, this seemed like a less than ideal space for children. Many parents took off like Olympic sprinters, children in tow, to sardine themselves into the already tightly stuffed crowd as soon as XG left the stage. Many fans were visibly frustrated as parents tossed their children up on their shoulders, blocking the view of fans who had waited all day in the blazing sun to secure their spot earlier in the day.
KATSEYE, performing as four, opened with upbeat “Pinky Up!” before launching into 2024 debut release “Debut.” It’s hard to believe the group has only been around for two years, as they’ve amassed a worldwide fandom and have become a household name in a short time. Marking their second time as festival headliners were members Lara, Yoonchae, Megan and Daniela. Just several days prior, Sophia announced she would be on hiatus from the group to focus on mental health. The announcement follows Manon’s announced hiatus from the group back in February. Will she ever come back? We may honestly never know.
KATSEYE closed out the festival with viral sensation “GNARLY,” full dance break included.
A day full of music, art and culture concluded on an explosive high. With a diverse lineup, audiences were left adding new songs to their queues and left singing some of their favorites. Packed exits and lengthy chaotic parking lines left fans with plenty of time to relive the memories they made throughout the day.
Check out our favourite photos of the day below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
KATSEYE
XG
DABIN.KR
LNGSHOT
TIFFANY DAY
KIIKII
NO NA
WARREN HUE
BE:FIRST
FESTIVAL
All Photo Credit: Rebecca Rowe / @rowetookthese
Festivals
HOT 97 Summer Jam 2026 – Recap & Photos
The Prudential Center was absolutely buzzing as it hosted the much-anticipated HOT 97 Summer Jam 2026, a classic highlight of New York’s summer music scene. This event is all about bringing together the best of the best in hip hop, rap, and R&B, creating a stage where both rising stars and seasoned veterans can shine.
This year’s lineup was stacked, featuring big names like French Montana, Max B, DaBaby, and G Herbo, promising to be “the biggest party ever to hit an arena.” To keep the party jumping, Hot 97 enlisted the help of legendary on-air personalities Funkmaster Flex, Nessa, and the Mornings with Mero team. As anticipated, the lineup drew a packed house, completely selling out the venue.
Hip Hop heads can go all the way back to the 90s to see just why something like this matters so much to the culture. Over the years, HOT 97 Summer Jam has given us unforgettable moments, from sparking epic rap feuds to reuniting legendary groups. This year was no different, packed with standout highlights. It’s not false advertising to say something iconic will happen on a Summer Jam stage – it’s expected.
One of the biggest moments of the night was Fetty Wap‘s homecoming. The crowd went wild for hits like “679” and “My Way,” though he had to cut his set short because of time limits. As the show rolled on, Yung Miami brought the energy with her summer banger “Spend Dat,” even tossing stacks of cash into the audience, causing a frenzy with everyone trying to stuff their pockets. Emerging artists were also front and center, like Zeddy Will, who energized the crowd from the upper bowl. DaBaby also brought his infectious energy to the crowd as he ran through his catalog, connecting with the fans in a unique way that really elevated the atmosphere.
On a sultry R&B vibe, Mariah the Scientist performed hits like “Is It a Crime” and “Burning Blue,” showcasing her killer stage presence and stunning vocals. The night wrapped up with French Montana, who brought out Max B and Remy Ma to help perform nostalgic Coke Boys favorites like “Unforgettable,” “Stay Schemin,” and “Ever Since You Left Me.” Despite their busy schedules with tours and new music releases, it’s great to see these artists giving back to the culture. They provided fans with a taste of their musical talents while solidifying their place in Summer Jam history. The surprise guests who were not listed on the lineup truly made this showcase unforgettable. We had the chance to see Lola Brooke, Fat Joe, and the entire cast of Zeus Network’s hit show, The Baddies. It truly was the hottest ticket of the weekend.
I just wished we could have partied a little longer. Some acts were unable to hit the stage for the final curtain, but on all accounts, the Hot 97 team delivered a show they can be proud of. HOT 97 Summer Jam 2026 left everyone hyped. Funkmaster Flex hosted the night flawlessly, keeping the energy high and the transitions smooth between acts. You can bet that the fans are already hyped for what next year has in store, eagerly locked into Hot 97 on the radio for the next Summer Jam lineup. I’ll be looking out for that announcement too; I know they are already cooking for 2027.
Check out our favorite photos of the day below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
All Photo Credit: @GALLERYBYTM | Anthony Grant Photography