Kesha, The Beaches, Rachel Chinouriri and an all-women lineup make a statement at RBC Amphitheatre

The second edition of All Things Go Toronto arrived with a bit of uncertainty hanging over it. Weather forecasts throughout the week had threatened heavy thunderstorms for Saturday, and more than a few festivalgoers crossed the bridge to RBC Amphitheatre wondering whether the day would be spent dodging rain clouds. But instead, Toronto got lucky.

Strong winds rolled through the waterfront venue, but the storms never fully materialized. Under blue skies and warm temperatures, thousands of fans spread out across the lawn and seats, turning what could have been a washout into one of the most enjoyable festival days of the summer so far.

Between sets, fans wandered through activations from RBC, Monster and other sponsors, while food trucks lined the concourse. One standout quickly emerged for me: Alijandro’s Kitchen, which served some of the best food of the weekend.

What immediately stood out about Saturday’s lineup was something increasingly rare in the festival world: every artist performing was a woman. At a time when many major festivals still struggle with representation, All Things Go continues to build its identity around showcasing women and queer artists without making it feel like a gimmick.

Opening the festival was Bella Kay, who looked remarkably comfortable despite revealing that this was her first festival performance. If she was nervous, it never showed. Her viral track “iloveitiloveitiloveit” sparked one of the first big singalongs of the day, while a cover of Rihanna’s “Stay” connected immediately with the growing audience. By the end of her set, Bella Kay was all smiles and seemed genuinely moved as she thanked fans for making her festival debut such a memorable experience.

Toronto’s own Sofia Camara followed and immediately reminded everyone why she’s becoming one of Canada’s most promising young pop artists. Early in her set, she introduced “Starlight” by joking that audiences normally use their phone flashlights during the song, but since it was still the middle of the afternoon, fans’ smiles would have to serve as the lights instead.

Camara repeatedly emphasized how much a hometown show meant to her, telling the crowd that Toronto always delivers the best audiences. One of the most memorable moments came when she sat down on the small advanced stage and introduced an unreleased song called “best friend.” She admitted she had been nervous about sharing new music and jokingly warned that she might cry while performing it. She didn’t, but the vulnerability resonated with the crowd. A cover of Gracie Abrams’ “That’s So True” earned a huge reaction, and by the time she closed with “Girls Like You,” the audience was jumping along.

Holly Humberstone shifted the mood slightly with a set built around atmosphere and emotion. Fresh off releasing her second album and launching a new tour, the British singer-songwriter delivered one of the day’s quieter performances, yet it never felt low-energy. Fans sang every word from the pit to the lawn, creating one of those festival moments where thousands of people seem locked into the same wavelength. Humberstone repeatedly expressed gratitude for being included on a lineup she clearly admired.

Rachel Chinouriri‘s set was one I had personally anticipated all day. Having somehow missed opportunities to catch her live before, I was eager to finally see what all the hype was about. She exceeded every expectation. From the opening song onward, Chinouriri brought infectious energy while constantly engaging with the crowd beyond just the barricade. She told fans she had performed at several All Things Go festivals in the United States and was thrilled to finally bring that experience to Toronto. Her message was simple but powerful: live fully, tell people you love them, and don’t take tomorrow for granted. It was the kind of moment that felt sincere rather than scripted.

Then came hometown heroes The Beaches. The Toronto quartet received one of the loudest welcomes of the entire weekend. Before long, they were celebrating the fact that an all-women festival had become reality in their hometown, giving credit to the women behind the scenes who helped make it happen.

The band entered to audio from the now-viral Off Campus scene before launching into a set packed with fan favourites. Then came one of the weekend’s most perfectly timed moments. As The Beaches performed, a rainbow appeared above RBC Amphitheatre. Considering it was Pride Month and one of the festival’s defining themes was celebrating queer artists and fans, the visual almost felt too perfect to be real.

Their “Lesbian of the Year” competition became one of the day’s highlights. Fans had been encouraged throughout posters at the venue to register for a chance to participate, and three contestants ultimately joined the band on stage. After a series of questions and plenty of audience participation, one winner was crowned and awarded a trophy.

The Beaches even dusted off material from their Done With Dolls days, delighting longtime fans before closing with the always explosive “Blame Brett.” What I loved most was how few phones were in the air. Nearly everyone seemed focused on dancing, singing and actually experiencing the show.

Kesha then arrived to close the night with a performance that was both celebratory and deeply personal. Complete with dancers, elaborate choreography, lasers and multiple visual interludes, her 90-minute set centered on one recurring theme: freedom. Throughout the evening, Kesha reflected on reclaiming ownership of her music and career, explaining that she could finally perform songs she hadn’t played in over a decade after re-producing them herself. The announcement sparked one of the loudest cheers of the night.

The set balanced nostalgia with growth. New songs such as “Origami” sat comfortably alongside classics, while stories about writing music with her mother and collaborations from earlier in her career gave added context to songs many fans had known for years. Several VCR segments reinforced the evening’s message of resilience and self-determination. One particularly memorable line emphasized choosing vulnerability over simply existing without feeling.

As the show reached its conclusion, Kesha reflected on how both good times and difficult experiences shape a life worth living. The final message was clear: these were the Freedom years.

For the encore, she created one final unforgettable moment by inviting dancer UnsightedPoet onstage after seeing his social media campaign asking for the chance to perform with her.

It was the perfect ending to a day that felt larger than just a collection of great performances. All Things Go has built its reputation around creating a space where artists and fans can feel seen, and Saturday embodied that mission from start to finish. Between the music, the community and the atmosphere, it was definitely a celebration of exactly who it was built for.

Check out our favourite photos of the day below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

For more information about All Things Go Toronto, DC and NYC, head to allthingsgofestival.com.

KESHA

THE BEACHES

RACHEL CHINOURIRI

HOLLY HUMBERSTONE

SOFIA CAMARA

BELLA KAY

ALL THINGS GO

Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer, unless otherwise noted.