Festivals
All Your Friends Fest 2025 – Day One Recap & Photos
Burl’s Creek, Ontario – Saturday, June 28
In its second year, All Your Friends Fest brought the nostalgia and rocked Burl’s Creek for two incredible days. The two-day festival kicked off with a cloudy sky, singalongs, and a crowd ready to relive the glory days of emo, punk, and alt-rock with a fresh 2025 twist.
The festival grounds were packed early, with fans sporting vintage band tees, eyeliner, and studded belts. Groups of friends took turns snapping photos in front of a giant guitar sculpture by Briony Douglas, an art piece that fans can catch again at Boots and Hearts later this summer. It was a clear crowd favourite and a backdrop for more than a few group selfies and DIY photo shoots.
Music kicked off on the Second Stage with Canada’s own Faber Drive, who brought early 2000s pop-rock charm with a tight, upbeat set. They hit all the nostalgic notes, getting the crowd moving and singing along.
The first Main Stage act was Winona Fighter, a relatively new band based in Nashville, TN. After finishing their pre-show rituals on stage, frontwoman Coco Kinnon brought the crowd to a frenzy with her screaming vocals and high energy. Think early Paramore energy, but messier and weirder, in a good way. They’ve been grinding the DIY circuit and are finally getting some bigger festival love.
Four Year Strong were next in the lineup, taking the Second Stage. The American pop-punk band wasted no time in involving the fans. There was no easing into their set. The pit opened up immediately, and the moshing never stopped. Crowd surfers came in waves, hoisted up by strangers with grins on their faces.
Canadian indie rockers, Moneen, would take the main stage at 4:15pm. High flying kicks, guitars swinging, Moneen put on a great show and had passionate fans yelling every word. They might not be a household name, but their following is loud for a reason.
The Starting Line kept the pace on the Second Stage, leaning into their classics and not letting a bass guitar strap mishap stop the fun. Frontman Kenny Vasoli laughed it off and kept the show running, never missing a beat.
Donning leather jackets, cigarettes and dark shades, Boys Like Girls entered the main stage to a roaring crowd. From newer music to their classics, including “The Great Escape” and “Love Drunk”, the fans loved it. It was a great pick for anyone who needs a little drama with their pop.
All the way from Down Under (Australia), The Veronicas took the stage as the sun was setting. The pop duo twins whipped out the guitar and got the crowd dancing. Their live set was a little chaotic, a little camp, and always very fun. Their top hits “Untouched” and “4ever” had everyone jumping, as expected.
The American rock band Underoath brought the intensity to the Main Stage. Lead singer Spencer Chamberlain encouraged crowd surfers to surf up to stage for a high five, which the crowd happily obliged. From moshing, crowd surfing to screaming vocals, their setlist had it all.
The finale for All Your Friends Fest Day One was hard rockers Rise Against. Formed in 1999, with nine albums and a tenth on the way, Rise Against played a wide variety of their discography. From “Prayer of the Refugee” to “Satellite,” fans were not disappointed. Lead singer Tim McIlrath took a moment during their set to express their love for their Canadian fans, as well as Canadian rock bands such as Billy Talent and Alexisonfire. One of the highlights was the band taking to the time halfway through their set to perform some acoustic songs such as “Swing Life Away” and “Hero of War.” They continued playing their hard rocking hits, with smoke and pyro going off the entire night. It was an incredible atmosphere and an incredible way to end off Day One of All Your Friends Fest.
Stay tuned for our review & photos of Day Two!
Check out our favourite photos of Day 1 below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
RISE AGAINST
UNDEROATH
THE VERONICAS
BOYS LIKE GIRLS
THE STARTING LINE
MONEEN
FOUR YEAR STRONG
WINONA FIGHTER
FABER DRIVE
CROWD
All Photo Credit: Kieran Delport
Festivals
PNE Summer Night Concerts – Pierce The Veil
By the time Pierce The Veil took the stage at Vancouver’s Freedom Mobile Arch on September 5, the place was packed and the anticipation was impossible to miss. As part of the PNE Summer Night Concerts, the San Diego post-hardcore veterans delivered a set that mixed nostalgia and chaos.
The show opened with “May These Noises Startle You in Your Sleep Tonight” and “Hell Above.” From there, the night barely let up. “Bulls in the Bronx” got the crowd going, followed by “Circles” and “I’m Low on Gas and You Need a Jacket.”
There was plenty for longtime fans, too. “I’d Rather Die Than Be Famous,” “Yeah Boy and Doll Face” and “Floral & Fading” reached back into the band’s catalog, while their cover of the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind?” provided one of the evening’s fun surprises.
Visually, Pierce The Veil made the most of the outdoor stage. Tony Perry and Jaime Preciado were constantly moving, throwing themselves around the stage with guitars in hand, while drummer Loniel Robinson provided the thunder behind them. At the centre was Vic Fuentes, whose voice still carries the emotional weight that has defined the band since its early days.
The emotional high point came with “Hold On Till May,” a song that has become deeply personal for many fans as phones went into the air and voices rose across the venue. Predictably, the place lost its mind when they ended with “King for a Day.”
After nearly 20 years, Pierce The Veil still know exactly what their music means to their fans. On this night, Vancouver gave that love right back.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
PIERCE THE VEIL
All Photo Credit: Kelli Rothwell
Festivals
PNE Summer Night Concerts – Train
After almost 10 years away, Train made its highly anticipated return to Vancouver, taking the stage at the PNE as part of the Summer Nights series for an electric night of nostalgia, energy and some of the band’s biggest hits. Nearly 10,000 fans packed the venue to welcome the group back to the city.
With nearly 33 years of performing together, Train proved that its signature sound and undeniable stage presence remain as strong as ever. Currently on the Drops of Jupiter: 25 Years in the Atmosphere Tour, the band is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its iconic album with a set that served as both a celebration of its enduring catalogue and a reminder of why these songs have remained fan favourites for decades.
Opening with “Calling All Angels,” the band quickly launched into a crowd-pleasing run of classics, including “Hey, Soul Sister,” “Marry Me” and “Drive By.” Throughout the night, the set balanced humour and heart, with frontman Pat Monahan connecting with the crowd and reflecting the warmth and personality that have become synonymous with Train’s live performances.
The night ultimately came full circle with the song that started the 25th-anniversary celebration: “Drops of Jupiter.” As the familiar opening notes rang out across the PNE, nearly 10,000 voices joined in, creating a fitting finale to a night that celebrated not only one of Train’s most beloved albums, but an iconic career spanning more than three decades.
Check our our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
TRAIN
All Photo Credit : Jill Meagher