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
Governors Ball 2026 Release Daily Schedules
The set times are in. Governors Ball Music Festival just dropped its daily schedules for June 5–7, and the usual game begins: mapping your day, picking your battles, and accepting you can’t see everything.
Friday, June 5
Day one leans indie-pop into rap by night. Lorde closes the main stage at 8:30, opposite the tail end of Baby Keem(7:30–8:30). That’s your first big call: polished pop spectacle or Keem’s high-energy set.
Earlier, things get messy in a good way. KATSEYE (6:35–7:30) overlaps with Pierce the Veil (5:30–6:30) bleed, and The Beths (6:00–7:00) sit right in between. Indie fans will feel that pinch.
Midday conflicts are lighter, but The Dare (4:00–4:45) vs. Arcy Drive (3:30–4:15) creates a small fork in the road.
If you’re pacing yourself, the cleanest run is late afternoon into Mariah the Scientist (4:45–5:30), then pick your lane.
Saturday, June 6
Saturday is the most chaotic on paper. Stray Kids headline at 8:30, directly after Kali Uchis (7:30–8:30). That transition is smooth if you stay put.
The real trouble hits earlier. Major Lazer (6:30–7:30) collides with Blood Orange (5:30–6:30) and the start of Amyl and the Sniffers (7:30–8:30). Dancehall vs. alt-R&B vs. punk. Pick a mood and commit.
Mid-card is stacked with clashes: Ravyn Lenae (4:00–4:45) overlaps with Jane Remover (3:30–4:15), and Snow Strippers (4:45–5:30) runs right into Wet Leg (4:45–5:30). That last one is a true coin flip, two buzzy acts at the exact same time.
Sunday, June 7
Sunday might be the strongest day top to bottom. A$AP Rocky closes at 8:45, opposite the end of JENNIE (7:45–8:45) and Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist (7:45–8:45). That’s the toughest final hour of the weekend.
The lead-up is just as tight. Dominic Fike (6:45–7:45) overlaps with Clipse (5:45–6:45) and Hot Mulligan (6:15–7:15). Three different crowds, same window.
Earlier, Japanese Breakfast (4:00–4:45) and Holly Humberstone (3:15–4:00) form a nice back-to-back if you stay mobile, but Between Friends (2:30–3:15) cuts into that flow.
The takeaway
Friday is manageable. Saturday is conflict-heavy. Sunday is stacked late.
If you hate missing songs, plan short splits. If you want full sets, accept you’ll miss something big. That’s part of the deal, and honestly, half the fun.
Festivals
PNE Summer Night Concerts Announce 2026 Lineup
Vancouver’s summer concert calendar is locking into place. The annual Summer Night Concerts are set to return to the Pacific National Exhibition from August 22 through September 7, bringing live music back to one of the city’s biggest seasonal events.
This year carries a bit more weight than usual. The series will debut at the brand-new Freedom Mobile Arch, a 10,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre built for large-scale performances. The venue promises better sightlines, improved sound, and a more immersive setup for fans. It’s a major shift for the fair, which spent much of last year dealing with construction that limited its footprint and contributed to a drop in attendance.
Now, with the full site back in action, organizers are aiming for a reset. The 2026 lineup leans into that idea, mixing legacy acts with newer names across genres like rock, pop, hip-hop, and electronic.
Headliners include Blue Rodeo, The Guess Who, The Beaches, Nelly, and Zedd, alongside artists like Mt. Joy, Train, and Barenaked Ladies. Special performances include Cynthia Erivo backed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, as well as appearances from Punjabi Virsa, Weird Al Yankovic, Earth, Wind & Fire, Pierce the Veil, Sarah McLachlan, and Boy George & Culture Club.
The full schedule runs nightly:
- Aug. 22: Blue Rodeo
- Aug. 23: The Guess Who
- Aug. 25: The Beaches
- Aug. 26: Nelly
- Aug. 27: Zedd
- Aug. 28: Mt. Joy
- Aug. 29: Cynthia Erivo with VSO
- Aug. 30: Punjabi Virsa
- Sept. 1: Train
- Sept. 2: Barenaked Ladies
- Sept. 3: Weird Al Yankovic
- Sept. 4: Earth, Wind & Fire
- Sept. 5: Pierce the Veil
- Sept. 6: Sarah McLachlan
- Sept. 7: Boy George & Culture Club
Tickets start at $49 plus fees and include admission to the PNE Fair. Presale began April 19, with general on-sale launching April 20 through TicketLeader.
New venue, full fairgrounds, and a lineup that leans both nostalgic and current. After a quieter year, the PNE looks ready to feel busy again.