Festivals

All Your Friends Fest 2025 – Day Two Recap & Photos

Published

1 day ago

July 2, 2025

Kieran D.

Avril Lavigne_AYFF25_Day 2-15-LQ — All Photo Credit: Kieran Delport

Burl’s Creek, Ontario – Sunday, June 29

All Your Friends Fest 2025 wrapped up with a second day that somehow felt even rowdier and more chaotic than the first. Singalongs, circle pits, and surprise guests were on the menu for this sunny day.
Whether it was your first time or you’re already calling it your yearly pilgrimage, the mix of pop, punk, rock, and weird little moments in between made for a weekend to remember.

Let’s get into it!

Con the Artist

Con the Artist kicked things off with what might’ve been the most unexpectedly emotional set of the weekend. Dreamy alt-pop meets confessional storytelling, and they weren’t playing it safe. Con’s voice carried across the grounds and drew in curious passersby who ended up staying for the whole set. Definitely an artist to watch as their sound continues to evolve.

Rarity

Rarity came out swinging with a set packed with raw energy and punk grit. Their performance ignited the first real mosh pit of the day, setting the tone for chaos that would continue all day. With gritty guitars, pounding drums, and vocals that cut right through the noise, Rarity were clearly here to wake people up. Fans who came to throw elbows and scream lyrics found their moment during this one.

Taylor Acorn

Taylor Acorn blurred genre lines with a magnetic stage presence, pop-punk adrenaline and an emotional depth that kept fans hooked. She sprinted across the stage, nailed every hook, and somehow made it feel like a heart-to-heart in the middle of a riot. From explosive choruses to quieter, vulnerable moments, Taylor brought the full spectrum of emotion. A standout for those who love both headbanging and crying to the same song.

IllScarlett

IllScarlett brought the reggae-rock fusion sunshine just when the crowd needed a breather, though no one stood still for long. Their reggae-rock vibes had the whole field dancing with beers in hand, and their cover of House of Pain’s “Jump Around” turned into a full-on dance-off. It was a genre shift, sure, but the vibe was so infectious that even the punks couldn’t resist swaying along.

Knuckle Puck

If All Your Friends Fest had a mosh pit MVP, it was Knuckle Puck. The Chicago band unleashed their blend of post-hardcore energy and lit it on fire. Their set was pure chaos with moshing, screaming, and crowdsurfing nonstop. It was loud and relentless, with guitar riffs that hit like a truck. Security had their hands full, but no one was complaining.

Anberlin

As last-minute addition to replace The Red Jumpsuits Apparatus, Anberlin’s set was a welcome surprise, and even more impressive considering the band arrived via a red-eye flight. Taking the stage with barely any rest, they still crushed their performance, thanks in part to Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire filling in on vocals. His spin on Anberlin’s catalog gave the songs a new flavour, and fans were here for it.

Relient K

Relient K brought a softer kind of pop-punk chaos and heartfelt tongue-in-cheek lyrics. The keyboard-driven set added a melodic charm, with lead singer Matt Thiessen bouncing between instrumentals and crowd banter. Their performance had longtime fans singing every word, and even newer attendees couldn’t help but smile at their quirky, energetic stage presence.

State Champs

State Champs never fail to bring the energy, and their All Your Friends Fest set was no exception. They simply don’t know how to phone it in. They blasted through their classic hits with precision and power, commanding the stage with ease. The crowd knew every word, and the energy never dipped. Total pros doing what they do best.

Simple Plan

Then it was time for Simple Plan, and they did not disappoint. The Montreal pop-punk kings brought guests, and enough throwback bangers to blow out your voice. Kicking things off with crowd-pleasers, frontman Pierre Bouvier launched into high-flying jumps and stage antics that would tire out anyone half his age. 
Special moments included:

Air Yel joining for a duet on “Jet Lag.” 
Pierre jumping into the crowd during “Crazy”. 
State Champs joining them on “Where I Belong.” 
A fun Scooby-Doo interlude that had everyone laughing. 
A wild drummer/singer swap, complete with crowd-surfing high fives.  They closed with the timeless “Perfect,” leaving the audience misty-eyed and hoarse from singing.

Avril Lavigne

And finally, the queen of Canadian pop-punk Avril Lavigne closed the weekend like the legend she is. It was a full-blown rock show: guitars, pyro, confetti, the works. She ran through all the hits: “Complicated,” “My Happy Ending,” “Girlfriend,” and added in a few surprises.
Highlights included:

A Shania Twain cover (“Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”) that turned the place into a party. 
A duet with Simple Plan on their new collaboration “Young and Dumb.” 
A T-shirt toss that had fans scrambling. 
A sweet moment where young girls were brought on stage, receiving signed skateboards and hugs. 
A breathtaking confetti/pyro/balloon filled rendition of “Sk8er Boi”
A beautiful crescendo of “I’m With You” to end the festival

All Your Friends Fest 2025 felt like a reunion, and a reminder that this scene still matters a lot. Whether you were crying during Avril’s ballads, jumping to Knuckle Puck, or dancing with IllScarlett, it was all about connection, community, and screaming your lungs out.

The scene isn’t just alive. It’s having the time of its life.

Check out our favourite photos of Day 2 below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!