Festivals
All Your Friends Fest 2025 – Day Two Recap & Photos
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!
AVRIL LAVIGNE
SIMPLE PLAN
STATE CHAMPS
RELIENT K
ANBERLIN
KNUCKLE PUCK
ILLSCARLETT
TAYLOR ACORN
RARITY
CON THE ARTIST
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.