Festivals
All Your Friends Fest 2025: The Artists We’re Most Excited About
This year’s All Your Friends Festival is bringing a wave of nostalgia and fresh energy to Burl’s Creek. It’s the kind of lineup that’ll have you digging out your old iPod Mini and re-learning the words to songs you haven’t screamed since high school. Here’s who we’re most excited to seem, and why they should be on your radar too.
Avril Lavigne
Avril’s back on top and bringing her Greatest Hits Tour to festivals, offering a nostalgic trip through her early 2000s pop-punk anthems. She’s been touring extensively, with shows in Canada drawing large crowds, and seems more energized than ever. She still knows how to command a crowd. Expect a tight mix of hits — Sk8er Boi, Complicated, Girlfriend — with enough fresh cuts to remind you she’s not stuck in the past. She’s finally leaning into her legacy and her present, which makes this set a must-see.
Rise Against
Chicago’s politically charged punks haven’t let up. Rise Against’s 2021 record Nowhere Generation was a sharp and timely reminder that Tim McIlrath still has things to shout about, and their live shows prove they’re not slowing down. Their latest EP, Nowhere Generation II, keeps that same fire going. Seeing Rise Against live is a full-body experience. Their shows feel urgent. Between fan-favourites like Savior and Prayer of the Refugee, and the newer material, the energy never drops. They bring a kind of emotional weight that makes you want to punch the air and start a conversation afterward.
The Veronicas
We weren’t expecting to be this excited about The Veronicas, but here we are. The Aussie twins are leaning into their pop-punk roots again after a few years playing with synths and ballads. Their recent album Gothic Summer feels like it could’ve come out during the Warped Tour heyday, in the best way. It’s raw, catchy, and kind of angry. Their live set is a little chaotic, a little camp, and very fun. Tracks like 4ever and Untouched still go off, but they’ve got newer ones like Perfect that fit right in.
Winona Fighter
This is one of the new names we’re betting big on. Winona Fighter makes gritty, catchy punk with serious attitude. Think early Paramore energy, but messier and weirder, in a good way. Their song “I’m in the Market to Please No One” is a standout: bratty lyrics, gnarly guitars, and a hook that stays with you. They’ve been grinding the DIY circuit and are finally getting some bigger festival love. Their live shows are sweaty and unhinged, like a basement gig with better lighting. If you like your punk loud and unpolished, show up early and catch their set.
Simple Plan
Montreal’s pop-punk sweethearts are still bringing it, two decades deep. They’ve fully leaned into being the soundtrack for millennial angst, and they do it with heart. Simple Plan always feels like a family reunion. Everyone knows the words, everyone’s a little emotional, and you leave sweaty and smiling. Whether it’s Perfect, Welcome to My Life, or I’d Do Anything, they hit that nostalgia nerve just right.
The Starting Line
For anyone who had a MySpace profile pic with side-swept bangs, this one’s for you. The Starting Line hasn’t toured much lately, so catching them here feels like a treat. Say It Like You Mean It still holds up, and “Best of Me” is basically a festival anthem waiting to happen. They’re one of those bands that soundtracked a whole era, and they still deliver.
Relient K
They’re back! Relient K made their name with tongue-in-cheek lyrics and pop-punk hooks, but the band has aged surprisingly well. After a long quiet stretch, they’ve released anniversary vinyls for Mmhmm and Forget and No Slow Down. Their songs feel familiar, but there’s enough self-awareness and charm that it doesn’t feel stale. We’re curious to see how their updated style plays on stage.
State Champs
State Champs are a safe bet for one of the most fun sets of the weekend. Their album Kings of the New Age still holds strong, and their newer album State Champs keep them sounding sharp. These guys know how to pace a show: all hooks, all bounce, no filler. It’s going to be a full singalong, full jump-around set. They’re tight as a band and know how to get a crowd going. Expect big circle pits and lots of smiles.
Boys Like Girls
They’re having a moment again, and we’re not mad about it. Their 2023 album Sunday at Foxwoods leans more alt-rock than emo, but the hooks are still there. Of course, everyone’s going to lose it for The Great Escape and Thunder, and if they play Two Is Better Than One, prepare for tears. They’ve toured heavily in 2024and seem genuinely stoked to be back in the mix. A great pick for anyone who needs a little drama with their pop.
Moneen
This one’s for the emo heads. Moneen’s blend of chaos and melody was always a little ahead of its time. They’ve been doing sporadic reunion shows and still bring serious emotional weight to their sets. Expect lots of feedback, screaming, and passionate fans yelling every word. They might not be a household name, but their cult following is loud for a reason.
More TBA, but this is already stacked. Whether you’re reliving your peak emo years or discovering these bands for the first time, All Your Friends Fest is shaping up to be a sweaty, loud, and deeply cathartic time.
Head to their website for more info.
Festivals
HOT 97 Summer Jam 2026 – Recap & Photos
The Prudential Center was absolutely buzzing as it hosted the much-anticipated HOT 97 Summer Jam 2026, a classic highlight of New York’s summer music scene. This event is all about bringing together the best of the best in hip hop, rap, and R&B, creating a stage where both rising stars and seasoned veterans can shine.
This year’s lineup was stacked, featuring big names like French Montana, Max B, DaBaby, and G Herbo, promising to be “the biggest party ever to hit an arena.” To keep the party jumping, Hot 97 enlisted the help of legendary on-air personalities Funkmaster Flex, Nessa, and the Mornings with Mero team. As anticipated, the lineup drew a packed house, completely selling out the venue.
Hip Hop heads can go all the way back to the 90s to see just why something like this matters so much to the culture. Over the years, HOT 97 Summer Jam has given us unforgettable moments, from sparking epic rap feuds to reuniting legendary groups. This year was no different, packed with standout highlights. It’s not false advertising to say something iconic will happen on a Summer Jam stage – it’s expected.
One of the biggest moments of the night was Fetty Wap‘s homecoming. The crowd went wild for hits like “679” and “My Way,” though he had to cut his set short because of time limits. As the show rolled on, Yung Miami brought the energy with her summer banger “Spend Dat,” even tossing stacks of cash into the audience, causing a frenzy with everyone trying to stuff their pockets. Emerging artists were also front and center, like Zeddy Will, who energized the crowd from the upper bowl. DaBaby also brought his infectious energy to the crowd as he ran through his catalog, connecting with the fans in a unique way that really elevated the atmosphere.
On a sultry R&B vibe, Mariah the Scientist performed hits like “Is It a Crime” and “Burning Blue,” showcasing her killer stage presence and stunning vocals. The night wrapped up with French Montana, who brought out Max B and Remy Ma to help perform nostalgic Coke Boys favorites like “Unforgettable,” “Stay Schemin,” and “Ever Since You Left Me.” Despite their busy schedules with tours and new music releases, it’s great to see these artists giving back to the culture. They provided fans with a taste of their musical talents while solidifying their place in Summer Jam history. The surprise guests who were not listed on the lineup truly made this showcase unforgettable. We had the chance to see Lola Brooke, Fat Joe, and the entire cast of Zeus Network’s hit show, The Baddies. It truly was the hottest ticket of the weekend.
I just wished we could have partied a little longer. Some acts were unable to hit the stage for the final curtain, but on all accounts, the Hot 97 team delivered a show they can be proud of. HOT 97 Summer Jam 2026 left everyone hyped. Funkmaster Flex hosted the night flawlessly, keeping the energy high and the transitions smooth between acts. You can bet that the fans are already hyped for what next year has in store, eagerly locked into Hot 97 on the radio for the next Summer Jam lineup. I’ll be looking out for that announcement too; I know they are already cooking for 2027.
Check out our favorite photos of the day below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
All Photo Credit: @GALLERYBYTM | Anthony Grant Photography
Festivals
FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver – Kaytranada
The FIFA Fan Festival™ at the PNE closed out another memorable week on Sunday with the biggest match in world football and a fitting musical finale. Fans packed the site well before kickoff, creating a sea of jerseys, flags, and face paint as they gathered to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina. Every big chance was met with gasps and cheers, and when Spain secured the victory, the celebrations spread across the festival grounds as supporters soaked in the final moments of a month-long tournament.
There was little time for the excitement to settle before the day’s entertainment shifted from football to live music. Montreal’s Kaytranada took over the Amphitheatre stage, giving fans one last reason to keep the energy going after the trophy presentation. Known for blending house, hip-hop, R&B, and electronic music into a sound that feels uniquely his own, Kaytranada delivered exactly the kind of set the festival needed to close the weekend.
With Spain crowned world champions and Kaytranada providing the soundtrack to the celebration, the FIFA Fan Festival wrapped up another successful day at the PNE. It was a reminder that throughout the tournament, football and music proved to be the perfect combination, bringing thousands of people together to celebrate on and off the pitch.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
KAYTRANADA
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer