Festivals
Barnside Harvest Festival 2025 – Day One Recap & Photos
The first day of the Barnside Harvest Festival set the tone for a weekend that blends music, community, and the beauty of fall in Ladner, BC. Held right on the fields of Barnside Brewing Co., the Friday lineup on September 12 brought together an impressive mix of BC talent and Canadian favourites, creating an atmosphere that felt equal parts block party, family gathering, and outdoor concert.
The gates opened at 4 p.m., but with it being a workday, most of the crowd rolled in closer to 7. Families came with kids in tow, groups of friends grabbed craft beers brewed just steps away, and the laid-back, welcoming vibe never wavered. Barnside has a way of making you feel like you’ve stumbled onto a backyard party where everyone is invited, complete with food trucks, a kids’ zone, and artisan markets.
The festival opened with an indigenous welcome with Tsawwassen First Nation & Bryce Williams. Musically, the night leaned heavily on BC’s homegrown scene. Royal Oak and Melissa Endean respectively kicked things off on the Dueck Cadillac stage and Delta Heritage stage, each bringing their own brand of local energy. Endean’s rootsy songwriting carried well despite the competition with Said The Whale performing at the same time on the main Stage, while Royal Oak delivered bright, upbeat indie-pop that warmed up the crowd nicely.
On the Dueck Cadillac stage, Fionn, the twin sister duo from White Rock, leaned into their harmonies with an emotional set that included a cover of The Cranberries’ “Zombie.” It was one of the early highlights of the evening, a mix of nostalgia and raw power that drew big cheers. Blonde Diamond followed with a dose of shimmer and swagger, their synth-tinged sound adding some grit and groove as the sun dipped lower.
The Boom Booms and Said The Whale took the main stage in the afternoon and got the festival grounds buzzing right away. The Boom Booms brought their trademark funk and feel-good energy, the kind of music that makes you dance even if you hadn’t planned to. Said The Whale kept the energy rolling with their alt-rock anthems, reminding the crowd why they remain one of Vancouver’s most beloved bands. Both sets felt like love letters to the West Coast, and the mostly local audience embraced it fully.
Bedouin Soundclash added a change of pace with their reggae-inspired rhythms. Their set was breezy yet commanding, and their cover of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” had the whole farm singing along, a perfect fit for the setting. It was one of those small festival moments where time slows down. You’re standing under the open sky, surrounded by neighbors, with everyone locked into the same song.
The night closed with Walk Off the Earth, who made sure no one left without a grin. Known for their playful, inventive performances, the band didn’t disappoint. They pulled out clever covers like Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy,” Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season,” and AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” each reimagined in their signature style. Their kids, who perform as Luminati Suns, even joined them on stage for a few songs, adding to the family-friendly spirit of the festival. In a particularly heartwarming moment, they handed a ukulele to a teenager in the crowd who had made a standout sign, a small act that summed up the generosity and fun of their set.
By the time the last notes faded, Day One had set the bar high. Barnside Harvest Festival isn’t trying to be the biggest festival on the map; it’s carving out something more personal where community is the goal. It’s about celebrating local talent, sipping beer brewed on the very fields you’re standing on, and spending time with family and friends as the seasons change.
Stay tuned for our coverage of Day Three!
Check out our favourite photos of the day below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
WALK OFF THE EARTH
BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH
SAID THE WHALE
THE BOOM BOOMS
BLONDE DIAMOND
FIONN
ROYAL OAK
MELISSA ENDEAN
FESTIVAL GROUNDS
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
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.