Festivals
Barnside Harvest Festival 2025 – Day Three Recap & Photos
The final day of the Barnside Harvest Festival leaned hard into country, and honestly, it couldn’t have been a better fit. Paterson Park in Ladner was soaked in rain for most of the morning, but by 2:30 the skies cleared, the temperature crept up, and the crowd settled in for one last round of music, dogs, and local beer.
Sunday was “dog day,” which meant the park was full of wagging tails, costumes, and a rescue booth stocked with puppies that stole just as much attention as the performers. Add in a row of dog-friendly market stands and it almost felt like a county fair. Boots stomped, dogs barked, and the music rolled.
We started the day at 3 p.m. with Madisyn Gifford, who made the most of her slot. Newly signed to 604 Records, she played nearly an hour, unusually generous for such an early set, and showed the polish of an artist quickly on the rise. Her mix of pop-country hooks and confident stage presence set the tone for the day: upbeat, heartfelt, and proudly homegrown.
Tony Stevens was scheduled next, but rain-soaked sound equipment delayed his start by fifteen minutes. Once things were sorted, though, his easygoing charm carried him through. Stevens kept the mood light, joking about the weather between songs, and the crowd was forgiving as most people were still drying out themselves.
By mid-afternoon, the Dueck Cadillac Stage came alive with Chase the Bear, a band whose name, as per their introduction, was chosen by their mother. Their energy was infectious, with a rock edge that gave the day’s country tilt a welcome kick. They’re clearly a group that doesn’t take themselves too seriously, but they play like they’ve got something to prove.
One of the biggest ovations of the afternoon went to Jesse Roper, a festival favourite from Victoria who’s been with Barnside since the very beginning. It’s rare to see a performer so genuinely loved by both organizers and fans, but Roper fits that bill perfectly. His soulful guitar work and gravelly vocals hit the sweet spot between blues and country, and the crowd responded with the kind of enthusiasm that makes you think he’ll be booked here as long as he wants to return.
As the sun began to sink, the main stage welcomed Shakey Graves, whose dusty Americana sound felt tailor-made for a Sunday evening. His one-man-band roots still shine through, even with a full band behind him now, and his mix of storytelling and sharp picking pulled the crowd closer to the stage. He was a clear bridge between the local acts and the headliner.
Closing out the weekend was The Dead South, a band that has built their reputation on blending prairie grit with old-time string-band swagger. Dressed in their trademark white shirts and black suspenders, they had the crowd hollering along from the first note. By the time they reached their viral hit “In Hell I’ll Be in Good Company”, they had given a finale that stitched the festival together: rootsy, fun, and proudly Canadian.
What makes Barnside work is how much it balances the feel of a serious music festival with the ease of a community gathering. Three days in, it was clear that organizers have thought through every detail, from shuttles and bike valets to food trucks and family-friendly zones. Day three proved that a festival can lean into country without losing its wider identity. It was still eclectic, still welcoming, and still one of the most laid-back weekends on the B.C. music calendar.
The rain may have tested spirits early, but by nightfall, boots were muddy, dogs were tired, and fans were smiling. Barnside has already carved out a unique identity in just three years, and Sunday’s finale proved it’s only growing stronger.
Check out our favourite photos of the day or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
THE DEAD SOUTH
SHAKEY GRAVES
JESSE ROPER
TONY STEVENS
MADISYN GIFFORD
SHRED KELLY
THE VAUDEVILLIAN
CHASE THE BEAR
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Festivals
Coachella 2026 Set Times Are Out, With Jack White Added to Weekend One
The schedule for the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is here, and weekend one is already looking packed. Music starts at 1 p.m. PST on Friday, April 10, kicking off three days of tight set clashes, late-night headliners, and one surprise addition.
Headliners Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G lead the bill across the weekend. Carpenter opens things on Friday with a 9:05 p.m. set on the Coachella Stage, running just over 90 minutes. She’s followed by Anyma, who takes over at midnight to debut a new production titled “Æden.”
Saturday belongs to Bieber, who closes out the night with an 11:25 p.m. start. Before that, The Strokes hit the same stage at 9 p.m. Sunday wraps with Karol G, with competing sets from BIGBANG and Kaskade pulling fans in different directions.
The big curveball this year is Jack White, who joins the lineup for a Saturday afternoon slot. He’ll open the Mojave Stage at 3 p.m., marking a return to the festival after last headlining as a solo act in 2015. His appearance follows a recent run of surprise bookings at Coachella, a trend that’s become part of the festival’s identity.
Saturday night also brings Nine Inch Noize—a collaboration between Trent Reznor and Boys Noize—to the Sahara Tent for an 8 p.m. set.
Elsewhere, Coachella is leaning into immersive experiences. A new installation tied to Radiohead, called “Radiohead Motion Picture House: Kid A Mnesia,” will debut near the Sahara Tent. The 75-minute film blends visuals and audio pulled from the recording era of their albums Kid A and Amnesiac, created by Thom Yorke and longtime collaborator Stanley Donwood. It’s free with a reservation, with standby access for anyone willing to wait.
Beyond the headliners, the real challenge this year is picking a path through the schedule. Set conflicts are everywhere: David Byrne vs. Interpol, FKA twigs vs. The Rapture, and a crowded overlap featuring The xx, Dijon, Ninajirachi, DEVO, and more. Late Saturday gets especially messy with PinkPantheress going up against The Strokes, and Sunday throws in clashes like Moby vs. Turnstile.
A few lineup tweaks round things out. Foster the People move to Sunday, and new additions include Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Afrojack x Smiza, Deep Dish, and more.
Weekend two set times are still under wraps. For now, weekend one already looks like a scheduling headache, in the best way.
More information on the festival’s website.
Festivals
Morrissey and The Smashing Pumpkins to Headline Darker Waves 2026
Morrissey and The Smashing Pumpkins will headline Darker Waves Festival on November 14, 2026 in Huntington Beach, CA. Returning to Huntington Beach City Beach at Huntington Street and Pacific Coast Highway, the ocean-side festival will feature legendary performances from over 35 artists across three stages including Simple Minds, Bad Religion, Adam Ant, The Psychedelic Furs, Soft Cell, The Damned, Manic Street Preachers, Gary Numan, Silversun Pickups, Buzzcocks, EMF, Circle Jerks, Spacehog, Marky Ramone and more. Fans can sign up now for the festival SMS list at DarkerWavesFest.com to receive a passcode to the presale beginning Thursday, April 2 at 10am PT with access to the lowest-priced GA tickets from 10am to 11am PT. GA, GA+, VIP, and Ultimate VIP Tickets will be available, with layaway payment plans starting at $19.99 down. Any remaining tickets will go on sale to the public following the presale.
GA+ tickets include access to the exclusive GA+ Lounge with shaded seating and air-conditioned restrooms, plus a dedicated entry lane at the festival main entrance, and more. VIP tickets include unlimited entry into the VIP Lounge with preferred viewing area by the main stage, charging stations, air-conditioned restrooms, dedicated entry lane at the festival main entrance and more. Ultimate VIP tickets feature all amenities of VIP, plus access to elevated and unobstructed views of both main stages with shaded open lounge seating, dedicated VIP concierge team, a complimentary locker to store personal items, three complimentary drinks including choice of craft cocktails, beer, wine or non-alcoholic beverages, a complimentary meal redeemable for exclusive food options in the VIP Lounge and more.
Official Darker Waves vacation packages from Jampack pair GA, GA+, or VIP tickets with beachfront stays at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa or The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, and more. Bundles include a dedicated entrance, re-entry access, and commemorative merch.
For tickets and the full list of amenities available in each ticket package, please visit DarkerWavesFest.com.