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
FIFA Fan Festival™ Vancouver – Walk Off The Earth, Fionn, Felix Cartal, and France Fans
The FIFA Fan Festival™ at the PNE kept the World Cup excitement rolling on Saturday, July 4, as fans gathered for another full day of football, live music, and celebrations. With two Round of 16 matches on the giant screens and a lineup of Canadian artists filling the Amphitheatre Stage, the atmosphere remained lively from morning through the evening.
The day had already delivered plenty of drama before the concerts began. Morocco had stunned host nation Canada earlier in the day to book a place in the quarter-finals, ending Canada’s historic World Cup run after its first-ever appearance in the Round of 16. A few hours later, France defeated Paraguay to secure the final quarter-final spot, setting up a meeting with Morocco in one of the tournament’s most intriguing matchups. As the final whistle blew, fans quickly shifted their attention from the football to the music just a few steps away.
Vancouver-based band Fionn, consisting of twins Alanna and Brianne Finn-Morris, was first on stage, offering an engaging performance that fit the late afternoon perfectly. Their warm vocals and heartfelt indie-pop songs gave the crowd a chance to catch their breath after another emotional day of World Cup action. Many fans who had spent hours watching the matches stayed put, creating an attentive audience that truly enjoyed the show.
Right after, Walk Off The Earth took over and instantly changed the pace. The Ontario group has built its reputation on creative arrangements and infectious energy, and they delivered exactly that. Their performance blended pop, rock, folk, and plenty of crowd interaction, turning the Amphitheatre into a giant singalong. The band’s playful chemistry and multi-instrumental approach kept fans engaged from start to finish, with many dancing along and singing every word.
At the Park Stage, Vancouver-born DJ and producer Felix Cartal took over. A familiar face on festival lineups across the country, Cartal delivered a polished electronic set that kept fans dancing until the festival closed. His mix of melodic house, upbeat remixes, and crowd-pleasing drops provided the perfect soundtrack to cap off a day that had already been packed with football drama and live music.
The FIFA Fan Festival has consistently shown that it offers far more than football. Saturday’s schedule paired knockout-stage drama with live performances that gave supporters another reason to stay long after the matches had ended. Even with Canada’s elimination still fresh in many minds, the festival remained a welcoming place to celebrate the global game, discover Canadian talent, and enjoy a summer evening surrounded by thousands of fellow fans. With the quarter-finals now set, anticipation continued to build for another unforgettable week at Vancouver’s Fan Festival.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
WALK OFF THE EARTH
FIONN
FELIX CARTAL
FRANCE FANS
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Festivals
Montréal Jazz Festival 2026 – Patrick Watson
July 3, 2026
If you thought the outdoor main stage at Jazz Fest was packed earlier in the week, it had absolutely nothing on the sea of people that squeezed into the Place des Festivals for Patrick Watson. The site was packed right to the limit. The last time he played the festival back in 2021, it was to a strictly limited, socially distanced crowd, and he actually took a moment to contrast that eerie, quiet landscape with the overwhelming wall of faces looking back at him this time around. The massive turnout made it feel like the city had just been waiting for the perfect moment to properly welcome him back.
The whole night felt like a massive, curated homecoming celebration with his favourite people on earth. By the third song, he already had the crowd cheering when he brought out Montreal’s own Martha Wainwright, who has been heavily involved in the local scene and festival circuit this year, to share the stage. Right after that, he raised the bar even higher by bringing up a string quartet for a stunning performance of “Ode to Vivian.” He took a second to tell the story behind the track, explaining how it was inspired by the street photographer Vivian Maier, who secretly kept her incredible work to herself until she passed, only to posthumously become an inspiration to thousands of photographers worldwide.
The emotional peak of the set came during “To Build a Home.” Watson talked about how deeply the experience of growing up in Montreal shaped him both as a person and a musician, noting that his music could only ever be written in a city with this exact type of creative spirit. As the song played, vintage 1960s video footage of Montreal rolled across the massive backdrops, which gave the whole performance an incredibly nostalgic, cinematic weight. He kept the collaborations rolling through the night, too, pulling the brilliant November Ultra onto the stage for “Silencio,” and later bringing out the rising indie-folk artist Solann.
The years might be passing, but Patrick Watson proves every time he steps on a stage that he remains an absolute force of nature. He doesn’t care about shifting trends; he just cares about his craft. A few people floating around the crowd might have been a little disappointed not to hear some of the older classics like “Lighthouse” or “The Great Escape,” but honestly, what better setting is there to test out your newest material than the Montreal Jazz Festival in front of your home crowd? Besides, when the performance is that stunning from start to finish, you really can’t be mad about it.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
PATRICK WATSON
All Photo Credit: Andres Amaya