Festivals
Boots & Hearts Festival 2025 – Day Four Recap & Photos
By the time Sunday rolled around at Boots & Hearts 2025, the sunburns were deep and the cowboy boots had taken a beating, but you wouldn’t know it from the crowd. If anything, the final day at Burl’s Creek felt like one big rally. With ten acts across two stages, the day stretched from rising talent to stadium-level headliners, and it ended in a way only Boots knows how: loud and unforgettable.
The afternoon kicked off with Jessie T on the Front Porch Stage, who mixed her country roots with a pop-rock punch that fit right in with the weekend’s genre-bending mood. Fresh off a string of award nominations and wins, she’s clearly on an upward swing.
Lakeview then jolted the Main Stage awake with a set that leaned heavier than most on the bill. Their mix of rock grit and country storytelling drew a roar from the crowd. It was a welcome shake-up after days of more straight-ahead country sounds.
On the Front Porch stage, Andrew Hyatt gave one of the most memorable sets of the day, bouncing between full-throttle crowd pleasers and stripped-down ballads. His raw take on “Time After Time” held the audience in absolute silence, while his rollicking cover of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” sent them into pure chaos.
Meghan Patrick owned her main stage slot with a performance that was equal parts powerhouse and personal. She flexed her rock side with covers of Led Zeppelin and No Doubt, reminding everyone why she’s one of Canada’s sharpest country stars.
Default (Dallas Smith included) proved their reunion since 2018 was more than nostalgia. Their fiery side stage set included a blistering version of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song,” which pulled even the beer tent crowd back into the sun.
As the sun started to come down, the rock-leaning streak kept rolling. Daughtry tore through his hits before slowing things down for a heartfelt duet with his daughter on “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” easily one of the most emotional moments of the weekend.
Texas wild card Koe Wetzel kept the energy rough and rowdy, paving the way for Hardy’s headlining slot.
Then it was time for Hardy to close the festival. Playing to about 30,000 fans, his set was a heavy, unapologetic mash of country grit and rock ferocity. The crowd screamed every word to tracks like “Truck Bed.” He even treated the crowd to a surprise duet with Meghan Patrick on “Wait in the truck.” In true Hardy fashion and similar to Chase Rice the day before, he pulled out a bottle of Jack Daniels, daring the crowd to finish it before the band stopped playing. They did.
By the time the last chord rang out, the festival grounds were buzzing, even as campers started packing up for Monday’s noon cutoff. Boots & Hearts 2025 will be remembered for its mix of country tradition and rock rebellion, but more than anything, for the gathering of people who love this music enough to stand shoulder to shoulder in the August heat until the very last note.
Stay tuned for our artist portraits!
Check out our favourite photos of the day below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
HARDY
KOE WETZEL
DAUGHTRY
DEFAULT
MEGHAN PATRICK
ANDREW HYATT
LAKEVIEW
JESSIE T
All Photo Credit: Kieran Delport
Festivals
VANS Warped Tour Announces 2026 Full Line-Up!
Vans Warped Tour, one of the most iconic, successful, and longest-running music festivals in history is bringing its celebrated community-driven experience north of the border with a highly anticipated stop in Montréal, Canada. Set for August 21 + 22, the Montréal edition will take over the expansive grounds of Parc Jean-Drapeau, the city’s premiere outdoor festival destination located along the St. Lawrence River.
Just minutes from downtown and easily accessible by metro, Parc Jean-Drapeau offers sweeping skyline views and a vibrant summer atmosphere. Festivalgoers can explore nearby neighborhoods such as Old Montréal, the Plateau, and the Quartier des Spectacles, making the weekend an immersive cultural experience both on and off the festival grounds.
Keeping with tradition, the full line-up listed alphabetically, which keeps the focus on the collective experience rather than headliners, the stacked bill spans generations of alternative and punk music, from genre-defining favorites like Simple Plan and Bowling For Soup to pop-rock staples such as Taking Back Sunday, Yellowcard, and Mayday Parade, alongside rising voices including Jutes and LØLØ. Additionally, the 2026 Vans Warped Tour in Montreal features a mix of international and regional talent, including Montreal-based deathcore band Despised Icon and punk outfit The Anti-Queens.
In partnership with Insomniac, the two-day festival will feature over 100 artists spanning rock, pop punk, alternative, emo, hip-hop, ska and beyond, alongside appearances from world-class skateboarders and elite action-sports athletes. This latest iteration builds on Vans Warped Tour’s legacy while embracing a broader, more global future for one of music and skate culture’s most enduring live platforms. With its scenic waterfront setting, rich musical heritage, and reputation as one of North America’s top festival cities, Montréal provides the perfect backdrop for Vans Warped Tour’s signature blend of nostalgia, discovery, and community—uniting fans across generations for an unforgettable summer weekend.
Furthering their mission of artist discovery and fan-first ideology, last month Vans Warped Tour launched the first look at the artists performing this year with multiple artists being announced daily over the past 30-ish days exclusively on Vans Warped Tour social platforms.
In addition to Montreal, Canada, Vans Warped Tour is expanding its footprint and cultural impact after last year’s three sold-out U.S dates, as the tour will deliver five two-day festivals returning to Washington, DC, Long Beach, CA, and Orlando, FL, including the launch of two all-new international editions in both Montreal, Canada and also Mexico City, Mexico, marking a powerful global expansion.
Founded by Kevin Lyman in 1995, Vans Warped Tour built a singular legacy as the definitive summer festival for rock and alternative music fans, shaping generations of artists and audiences alike. Founded in 1995, Vans Warped Tour was never just a concert series; it was a proving ground, cultural crossroads, and community-driven platform where established acts shared stages with emerging talent, often at pivotal moments in their careers.
Throughout the years, Vans Warped Tour helped introduce and elevate artists who would go on to define modern music, with past performers including Blink-182, No Doubt, Sublime, Beck, Katy Perry, NOFX, Limp Bizkit, Black Eyed Peas, Green Day, Eminem, Yellowcard, Bad Religion, and countless others.
What set Vans Warped Tour apart was its accessibility and ethos. Affordable tickets, all-day festivals, genre-fluid lineups, and an environment where fans could discover new artists, connect directly with performers, and experience music alongside skate culture, activism, and community engagement. That spirit of openness and discovery became central to Vans Warped Tour’s identity, cementing its place as one of the most influential live music platforms in modern music history. Vans Warped Tour remains committed to accessible pricing, with weekend passes that started at an all-inclusive price of $237.00 (processing fees included) and are currently available for purchase at https://www.vanswarpedtour.com/tickets.
Festivals
Dave Matthews Band, Twenty One Pilots, Mumford & Sons To Headline Oceans Calling 2026
Dave Matthews Band, Twenty One Pilots, and Mumford & Sons will headline the 2026 edition of Oceans Calling Festival on September 25-27 at the Ocean City, Maryland Boardwalk. The festival returns to Ocean City Inlet Beach with more than 40 artists performing across 3 stages including Ludacris, O.A.R., Yellowcard, Shaggy, Liz Phair, and more on Friday along with Goo Goo Dolls, Third Eye Blind, All Time Low, 311, Dashboard Confessional, Violent Femmes, and more on Saturday, with Caamp, My Morning Jacket, The Head and The Heart, Hanson, OK Go, Susan Hoffs, Jet, and more performing Sunday. View the entire lineup by-day here.
Pre-sale Tickets will be available this Thursday, March 5, from 10 AM–11 AM ET, offering guaranteed lowest priced GA and 1-Day Tickets for one hour only.
Beyond the stages, Oceans Calling highlights the best of East Coast flavor with fan-favorite local food vendors and Boardwalk staples complemented by live culinary demos from renowned chefs Robert Irvine, Antonia Lofaso, and more celebrating the region’s vibrant food scene; all hosted by Jason Biggs.
Festival goers will also have access to the Ocean City Boardwalk and its businesses in residence as well as the iconic Jolly Roger at the Pier amusement park, both located inside the festival grounds, as admission will be included with the purchase of an Oceans Calling Festival ticket.
Oceans Calling Festival ticket types include 1-Day and 3-Day, General Admission, GA+, VIP, and Platinum tickets, and layaway payment plans start at $20 down. GA+ offers fans unlimited access to a private lounge with seating, air-conditioned restrooms, complimentary water, private bar with drinks for purchase, and a dedicated on-site hospitality team. VIP delivers an exclusive seated viewing platform at the Main Stage, as well as prime viewing areas at all stages, VIP Lounge at Main Stage with air-conditioned restrooms, private bar with drinks for purchase and complimentary water, lockers, and mobile charging units for rent, and more. Platinum includes front-of-stage viewing at all stages, complimentary all-day dining and full-service bars, access to two Platinum Lounges with relaxed seating, air-conditioned restrooms, complimentary lockers and mobile charging, dedicated festival entrance, plus all the amenities of VIP, GA+, and GA, and more.
New this year, the 3-Day Bungalow Package offers an elevated, private festival experience for up to 12 guests per day at Oceans Calling. Guests enjoy unlimited access to a dedicated shaded bungalow with sweeping views of the Sea Bright Stage and festival grounds, plus private bars with complimentary all-day beverages, grab-and-go snacks, air-conditioned restrooms, Wi-Fi, merchandise concierge service, and dedicated on-site hospitality staff, all while maintaining full access to VIP and GA amenities for the complete festival experience. For the full list of ticket amenities, and to purchase 1-Day or 3-Day Tickets, visit www.oceanscallingfestival.com/tickets.