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
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