Festivals
FVDED In The Park 2025 – Day One Recap & Photos
Holland Park, Surrey, BC | July 4, 2025
Fans of electronic music celebrated at Surrey’s Holland Park this past weekend as FVDED returned for their 10th anniversary, showcasing a larger than ever lineup of local and international talent performing across four separate stages. An estimated 40,000 fans flocked to the festival grounds to see Day 1 headliners Tiesto and Black Tiger Sex Machine!
FVDED proudly opens each day of their festivals by featuring local and rising Canadian artists like Miko.So , Sam I Am, and Sarana (in 2023 and 2024 respectively) and 2025 was no different. Friday began with Vancouver-based Filipino Canadian DJ Chels on the main Pacific Stage, supported elsewhere by fellow Vancouverites Wave Report and Destrata, all of whom were incredible and got attendee’s blood moving as they got through the gates and settled in.
This year fans enjoyed a hazy water feature they could walk through to cool off, some VERY cozy hammocks in the forest (single or group-friendly), and though I can’t prove it, more washroom facilities than I’ve ever seen at FVDED. The concrete amphitheatre that once housed a small stage was replaced with vendors and a semi-permanent tattoo tent which saw a lot of business, allowing for the fourth stage to set up near the entrance at the bottom of a small hill, ideal for relaxing in the sun and enjoying the music.
Friday’s festivities took an unscheduled pause on the Pacific Stage near the end of Juelz’s set, with the technical difficulties causing Uncle Waffles to miss her spot entirely while the issue was resolved. While the afternoon crowd was disappointed, this is the first issue we’ve seen of this sort since we began coverage, and the fans made the most of the break by refreshing their drinks or heading over to the new Propagate Stage to see local favourite hainafromchina, who was a blast.
Like in previous years, First 3 Only were there as the first artists took up their headphones, focusing on the event’s rising stars and Canadian content. We also took an absurd amount of crowd photos, as attendees are some of the most interesting and outgoing people we’ve ever worked with. The weather was entirely reasonable, and the skies were clear, which isn’t always the case despite FVDED’s incredible luck in recent years. We love meeting everyone and seeing their elaborate outfits! We hope you enjoy a few photos of Day 1, and you can head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
CROWD & DANCERS
All Photo Credit: Jason Martin
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.