Festivals
Montréal Jazz Festival 2025 – Ayra Starr
On Tuesday night, Nigerian singer-songwriter Ayra Starr delivered a masterclass on how to celebrate Canada Day in Montreal for the 2025 edition of Jazz Fest. The 23-year-old singer showed the people of Montreal that she’s ready for major headliner shows, before heading out to support Coldplay’s big stadium tour later this month.
More than two hours before her set started, people were already flocking to the TD Stage, undeterred by the pouring rain that had fallen an hour earlier. A sea of umbrellas, people of all ages, began to cram together as tightly as possible, just to catch a closer glimpse of the Nigerian star. A couple of minutes before she jumped onstage, the rain stopped. It truly felt like a timely sign from above, as the clouds cleared, the sun went down, and the stars appeared – the most important one of the night being Ayra herself.
“Ladies and gentlemen… I present to you… the great Ayra Starr!” a member of the crew shouted, as a giant pink star was projected onto the backdrop and a pool of blue light flooded the stage. Emerging through smoke, she rocked a black pinstripe suit with a cropped blazer and a statement necklace covered in charms. Her stage presence was undeniable, commanding her dancers around the stage while she hit every note with her R&B-forward vocals.
Throughout the set, she played some of the hits that cemented her stardom across the pond and in America, like “Bloody Samaritan” and “Control.” A highlight of the set was a cover of David Guetta’s “Titanium,” where she flawlessly hit every note originally sung by Sia, with every single one of the 20,000 people attending singing along with her.
It was a night filled with dancing, Afrobeats, and good vibes after a rainy Canada Day. It is no small feat that she is now performing a closing set on the main stage at Jazz Fest, joining a list of legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder, Esperanza Spalding, and Leonard Cohen who have also graced the biggest stages of this legendary festival. Ayra Starr is an artist in total command of her craft. Her star keeps rising and doesn’t seem close to stopping.
Visit the festival’s website for schedule and ticket information.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
AYRA STARR
All Photo Credit: Andres Amaya
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
Festivals
FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver – The Dead South, Jesse Roper, Colin James
The FIFA Fan Festival™ at the PNE Grounds delivered another full day of football and live music on Saturday, July 18, as fans packed the site to watch the FIFA World Cup third-place match before spending the afternoon discovering Canadian talent across the festival stages.
The day opened with one last piece of World Cup drama before the tournament finale. England defeated France in the third-place match, giving English supporters plenty to celebrate before the music began. Groups wearing England shirts could be spotted throughout the grounds after the final whistle, adding to the lively atmosphere that has become a daily feature of the Fan Festival.
Once the football wrapped up, the focus shifted to the Amphitheatre and Park Stage. Vancouver’s own Jesse Roper was among the first artists we caught, bringing his signature blues-rock sound to an enthusiastic crowd. His guitar work and easy stage presence made for a strong start to the afternoon, with plenty of fans gathering in front of the stage despite a full day of entertainment still ahead.
Over on the Park Stage, Canadian blues-rock legend Colin James reminded everyone why he has remained one of the country’s most respected performers for decades. His set mixed polished musicianship with plenty of groove, drawing listeners of all ages who appreciated every guitar solo and familiar chorus.
The Dead South closed out the day. The Saskatchewan quartet’s blend of bluegrass, folk and country proved to be a perfect fit for the outdoor setting. Fans sang along, clapped in time and danced throughout the performance.
With the World Cup final less than 24 hours away, there was already a sense that the tournament was nearing its conclusion. Even so, July 18 showed that the FIFA Fan Festival remained much more than a place to watch football. It continued to bring together sport, live music and community in a way that has made it one of Vancouver’s standout events of the summer.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
THE DEAD SOUTH
JESSE ROPER
COLIN JAMES
FANS
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer