Festivals
Montréal Jazz Festival 2025 –Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
On Monday night, as part of the 2025 edition of the Montreal Jazz Fest, Troy Andrews, AKA Trombone Shorty, performed the closing set at the TD Stage with his band, Orleans Avenue.
The New Orleans native made a stop in the 514 as part of his “Might Not Make it Home” Tour, cementing his status as a much-appreciated regular at the legendary Canadian festival. This marked his fourth appearance, and for the first time, he was headlining its biggest stage.
By the time 9 PM rolled around, the iconic Place des Festivals was already packed with more than 20,000 people, all ready to see the legendary musician bring a taste of NOLA to Montreal. He jumped onto the stage after his band, sporting black leather pants and a white tank top, trombone in hand, and a huge smile.
His 90-minute set included songs like “Do To Me,” “Hurricane Season,” and the bass-forward “Fire & Brimstone,” where he switched out the trombone for a mic for most of the song.
My favourite part of the set was when, in true Mardi Gras fashion, in the middle of a medley that included “When The Saints Go Marching In,” he said into the mic, “Montreal, can I take you down to New Orleans?” with the band still keeping the beat behind him. The crowd responded with loud cheers. He grabbed his trombone again and started walking down the stairs of the stage and into the massive crowd, with the band following closely behind. For the remainder of the song, they walked through the crowd playing, which truly transported us to the streets of Louisiana. The iconic brass sounds, jamming with that unmistakable NOLA flair, were truly the heart and soul of what Jazz Fest is all about.
Trombone Shorty has to be up there as one of the best musicians of xour generation. It’s how he and his band make hitting such complex notes look easy, their undeniable chemistry on stage, and how much fun they have while doing it that has cemented him as one of the most iconic and important figures in NOLA music, alongside legends like Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton.
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!
TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE
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!
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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