Festivals
Newport Jazz Festival 2025 Lineup: The Roots, Janelle Monáe, De La Soul, Jorja Smith & More
The Newport Jazz Festival just dropped the lineup for its 71st edition, happening August 1–3, 2025 at its longtime home, Fort Adams State Park in Rhode Island. Big names this year include The Roots, Janelle Monáe, De La Soul, Jorja Smith, Esperanza Spalding, and Terence Blanchard, with nearly 50 acts on deck for the weekend.
The bill blends jazz legends, hip-hop icons, boundary-pushers, and fresh talent. Other confirmed performers include Raye, Jacob Collier, Willow, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and an exciting ensemble featuring Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, and Antonio Sánchez Trio.
Specially priced 3-Day Tickets went on sale April 15 at 1 PM ET for a limited 48-hour window. All other ticket types are available starting April 17 at 1 PM ET via DICE. These early tickets are first-come, first-served and sell fast.
Here’s a breakdown of 2025 ticket prices (fees included):
- 3-Day Tier 1 Ticket: $265.74
- 3-Day Tier 2 Ticket: $312.09
- 3-Day Student Ticket (ages 10–25): $188.49
- 3-Day Jazz Lounge Ticket: $1,488.35
- Single Day Ticket: $111.24
- Single Day Student Ticket: $63.86
- 3-Day Parking: $84.46
- Single Day Parking: $30.90
Kids 9 and under get in free (except for Jazz Lounge tickets), with up to two children per ticketed adult. Students 10–25 must enter through the student gate. College students need to show student ID; middle and high schoolers don’t.
Last year’s festival brought out big sets from André 3000, Kamasi Washington, Laufey, Elvis Costello, Brittany Howard, Nile Rodgers & Chic, and Meshell Ndegeocello, among others. 2025 is shaping up to keep that momentum going with plenty of genre-crossing, mind-bending sets on the way.
Check out the full lineup below and mark your calendar. Fort Adams in August is where the music’s at.
Janelle Monáe
The Roots
Jacob Collier
RAYE
Jorja Smith
Esperanza Spalding
Willow
Thee Sacred Souls
De La Soul
The Yussef Dayes Experience
Rachael & Vilray
Cécile McLorin Salvant
Dianne Reeves
Christian McBride Big Band
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Bela Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sanchez Trio
Louis Cato, John Scofield, & Marcus Miller
SOFI TUKKER (butter set)
The Philadelphia Experiment
LA LOM
KNOWER
Samm Henshaw
Terence Blanchard: Flow
Cymande
Hiromi’s Sonicwonder
Kenny Garrett
Stanley Jordan Solo
Ron Carter Quartet
CARRTOONS
Kokoroko
Kiefer
Moses Yoofee Trio
Emmet Cohen Trio
Lakecia Benjamin
Rich Ruth
Pérez Patitucci Calvaire Trio
Ekep Nkwelle
Maimouna Youssef
Etienne Charles & Creole Soul
BCUC
Marcus Gilmore Presents: A Centennial Tribute to Roy Haynes
Darius Jones Trio
Aaron Parks Little Big
Isaiah Sharkey
Tyshawn Sorey Trio
Bobby Sanabria & Sexteto Ibiano
Parlor Greens
New Jazz Underground
Tyreek McDole
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.
Festivals
Phillips Backyard Festival Returns With Chance the Rapper, Father John Misty, and Modest Mouse
Victoria’s summer concert calendar just got a major boost. The Phillips Backyard Music Festival is back, and this year it’s packing everything into one tight, three-day run from July 10–12 at Phillips Brewing & Malting Co..
After spreading across multiple weekends in past years, the 2026 edition trims things down to a single stretch, but the lineup is anything but smaller. Each night is led by a Grammy-winning or nominated act, with Chance the Rapper opening Friday, Father John Misty taking Saturday, and Modest Mouse closing things out on Sunday.
Chance’s booking is a big one. The Chicago artist has never played Victoria before, so expect a rush when tickets drop. Meanwhile, both Father John Misty and Modest Mouse are making long-awaited returns, with neither having played the city in over a decade.
The supporting lineup fills out nicely across the weekend. Friday leans upbeat with Duckwrth, Sophia Stel, Nicky MacKenzie, and DACEY. Saturday brings a mix of local and global names, including Sudan Archives and Victoria favourites Jon and Roy. Sunday wraps with indie staples like Wolf Parade, alongside Angine de Poitrine, Fake Shark, and Darrian Gerard.
Organizers are promising a smoother experience this time around. The space is getting an upgrade, the raised stage is staying, and RFID wristbands are out. There’s even more still to come, with additional artists set to be announced for the returning Music BC stage.
Tickets go on sale March 25 at 10 a.m., with single-day passes at $125 and full weekend access priced at $325. If past years are any indication, waiting is a bad idea.
More information on the festival’s website.
