Festivals
Phillips Backyard Festival Announces 2025 Lineups
Get ready, music lovers! Phillips Brewery is back with its epic Phillips Backyard Festival Series, a two-weekend summer extravaganza bringing top-tier live music, craft beer, and mouthwatering eats to the heart of Victoria, BC. Best of all—ticket prices are staying the same as last year.
Set in the newly expanded Phillips Backyard, this festival delivers an unforgettable mix of homegrown Canadian talent and internationally acclaimed artists. Expect a vibrant atmosphere with diverse food truck options, including plenty of vegetarian and vegan bites, plus Phillips’ legendary small-batch brews.
Weekend 1: Tilt (July 4-6)
Rock and alternative reign supreme during the first weekend with headliners Cold War Kids, Band of Skulls, Two Feet, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra leading the charge. Hip-hop fans can catch G-Eazy, while Snotty Nose Rez Kids bring their powerful, politically charged Indigenous rap to the stage. Other highlights include Haviah Mighty, The Bankes Brothers, Young Friend, Fionn, Murge Live, Steve Bays (Hot Hot Heat), King Bob, Neighbourly, and Poncho.
Weekend 2: Reverb (Aug. 8-10)
The festival returns in August with an electric lineup headlined by Peach Pit, Phantogram, and The Roots. Also on deck: Sombr, Borns, Danielle Ponder, Mac Sabbath, Dragonette, King Cruff (Bob Marley’s grandson), Uncle Strut, Diamond Cafe, Prado Monroe, Layten Kramer, Vox Rea, and Terrell Safadi.
This year, festivalgoers can look forward to an upgraded stage—raised by two feet for even better sightlines.
Daily lineups and festival info can be found at phillipsbackyard.com. Tickets drop tomorrow Thursday, March 27, at 10 a.m. via the website.
- Single-day tickets: $99 (+ taxes & fees)
- Weekend passes: $249 (+ taxes & fees)
Ages 19+ only – Bring two pieces of ID and get ready for an unforgettable summer of live music and craft beer. See you in the Backyard!
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
Festivals
FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver – Kx5 and SG Lewis
The FIFA Fan Festival™ shifted into concert mode on July 17 as Vancouver welcomed one of the festival’s Signature Concert nights. After weeks of blending live music with FIFA World Cup action, Friday’s schedule focused entirely on the evening lineup, giving fans a chance to enjoy a full night of electronic music at the amphitheatre.
The gates opened at 5 p.m., with Shades of Day kicking things odd. Vancouver artist Grayson Repp followed at 6:30 p.m. Repp did exactly what an opening act should do, warming up the growing crowd and setting the tone for the night. As more fans poured into the festival grounds, the atmosphere steadily built toward the evening’s headline performance.
SG Lewis started at 7:30 p.m., bringing his signature mix of house, disco, and electronic pop. His smooth production and dance-friendly set kept the energy climbing, with the audience fully embracing the chance to dance in the new amphitheatre. By the end of his performance, the venue had transformed into a massive outdoor dance floor.
The night’s main attraction arrived at 9 p.m. as Kx5 took over the stage. The collaboration between Deadmau5 and Kaskade has become one of the biggest names in electronic music, and their performance lived up to the anticipation. Massive visuals, pyrotechnics, synchronized lighting, and booming production turned the FIFA Fan Festival into a festival within a festival. Fans packed the amphitheatre from the floor to the lawn, singing along when vocals appeared and raising their hands as the bass echoed across the PNE.
Unlike many of the FIFA Fan Festival days that balanced football broadcasts with music throughout the afternoon, July 17 belonged entirely to the concert experience. From Grayson Repp‘s early set to SG Lewis‘ polished performance and Kx5‘s high-powered finale, the Signature Concert delivered one of the biggest musical highlights of the Vancouver Fan Festival.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Kx5
SG LEWIS
GRAYSON REPP
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer