Festivals
Phillips Backyard Festival Series Returns for 2024 with a Star-Studded Lineup
Victoria’s favourite summer music festival is back! The Phillips Backyard Festival Series, presented by Phillips Brewery and The Zone @ 91.3, is set to deliver two unforgettable weekends packed with top-tier headliners, rising Canadian talent, and local fan favourites.
Following two wildly successful years, the festival will once again take over the expanded Phillips Backyard, transforming it into a vibrant hub for live music, craft beer, and good vibes. This year’s lineup is stacked with must-see artists spanning genres from rock and soul to hip-hop and dance.
Weekend 1: TILT! (July 5-7, 2024)
The first weekend kicks off with Orville Peck and his close friend Noah Cyrus, bringing their signature sounds to Victoria. They’ll be joined by powerhouse vocalist Jessie Reyez, fresh from touring with Sam Smith and Billie Eilish, along with indie favourites Saint Motel and Half Moon Run.
Fans can also look forward to electrifying performances from viral rap duo Flyana Boss, Canadian alt-rockers Hotel Mira, and dynamic acts like Goldie Boutilier, SonReal, Liinks, Vox Rea, Haleluya Hailu, Teon Gibbs, OK Charlie, and Born Reckless.
Weekend 2: REVERB (August 9-11, 2024)
The festival’s second weekend turns up the heat with Grammy-nominated Black Pumas, hip-hop visionary Earl Sweatshirt, and the unstoppable energy of British dance outfit Jungle, hot off their Coachella set.
Joining them are genre-blending artists like Cautious Clay and DRAMA, plus local legends Current Swell and Astrocolor. The weekend will also feature performances from The Bankes Brothers, DJ Murge w/ Saundra Williams, Nicky MacKenzie, Jungle Bobby, Surf Hat, TK the Artist, Trophy Dad, and Posh Coat.
With a lineup this strong, Phillips Backyard Festival Series 2024 is shaping up to be the ultimate summer celebration. Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering new favourites, this festival is where music lovers and craft beer enthusiasts come together for two weekends of incredible live performances.
Mark your calendars – tickets go fast! Stay tuned for more details and get ready to experience Victoria’s biggest backyard party of the year. More info on the festival’s website.
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.