Festivals
Phillips Backyard Music Festival – Day 2 Recap & Photos
If Friday introduced the Phillips Backyard Music Festival, Saturday showed its full range. The lineup moved comfortably between indie folk, alternative rock, experimental pop, and singer-songwriters, creating a day where every set brought something different. The result was a schedule that rewarded fans who stayed from the first performance until the headliner.
Carmine opened the Main Stage and quickly drew people away from the food vendors and beer garden. The audience continued to grow with every song, creating a much busier atmosphere than the previous afternoon’s opening set. Flower Face followed with a thoughtful performance that fit perfectly into the early evening slot. Her songs created one of the quieter moments of the day, yet the audience remained fully engaged.
The Music BC Stage continued to highlight local artists throughout the afternoon. Madisyn Gifford delivered a confident performance, followed by Tiger Really, whose indie rock sound brought a noticeable lift in energy. Both artists showed why the Music BC Stage has become one of the festival’s strongest features. It consistently gives emerging musicians the opportunity to play in front of audiences that may not have discovered them otherwise.
Jon and Roy were one of the biggest draws early evening. Playing close to home, the Victoria duo looked completely comfortable on stage. Their relaxed style matched the atmosphere around the festival grounds, where people gathered with friends, danced near the front of the stage, or simply stretched out on the grass while enjoying the music. Their performance felt like the perfect soundtrack for a warm summer evening.
Jon Bryant followed on the Music BC Stage before Sudan Archives delivered one of the day’s most distinctive sets. Combining violin with electronic production, R&B, and experimental pop, she created a performance unlike anything else on the lineup. Rather than slowing the evening down, her unique approach pulled the audience in and held their attention from start to finish.
Father John Misty closed the night with a performance that was equal parts entertaining and musically impressive. His band sounded outstanding, and his dry sense of humour came through between songs without distracting from the music. He has a natural ability to command a stage, and that confidence carried through the entire set. The audience remained fully invested until the final song, ending Saturday with one of the weekend’s strongest performances.
By the end of the second day, every block of the schedule offered something worth seeing, making it easy to spend an entire day moving between stages without running out of great performances.
Check out our favourite photos of the day below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery! You can find our recap and photos of Day 1 here.
FATHER JOHN MISTY
SUDAN ARCHIVES
LUCA FOGALE
JON BRYANT
JON AND ROY
TIGER REALLY
FLOWER FACE
MADISYN GIFFORD
CARMINE
FESTIVAL
All Photo Credit: Kelli Rothwell
Festivals
Phillips Backyard Music Festival – Day 3 Recap & Photos
The final day of Phillips Backyard Music Festival brought another full afternoon and evening of music, giving fans one last chance to enjoy one of British Columbia’s best summer festivals. After two successful days, the crowds returned in large numbers, and there was little sign that anyone was running out of energy.
Darrian Gerard opened the Main Stage, welcoming early arrivals with an upbeat performance that got the final day started on the right foot. Shortly afterward, Amulet began the Music BC Stage programming before Fake Shark took over the Main Stage. The Vancouver rock band got the audience moving quickly, as usual. Their fast-paced set injected fresh energy into the afternoon and produced one of the liveliest crowds of the day.
The Music BC Stage remained busy with performances from Infidelity, the highly anticipated Angine de Poitrine, Chopping Spree, and Runner. One of the strengths of Phillips Backyard has always been its commitment to showcasing artists from British Columbia alongside nationally recognized names, and Sunday’s schedule reflected that balance well. Fans who wandered between stages were rewarded with several impressive discoveries throughout the afternoon.
Wolf Parade returned to Victoria with a performance that reminded everyone why the band continues to hold such an important place in Canadian indie rock. Their songs translated well to the outdoor setting, and longtime fans sang along throughout the set. The band sounded tight, confident, and completely in control, making their performance one of the standout moments before the headliner.
Modest Mouse closed the festival with exactly the kind of performance many fans had been waiting all weekend to see. Their set mixed well-known favourites with deeper cuts, keeping longtime listeners happy while giving newer fans a chance to experience one of indie rock’s defining live acts. The band’s sound filled the festival grounds, and the audience stayed engaged until the final notes.
As the last songs ended, it was clear that Phillips Backyard had delivered another successful edition. The festival once again struck the right balance between established touring artists and homegrown talent, giving both equal opportunities to connect with the audience. Combined with excellent weather, smooth organization, quality food and drinks, and a relaxed setting that encouraged people to stay all day, the festival closed its 2026 edition on a high note.
Check out our favourite photos of the day below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery! You can find our recap and photos of Day 1 here and Day 2 here.
MODEST MOUSE
WOLF PARADE
RUNNER
CHOPPING SPREE
ANGINE DE POITRINE
INFIDELITY
FAKE SHARK
AMULET
DARRIAN GERARD
FESTIVAL
All Photo Credit: Kelli Rothwell
Festivals
Phillips Backyard Music Festival – Day 1 Recap & Photos
The first day of Phillips Backyard Music Festival wasted no time getting into the music. Gates opened in the late afternoon, and fans steadily filled the grounds as the opening artists took the stage. With two stages running throughout the evening, there was always something happening, whether festivalgoers were catching a familiar act on the Main Stage or discovering someone new on the Music BC Stage.
Dacey opened the Main Stage and immediately set a positive tone for the weekend. There is always a challenge in being the first performer of a festival, but the crowd responded well as people filtered in with drinks in hand and found spots on the lawn. Over on the Music BC Stage, Bukola delivered an engaging set that showed exactly why she continues to build a strong following in British Columbia. Her soulful vocals stood out from the start and held the audience’s attention throughout her performance.
As the evening moved along, Nicky MacKenzie and Mikey Jose kept the energy moving before Cartel Madras took over the Main Stage. The Calgary duo brought one of the day’s most intense performances. Their stage presence demanded attention, and the audience responded with loud cheers throughout the set. They never let the pace slow down, making them one of the clear highlights of the afternoon.
Blush followed on the Music BC Stage with a polished indie rock performance before Duckwrth stepped onto the Main Stage as the sun began to set. His mix of hip-hop, funk, and rock translated perfectly to the outdoor setting. He spent much of the set moving across the stage, interacting with the crowd and feeding off their enthusiasm. By this point, the festival grounds were packed, and it was clear the audience was ready for the night’s headliner.
Chance the Rapper closed out opening day with a confident performance as one of hip-hop’s strongest live performers. His set balanced newer material with fan favourites, giving longtime listeners plenty of moments to sing along. He controlled the stage from beginning to end without relying on flashy production to keep the audience engaged. Instead, his personality and connection with the crowd carried the show.
The first day established exactly what Phillips Backyard does well. The schedule moved smoothly between established artists and emerging talent, giving every performer a chance to shine. Fans moved freely between both stages, sampled local food and Phillips Brewing beer, and settled into an atmosphere that felt relaxed without losing the excitement that comes with live music. It was a strong opening to the weekend and set high expectations for the two days that followed.
Check out our favourite photos of the day below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
CHANCE THE RAPPER
DUCKWORTH
BLUSH
CARTEL MADRAS
MIKEY JOSE
NICKY MACKENZIE
BUKOLA
DACEY
FESTIVAL
All Photo Credit: Kelli Rothwell