Festivals
PNE Summer Night Concerts 2025 – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s show at the Pacific Coliseum on August 17 felt like a family reunion for classic rock fans. The Southern rock pioneers, now 50 years on from their landmark debut, brought a setlist stacked with songs that still define the genre, and the Vancouver crowd responded in kind, some dancing in the aisles, others just soaking up the nostalgia.
The band’s current lineup, fronted by Johnny Van Zant with Rickey Medlocke, Damon Johnson, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone, Keith Christopher, Peter Keys, and backing vocalists Carol Chase and Stacy Michelle, carried the Skynyrd legacy with grit and polish. While there are no original members left onstage, the spirit of the music remains intact. Tracks like “What’s Your Name” and “Workin’ for MCA” set the tone early, tight and confident, with guitar licks sharp enough to cut through the arena air.
Mid-set, “That Smell” landed with particular weight, a song forever tied to late founding member Gary Rossington, whose shadow still lingers over the band. The audience sang along to “Tuesday’s Gone” and swayed to “Simple Man,” both delivered with a sincerity that reminded everyone why these songs endure.
Of course, the crowd truly lit up once the familiar chords of “Sweet Home Alabama” rang out. For a few minutes, the Pacific Coliseum turned into one big Southern block party. And then came the inevitable closer: “Free Bird.” That legendary solo still hit like a freight train, closing the night with the kind of catharsis only rock and roll can provide.
Fifty years later, Lynyrd Skynyrd isn’t reinventing the wheel. They don’t need to. They’re keeping the fire burning, and for fans in Vancouver, that was more than enough.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
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!
KAYTRANADA
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