Festivals
Redwest Festival 2025 Recap & Photos
Redwest Country Music Festival 2025 took over Salt Lake City October 10–12, and from the second gates opened, it was clear: this was the country lineup of the fall. Fans showed up early, boots laced and voices warmed, ready to scream every lyric for three straight days.
Friday kicked off under calm skies. The warm-up acts: Noah Rinker, Willow Avalon, Waylon Wyatt, Ella Langley, each earned their moment under the lights, warming up the crowd and proving the undercard was no afterthought. Then Kacey Musgraves headlined, and she delivered exactly what people came for: a polished set that leaned as much on atmosphere as it did on hits. The Utah crowd seemed transfixed, swaying in unity under a sky brushed with pink dusk. She managed to turn the fairground into an ethereal dream.
By Saturday, things went sideways. Lightning storms rolled in, thunder cracking overhead, forcing organizers to cancel large portions of the day, Post Malone included. Chaos overtook the stage: a scramble for safety, tents shredded by wind, mud mixing with despair. Fans huddled under makeshift cover, drenched and heartbroken. The mood shifted fast, from hype to heartbreak, in a matter of minutes.
Amid that disaster, though, there was a deeper blow: a 23-year-old concertgoer named Ava Ahlander was killed in a freak accident during the evacuation. A plank from nearby scaffolding, likely torn loose by gale winds, struck her as she sought shelter near her car. She later died from her injuries. The tragedy cast a long shadow over the festival, reminding everyone how fragile these moments can be.
And then Sunday came to save the story. The skies cleared. The ground dried (mostly). The crowd, starved for something to believe in, came back.
The Band Perry hit the stage and owned it, nostalgia, power vocals, and a crowd that sang so loudly it practically became a backing track. The energy felt huge, and everyone knew the weekend was just getting started. They even did a surprise cover of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” and cowboys and girls went wild.
The crowd starved for redemption and the festival roared back to life. Avery Anna and Sam Barber not only debuted a brand-new song, but they also delivered a massive crowd moment during “Indigo”.
By the time Noah Kahan closed out the night with his own set, Redwest was fully resurrected. Every song was a sing-along. Every lyric echoed back at him. Then, Avery Anna walks on stage. Together, they delivered a breathtaking duet of “If We Were Vampires,” and suddenly the entire festival felt intimate, as thousands of people silently took it in before screaming the last chorus.
The storm may have wrecked Saturday, but Sunday made everyone forget, proving the right lineup and the right crowd can still turn chaos into magic.
Boots muddy, hearts full. Redwest, we’ll be back next year!
Check out our favorite photos of the festival below or head to our Facebook page for the full galleries of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!
FRIDAY
Kacey Musgraves
Ella Langley
Waylon Wyatt
Willow Avalon
Noah Rinker
SATURDAY
Ole 60
Ty Myers
Hudson Westbrook
Cameron Whitcomb
Sons Of Habit
SUNDAY
Noah Kahan
Sam Barber
Avery Anna
The Band Perry
Vincent Mason
Braxton Keith
Jonah Kagen
All Photo Credit: Colin Hancock
Festivals
PNE Summer Night Concerts – Pierce The Veil
By the time Pierce The Veil took the stage at Vancouver’s Freedom Mobile Arch on September 5, the place was packed and the anticipation was impossible to miss. As part of the PNE Summer Night Concerts, the San Diego post-hardcore veterans delivered a set that mixed nostalgia and chaos.
The show opened with “May These Noises Startle You in Your Sleep Tonight” and “Hell Above.” From there, the night barely let up. “Bulls in the Bronx” got the crowd going, followed by “Circles” and “I’m Low on Gas and You Need a Jacket.”
There was plenty for longtime fans, too. “I’d Rather Die Than Be Famous,” “Yeah Boy and Doll Face” and “Floral & Fading” reached back into the band’s catalog, while their cover of the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind?” provided one of the evening’s fun surprises.
Visually, Pierce The Veil made the most of the outdoor stage. Tony Perry and Jaime Preciado were constantly moving, throwing themselves around the stage with guitars in hand, while drummer Loniel Robinson provided the thunder behind them. At the centre was Vic Fuentes, whose voice still carries the emotional weight that has defined the band since its early days.
The emotional high point came with “Hold On Till May,” a song that has become deeply personal for many fans as phones went into the air and voices rose across the venue. Predictably, the place lost its mind when they ended with “King for a Day.”
After nearly 20 years, Pierce The Veil still know exactly what their music means to their fans. On this night, Vancouver gave that love right back.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
PIERCE THE VEIL
All Photo Credit: Kelli Rothwell
Festivals
PNE Summer Night Concerts – Train
After almost 10 years away, Train made its highly anticipated return to Vancouver, taking the stage at the PNE as part of the Summer Nights series for an electric night of nostalgia, energy and some of the band’s biggest hits. Nearly 10,000 fans packed the venue to welcome the group back to the city.
With nearly 33 years of performing together, Train proved that its signature sound and undeniable stage presence remain as strong as ever. Currently on the Drops of Jupiter: 25 Years in the Atmosphere Tour, the band is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its iconic album with a set that served as both a celebration of its enduring catalogue and a reminder of why these songs have remained fan favourites for decades.
Opening with “Calling All Angels,” the band quickly launched into a crowd-pleasing run of classics, including “Hey, Soul Sister,” “Marry Me” and “Drive By.” Throughout the night, the set balanced humour and heart, with frontman Pat Monahan connecting with the crowd and reflecting the warmth and personality that have become synonymous with Train’s live performances.
The night ultimately came full circle with the song that started the 25th-anniversary celebration: “Drops of Jupiter.” As the familiar opening notes rang out across the PNE, nearly 10,000 voices joined in, creating a fitting finale to a night that celebrated not only one of Train’s most beloved albums, but an iconic career spanning more than three decades.
Check our our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
TRAIN
All Photo Credit : Jill Meagher