Festivals
Rifflandia Festival 2025 Recap & Photos
There are few things as synonymous with September as the end of of summer, School starting up again, and the return of sweater weather . But in Victoria, the phrase “September Forever” rings especially true thanks to the yearly Rifflandia Festival. This iconic event draws a wide range of artists across countless genres, cementing it’s place as one of Vancouver Island’s premier music festivals.
Friday Festival go-ers were welcomed in with warm, open arms by the Australian folk group Hollow Coves, who kicked off the day with a foot tap’n performance packed with many wholesome sing a long moments. Their sound feels grounded in the very soil and sand that shaped their journey, painting vivid sonic landscapes rooted in adventure, the ocean, and living free- ideas that resonate deeply on the Island. The crowd was swept further into that spirit when they reached their hit single “Coastline”. The striking acoustic guitars accompanied by some contagiously groovy bass lines, sharp snare and kick drum that are enough to get your foot tap’n on the ground, your your hand on your thigh. But that’s when the duo, Ryan and Matt’s soaring, harmonized vocals and inspiring lyrics that truly warmed the soul, almost send you off on that cross country road trip you have always wanted to take!
First, Greeted with a cartoon version of herself on the big screen, the stage was then blessed with the presence of 2000’s R&B Sensation, Macy Gray, and what a sensation it was! Dressed to impress, and armed with her unmistakable raspy voice, she delivered a hit studded set list spanning her discography. Of course this included the multiple-platinum selling single “I Try”, sending the crowd into a collective sway as they sang along word for word. For a moment, everyone was transported back to the simpler days when the song ruled the airwaves. Nostalgia is a helluva drug, and we were all ridding high off her performance !
How do you follow Macy Gray? I’m not sure that’s a question with no easy answer, but blues rocker – Shakey Graves, had no troubles providing one! He began with his internet-famed “Roll The Bones” in his signature one-man band before being joined by the rest of his band to carve out an original thick cut of Texan rock n’ blue smothered in a dusty folk sauce! Each song sounds like the next chapter in a cowboy diary, written from the front porch with a guitar in hand. As the sun set behind the stage, the restless wanderer’s tales echo over the gazing crowd, pulling us into a journey through the Texan landscape, only to realize as the set came to an end, that we never actually left Victoria.
As the night edged closer to it’s peak, the energy needed one more spark before the the headliners, and The Funk Hunters were answered the call of duty! From the moment the hit the stage, bass was a pump’n, feet were a jump’n, and the energy was palpable! The crowd was in a frenzy! But this was only a little warmup! As quickly as the energy of the crowd rose, The Funk Hunters were joined by the highly respected, and long time collaborator Chali 2na. With his signature baritone voice flowing effortlessly over the thick bass lines and hard hitting synths, conscious rhymes were turned into high-energy, party anthems! This collaboration commands a presence on the dance floor, and the crowd of Rifflandia were all about it ! The table has been set, and the crowd was primed and ready for the main course!
If i were to continue that metaphor, this aged Wagyu was ready to be served! The viewing area was a tightly packed powder keg, awaiting it’s spark. There was an from the crowd, as the band took the stage, and Dj Jahi gave a quick history breakdown of Public Enemy before announcing “WE ARE PUBLIC ENEMY”. Flava Flav stormed the stage with his iconic catch phrase, before breaking into their 1988 smash hit “Don’t Believe the Hype”, and Trust me, the crowd DID believe the hype! The crowd erupted, fully engulfed in the moment before the legend, Chuck D himself appeared to complete the duo. With Dj Juice laying down the classic industrial soundscapes that have define their style, Flava Flav and Chuck D exchange thought provoking, powerful and politically charged messages that ring just as true today in the 1980’s. The crowd was not only listening, but engaging, and chanting right back! The back to Back hits were broken up by some brand new material, showing us that P.E. still had a lot to say! The sheer talent and passion that oozes out of these artist, lead to the pure masterclass of a performance, seeming as if P.E. had never taken a step away from the microphone, or the stage! The impact the words left on the crowd, was seen on the faces of every attendee, just as it has been etched into the DNA of hip-hop it’s self for decades!
As the crowd spilled out into the night, buzzing with excitement for what the next day would bring. Laughter echoed out while friends exchanged stories of their favourite moments from the day. Everywhere you looked festival merch was worn proudly, proof that not only is “September Forever”, but so too is the spirit and love for Rifflandia. When the final note of the weekend fade, the countdown for next year’s Riff- begins!
Check out our favourite photos of the day below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
PUBLIC ENEMY
FUNK HUNTERS
SHAKEY GRAVES
MACY GRAY
HOLLOW COVES
RIFFLANDIA 2025
All Photo Credit: Jordon Chatten
Festivals
All Things Go Toronto 2026 Reveals Daily Schedule Ahead of June Festival Weekend
All Things Go Toronto 2026 has officially shared the daily schedule for its 2026 edition, giving fans a closer look at how the weekend at RBC Amphitheatre will unfold on June 6 and 7.
The festival, which expanded into Toronto in 2025 after building a strong following in the United States, is bringing a lineup packed with indie pop, alternative, and rising Canadian talent. Doors for both days open at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday’s lineup is headlined by Kesha, who closes out the night with a set running from 9:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Before that, hometown favourites The Beaches will take over the stage from 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. The day will also feature performances from Rachel Chinouriri, Holly Humberstone, Sofia Camara, and Bella Kay.
Sunday shifts into a more indie-rock-heavy close with Lorde headlining from 9:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The lead-up includes a stacked evening featuring Wet Leg and Del Water Gap. Earlier in the day, fans can catch sets from Jade LeMac, MOMMA, and Flower Face.
The schedule reveal arrives after months of anticipation surrounding the festival’s Toronto return. Lorde’s appearance comes during a major stretch for the singer following renewed live activity and growing excitement around her next era, while Kesha continues her recent comeback run that has leaned into a more independent and celebratory direction onstage.
With set times now locked in, fans can officially start planning their festival weekend, whether that means camping out for barricade spots, bouncing between artists, or preparing for what could easily become one of Toronto’s biggest music weekends of the summer.
Find more information on the All Things Go Toronto website.
Festivals
Charli XCX, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Twenty One Pilots, Lorde, Skrillex, Kings Of Leon And The xx To Headline The 25th Anniversary Of Austin City Limits Music Festival 2026
In celebration of its 25th Anniversary, Austin City Limits Music Festival has delivered an electrifying 2026 lineup featuring headliners Charli xcx, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Twenty One Pilots, Lorde, Skrillex (W1), Kings of Leon (W2) and The xx. The powerhouse lineup also includes Turnstile, Labrinth, Lola Young, The Chainsmokers, Geese, Young Miko, Bleachers, SOFI TUKKER, Parcels, The War On Drugs, Leon Thomas, Brandon Flowers (W1) and much more. The nine-stage, two weekend celebration of music and community will take place October 2-4 and October 9-11. 3-Day Tickets for both weekends will go on sale at 12pm CT today at www.aclfestival.com.
Austin City Limits Music Festival’s stages are where the next generation of headliners are born, and where music fans can discover the latest surge in up-and-coming talent. This year’s lineup features an incredible array of ones-to-watch talent, including Sienna Spiro (W2), Audrey Hobert, Bella Kay (W2), STELLA LEFTY (W1), Paris Paloma, Skye Newman, Claire Rosinkranz, Rochelle Jordan (W1), Charlotte Lawrence (W2), Molly Santana (W1),Faouzia, Britton (W1), Cassandra Coleman (W2), Sasha Keable (W2), Izzy Escobar (W1), Chelsea Jordan (W2), and more. 2026 also brings an amazing group of Latin artists to Zilker Park, including Young Miko, rusowsky, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Paloma Morphy, Damaris Bojor (W2), Rubio (W1), and more.
For 25 years, ACL Fest has delivered exceptional fan experiences and world-class lineups, all while honoring its Texas roots. This year’s proud homegrown artists include Bo Staloch (W1), World Famous Pets (W2), Calder Allen, Solya (W1), Asleep At The Wheel (W1), DJ Cassandra (W1), Cure For Paranoia (W1), NIGHT TRAVELER (W1), Grocery Bag (W1), Coleman Jennings (W1), lluvii (W2), Montclair (W2), Almost Heaven (W2), Left Lucid (W1), The 4411(W1), The Moriah Sisters (W1), and the Huston Tillotson University Jazz Collective (W2).
Relive 25 years of ACL Fest with us when you channel surf on aclfestival.com/25years!
3-Day General Admission, GA+, VIP and Platinum Tickets, Hotel + Festival Experience, and Group Hospitality Packages will go on sale today at 12pm CT at www.aclfestival.com. Layaway plans are available. 1-Day Tickets will be available at a later date. Music fans ages 8 and under are welcome free of charge to all general admission areas with a ticketed adult. Austin Kiddie Limits programming information will be announced later this summer.
GA+ includes unlimited access to the GA+ Lounge with air-conditioned restrooms, dedicated food for purchase, private bar with drinks for purchase, on-site hospitality team, and a jumbo screen livestreaming festival stages and top sports games. VIP guests will enjoy access to two lounges, which feature viewing decks with elevated sightlines of the two main stages, complimentary all-day beer, seltzer, wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages, complimentary WiFi and mobile chargers, dedicated food vendors for purchase, access to an air-conditioned lounge with relaxed seating and an Official Festival Merchandise store within the VIP East Lounge. Platinum guests will enjoy access to an air-conditioned lounge with relaxed seating, complimentary full-service bar and all-day dining in the Lounge, front-of-stage viewing at 6 stages with complimentary beer and seltzers, golf cart transportation between Platinum festival entrances, Platinum Lounges, and front-of-stage viewing areas, and so much more. A full list of GA, GA+, VIP, and Platinum amenities can be found at www.aclfestival.com/tickets.
Break away and unwind in a dedicated Bungalow located above the VIP viewing deck and overlooking the T-Mobile Stage, complete with lounge seating, complimentary beverages and all-day snacks and dinner buffet, complimentary WiFi, merchandise concierge with festival merchandise delivered directly to your Bungalow, and views of the T-Mobile Stage. The Bungalow package includes 10 tickets with full access to VIP. More information can be found at www.aclfestival.com/tickets.
The newest member of ACL Fest’s Group Hospitality Packages is The Speakeasy Lounge. This premier option allows your group to step into your own private, air-conditioned lounge on the festival grounds, providing an exclusive gathering space for 25–75 guests designed for unforgettable moments. Whether you’re hosting a private celebration, entertaining clients, or gathering your team for the day, this intimate yet vibrant setting offers the perfect blend of comfort, style, and energy just steps away from the buzz of the festival, with access to VIP amenities included. More information can be found at www.aclfestival.com/tickets.
While experiencing all that ACL Fest has to offer, come hang awhile in the shady grove where Bonus Tracks brings the biggest party to the smallest stage at Zilker Park. A haven for culture and connection, the Bonus Tracks stage has become a must-see for festival goers. You can expect all kinds of entertainment from artist interviews, podcast recordings, cooking demos, drag performances, and creative ways to move your body and recharge your mind. Pasthighlights include Brené Brown in conversation with Matthew McConaughey, Dave Grohl and Brett Goldstein, intimate chats with Billie Eilish, Noah Cyrus, Antonio Porowski, Japanese Breakfast and The Beaches, surprise acoustic sets with featured artists from the lineup, high-energy dance parties and line-dance lessons with Bob’s Dance Shop, and the best of Austin Drag hosting bingo and unforgettable shows. Stay tuned for the 2026 lineup and expect the unexpected!
Disney+ and Hulu are the official streaming destinations for this year’s ACL Festival. Catch three days of select live performances, interviews, and much more during Weekend One, October 2-4. Full broadcast lineup and schedule to be announced later this summer.
This year, Spotify and ACL Fest are teaming up to give fans the ultimate festival flex. A new in–app experience will showcase the unique overlap between user listening history and the 2026 ACL Fest Lineup, a custom “Festival Persona” based on their unique listening habits and generate a bespoke playlist that intelligently pairs a fan’s top artists on the lineup. This new partnership brings the best of Spotify to ACL Festival goers who are looking to personalize their festival journey and find their next favorite artist before the first note even hits the stage. Head to Spotify to discover your personalized ACL Festival experience and listen to the Official ACL Festival Playlist here to get yourself ready for the best start to your fest.
Austin City Limits Music Festival is proud to call Zilker Park home. Since 2006, ACL Festival, in partnership with Austin Parks Foundation, has generated more than $79 million towards improvements to Zilker Park and parks across Austin. In 2025, through a percentage of ticket sales, fans of ACL Fest contributed $8.5 million to improving Austin’s public parks, trails, and green spaces. In the coming year, APF will utilize ACL Fest funds to help design and complete park improvement projects across Austin including projects at Chestnut Pocket Park, Grand Meadow Neighborhood Park, and Onion Creek Metropolitan Park in addition to funding sport court improvements across multiple districts. For more information about Austin Parks Foundation’s work in the Austin community and how fans have contributed to Austin’s parks, please visit https://austinparks.org/acl-music-festival/.
Fans can sign up for the ACL Fest SMS and Email Lists to be the first to get new information at www.aclfestival.com and follow social media to stay in the loop on all festival announcements.