Festivals
The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival Expands 2025 Line-Up, Adding Exciting Local Talent Across All Festival Dates
The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival (GOCF) continues to champion fresh voices in comedy and live entertainment, today announcing the addition of a stellar lineup of local talent to each 2025 festival weekend. Showcasing a wide range of performances—from stand-up comedy to music and more—these local acts offer festival goers the chance to discover their next favourite performer, while giving rising stars an opportunity to take the stage at one of North America’s premier outdoor festivals, refining their art, gaining valuable experience, and helping to elevate their careers to the next level.
Joining the previously announced 2025 GOCF weekend lineups in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, Calgary, Spokane, and Vancouver, these entertainers bring unique perspectives and high-caliber performances to the festival stages, enhancing the must-see experience of each weekend. This year’s local talent additions features a mix of seasoned and up and coming talent and includes AC-Dixie, Harman B, Backhouse Brass, Rick Bronson, Nathan Chartrey, Cookin’ With Brass, Mama Cutsworth, Delirium Street Party Brass, Sunee Dhaliwal, Dirty Catfish Brass Band, DJ IV, DJ Kav, DJ Matty, DJ O Show, The Drywall Finishing Team, Molly Fi, Chris Griffin, Charles Hall, Brody Jackson, Geoff Kennedy, Noor Kidwai, Sean Lecomber, Leo Martinez Project, Karla Marx, Casey McLain, Todd Ness, Robert Peng, The Reverend Rambler, Robbie Vino, Dale Ward, Jordan Welwood, Paul Woida, Donovan Workun, and Matt Wright.
This year, the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival is introducing new festival enhancements, including VIP Table service, the exclusive VIP Club, and the Skip+ experience, offering fans more ways to enjoy the festival in style. Additionally, limited 3-day passes for all ticket tiers are available, giving fans the opportunity to secure their spot for the entire weekend.
Since 2021, the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival, produced by Trixstar LIVE, has donated over $550,000 to local charities across its markets, fostering a diverse, inclusive, and safe environment that highlights all forms of performance comedy. Through the Great Outdoors Community Fund, the festival continues its commitment to supporting local causes, creating job opportunities, and evolving its green event practices, ensuring accessibility for all attendees.
GREAT OUTDOORS COMEDY FESTIVAL – EDMONTON
Kinsmen Park | July 18-20
Friday, July 18 – Tony Hinchcliffe & The Killers of Kill Tony
Saturday, July 19 (Afternoon) – Trailer Park Boys ft. Bubbles & the Shitrockers, with special guest Jeremy Piven
Saturday, July 19 (Evening) – Anthony Jeselnik, Kumail Nanjiani, Michael Che, Nick Kroll
Sunday, July 20 (Afternoon) – Fortune Feimster, Matteo Lane, Ali Macofsky
Sunday, July 20 (Evening) – John Mulaney, Martin Short
Newly Added: AC-Dixie, Harman B, Rick Bronson, Molly Fi, Sean Lecomber, Karla Marx, Dale Ward, Paul Woida, Donovan Workun, Matt Wright
GREAT OUTDOORS COMEDY FESTIVAL – WINNIPEG
Assiniboine Park | July 18-20
Friday, July 18 – Bert Kreischer, Whitney Cummings, Ms. Pat
Saturday, July 19 – John Mulaney, Jim Gaffigan
Sunday, July 20 (Afternoon) – Trailer Park Boys ft. Bubbles and the Shitrockers, with special guest Jeremy Piven
Sunday, July 20 (Evening) – Theo Von, Dusty Slay, Laura Peek
Newly Added: Mama Cutsworth, Dirty Catfish Brass Band, Brody Jackson, Todd Ness, The Reverend Rambler, Jordan Welwood, Matt Wright
GREAT OUTDOORS COMEDY FESTIVAL – HALIFAX
Garrison Grounds | August 7-10
Thursday, August 7 – Matt Rife & Friends
Friday, August 8 – Matt Rife & Friends (Sold Out)
Saturday, August 9 – Jeff Arcuri and Caitlin Peluffo (Afternoon Show – Doors at 12:00 p.m.)
Saturday, August 9 – Bert Kreischer, Whitney Cummings, Ms. Pat
Sunday, August 10 – John Mulaney, Mike Birbiglia, Nick Kroll, Fred Armisen
Newly Added: Backhouse Brass, DJ IV, Geoff Kennedy, Todd Ness, Robbie Vino, Donovan Workun, Matt Wright
GREAT OUTDOORS COMEDY FESTIVAL – CALGARY
Prince’s Island Park | August 22-24
Friday, August 22 – Dr. Phil LIVE! and Mark Normand, featuring Ms. Pat, and Grace O’Malley
Saturday, August 23 – Theo Von, Chelcie Lynn, Kam Patterson (Two Shows)
Sunday, August 24 – Bert Kreischer, Whitney Cummings, Derrick Stroup
Newly Added: Delirium Street Party Brass, Sunee Dhaliwal, DJ Kav, Brody Jackson, Noor Kidwai, Leo Martinez Project, Todd Ness
GREAT OUTDOORS COMEDY FESTIVAL – SPOKANE
One Spokane Stadium | August 22-23
Friday, August 22 – Matt Rife & Friends
Saturday, August 23 – Bert Kreischer, Fortune Feimster, Derrick Stroup
Newly Added: Nathan Chartrey, DJ Matty, The Drywall Finishing Team, Charles Hall, Casey McLain
GREAT OUTDOORS COMEDY FESTIVAL – VANCOUVER
Stanley Park | September 12-14
Friday, September 12 – Bert Kreischer, Whitney Cummings, Derrick Stroup
Saturday, September 13 – John Mulaney, Mike Birbiglia, Nick Kroll, Fred Armisen
Sunday, September 14 (Afternoon) – Trailer Park Boys ft. Bubbles and the Shitrockers, with special guest Jeremy Piven
Sunday, September 14 (Evening) – Tony Hinchcliffe & The Killers of Kill Tony
Newly Added: Cookin’ With Brass, DJ O Show, Chris Griffin, Leo Martinez Project, Todd Ness, Robert Peng, Donovan Workun
Festivals
Coachella 2026 Set Times Are Out, With Jack White Added to Weekend One
The schedule for the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is here, and weekend one is already looking packed. Music starts at 1 p.m. PST on Friday, April 10, kicking off three days of tight set clashes, late-night headliners, and one surprise addition.
Headliners Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G lead the bill across the weekend. Carpenter opens things on Friday with a 9:05 p.m. set on the Coachella Stage, running just over 90 minutes. She’s followed by Anyma, who takes over at midnight to debut a new production titled “Æden.”
Saturday belongs to Bieber, who closes out the night with an 11:25 p.m. start. Before that, The Strokes hit the same stage at 9 p.m. Sunday wraps with Karol G, with competing sets from BIGBANG and Kaskade pulling fans in different directions.
The big curveball this year is Jack White, who joins the lineup for a Saturday afternoon slot. He’ll open the Mojave Stage at 3 p.m., marking a return to the festival after last headlining as a solo act in 2015. His appearance follows a recent run of surprise bookings at Coachella, a trend that’s become part of the festival’s identity.
Saturday night also brings Nine Inch Noize—a collaboration between Trent Reznor and Boys Noize—to the Sahara Tent for an 8 p.m. set.
Elsewhere, Coachella is leaning into immersive experiences. A new installation tied to Radiohead, called “Radiohead Motion Picture House: Kid A Mnesia,” will debut near the Sahara Tent. The 75-minute film blends visuals and audio pulled from the recording era of their albums Kid A and Amnesiac, created by Thom Yorke and longtime collaborator Stanley Donwood. It’s free with a reservation, with standby access for anyone willing to wait.
Beyond the headliners, the real challenge this year is picking a path through the schedule. Set conflicts are everywhere: David Byrne vs. Interpol, FKA twigs vs. The Rapture, and a crowded overlap featuring The xx, Dijon, Ninajirachi, DEVO, and more. Late Saturday gets especially messy with PinkPantheress going up against The Strokes, and Sunday throws in clashes like Moby vs. Turnstile.
A few lineup tweaks round things out. Foster the People move to Sunday, and new additions include Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Afrojack x Smiza, Deep Dish, and more.
Weekend two set times are still under wraps. For now, weekend one already looks like a scheduling headache, in the best way.
More information on the festival’s website.
Festivals
Morrissey and The Smashing Pumpkins to Headline Darker Waves 2026
Morrissey and The Smashing Pumpkins will headline Darker Waves Festival on November 14, 2026 in Huntington Beach, CA. Returning to Huntington Beach City Beach at Huntington Street and Pacific Coast Highway, the ocean-side festival will feature legendary performances from over 35 artists across three stages including Simple Minds, Bad Religion, Adam Ant, The Psychedelic Furs, Soft Cell, The Damned, Manic Street Preachers, Gary Numan, Silversun Pickups, Buzzcocks, EMF, Circle Jerks, Spacehog, Marky Ramone and more. Fans can sign up now for the festival SMS list at DarkerWavesFest.com to receive a passcode to the presale beginning Thursday, April 2 at 10am PT with access to the lowest-priced GA tickets from 10am to 11am PT. GA, GA+, VIP, and Ultimate VIP Tickets will be available, with layaway payment plans starting at $19.99 down. Any remaining tickets will go on sale to the public following the presale.
GA+ tickets include access to the exclusive GA+ Lounge with shaded seating and air-conditioned restrooms, plus a dedicated entry lane at the festival main entrance, and more. VIP tickets include unlimited entry into the VIP Lounge with preferred viewing area by the main stage, charging stations, air-conditioned restrooms, dedicated entry lane at the festival main entrance and more. Ultimate VIP tickets feature all amenities of VIP, plus access to elevated and unobstructed views of both main stages with shaded open lounge seating, dedicated VIP concierge team, a complimentary locker to store personal items, three complimentary drinks including choice of craft cocktails, beer, wine or non-alcoholic beverages, a complimentary meal redeemable for exclusive food options in the VIP Lounge and more.
Official Darker Waves vacation packages from Jampack pair GA, GA+, or VIP tickets with beachfront stays at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa or The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, and more. Bundles include a dedicated entrance, re-entry access, and commemorative merch.
For tickets and the full list of amenities available in each ticket package, please visit DarkerWavesFest.com.