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
Montréal Jazz Festival 2026 – Naïka
If you caught Naïka at MTelus just a few months back, you already know how incredible her live energy is. But seeing her step onto the huge outdoor TD Stage at Jazz Fest on June 29th was something else entirely. She went from playing an intimate venue to looking out at a sea of about 30,000 people. You could tell she was genuinely moved by the turnout, and how could she not be, considering the crowd was more than ten times the size of her last show in the city.
She started the set in this beautiful, draping white dress that paid tribute to her French-Haitian roots. It looked amazing, but right after the opening track, she shed the layers for a short skirt and a white top so she could actually move around, dance, and really own the massive stage.
The setlist felt like a perfect journey through her catalog. She hit some of her biggest tracks like “Ma Chérie” and “1+1,” and then completely flipped the mood by playing a gorgeous, soulful cover of “Killing Me Softly” that had us all swaying and singing along to every word. The absolute highlight, though, was when she surprised everyone by bringing Jessie Reyez out to perform “One Track Mind.” The chemistry between them on stage was so cool to see live.
Beyond the music, just standing in that crowd felt special. Looking around, it was a massive mix of people from every background and culture imaginable. It really reminded me of why Montreal’s melting-pot vibe makes festival season so unique. For an independent global artist like Naïka, the whole night felt less like a standard festival set and more like a major milestone moment in her connection with the city.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
NAÏKA AT JAZZFEST MONTREAL
All Photo Credit: Andres Amaya
Festivals
FIFA Fan Festival™ Vancouver – Shakey Graves & Grayson Repp
On June 28, the FIFA Fan Festival™ in Vancouver wrapped up the day with an atmosphere that will be remembered for years. Just after Canada defeated South Africa in dramatic fashion, scoring a last-minute winner to book its place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 for the first time in the country’s history, supporters stayed at the festival ready to celebrate.
The amphitheatre was packed from the moment the music began, and the energy never faded. Fans dressed in red and waving Canadian flags carried the excitement of the match, turning every performance into part of the day’s celebration.
American folk-rock artist Shakey Graves delivered a captivating set that balanced laid-back storytelling with energetic moments. His blend of blues, folk, and Americana fit perfectly with the summer evening, and the crowd responded warmly throughout the performance.
On the Park Stage, Grayson Repp brought his own style to the festival with an engaging performance that drew a steady audience dancing to classics celebratory songs. Together, the two artists provided a fitting soundtrack to a day already filled with unforgettable memories.
Check our our favourite photos of the show below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
SHAKEY GRAVES
GRAYSON REPP
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer