Concerts Reviews
Saint Levant at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver – Live Review
Photos by Kelli Rothwell
Words by Sean Skibb
There are nights where you can walk the streets of Vancouver, and get a sense that someone is in town. It’s the kind of feeling you get when a big event is happening—when you see a sea of Canucks jerseys heading in the same direction, you know it’s game night. When stetsons flood the sidewalks, Shania Twain has arrived. But on Friday night, October 4th, the unmistakable sign of the evening was the Palestinian keffiyeh peppering the streets and side-streets of the Granville Entertainment District. And it was clear that the someone of the night was Saint Levant.
Saint Levant brought an electrifying sense of urgency and connection to Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom on Friday night, where he delivered a rousing performance that was as much an act of solidarity as it was a musical celebration. With his unique blend of Palestinian, Serbian, French, and Algerian heritage, Saint Levant’s multilingual prowess was on full display as he moved through his catalog, flowing effortlessly between Arabic, French & English, touching on themes of identity, displacement, and love in his emotionally charged tracks. Songs like “Very Few Friends” and “From Gaza, With Love” resonated deeply with the audience, a majority of whom donned Palestinian keffiyehs, and waved Palestinian and Lebanese flags in solidarity, in a powerful statement just days before the anniversary of a year-long genocide in Gaza. Despite the setlist being relatively short—nine songs in total—there was little sense of dissatisfaction. Instead, what unfolded was a shared experience of resilience and community, bound together by Levant‘s raw energy and undeniable stage presence.
Though brief, the set was as much a rallying cry as it was a concert—an urgent reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by the Palestinian people, his own people, delivered with the conviction of an artist who grew up amidst the conflict of the Second Intifada uprising. In the lead up to the poignant “From Gaza, With Love,” Levant invited the crowd into a moment of reflective solidarity, followed immediately by the near deafening chants of a unified crowd, demanding a “Free Palestine”. Closing with “Deira,” the energy in the room never wavered, the atmosphere electric with the strength of those who came not just to hear music, but to express their part in a movement. In a city where music often serves as a temporary escape, Levant’s performance offered something deeper: an experience of collective resilience, a message to a crowd to whom the only perceptible global change has been an addition of another flag to wave in solidarity, a powerful assertion that in the face of immense hardship, hope, strength, and yes, even joy can still be found.
Check out favourite photos of the night of Saint Levant and opener Lina below, or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
SAINT LEVANT
LINA
All Photo Credit: Kelli Rothwell
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Benee Brings Her ‘Particule Tour’ to the Hollywood Theatre in Vancouver
The Hollywood Theatre, Vancouver | March 4, 2026
BAYLI
Opening for BENEE was singer, songwriter, and rapper Bayli! Formerly part of “The Skins,” Bayli has been touring as a solo act since 2019, reaping acclaim for songs like “Passenger Princess” and “SUGARCOAT.” The first thing we thought when dipping our toe through her back catalog this week was how much she encapsulated Robyn’s recent line that “The purpose of [her] life is to stay horny.” That’s very much Bayli’s vibe; her songs are sexy, bordering on erotic. Her brand of EDM-pop is rooted in “explicit queerness” and while she has rejected any one label, her music is for and relatable to everyone. Also, again, very, very, horny.
If You Only Listen by One Song by Bayli:
“Sushi For Breakfast” (Stories from New York, 2020)
Here are a few photos of Bayli that we hope you enjoy!
BENEE
On Wednesday, March 4, BENEE returned to Vancouver to support her 2026 headlining Particles Tour which began earlier this month. A mind-blowing five years after the release of her debut album, BENEE is once again on the road and hitting 23 cities in North America. We were lucky enough to shoot her June 2022 show at The Vogue, and we’ve been patiently waiting for another chance to see her live ever since! We waited through COVID for that show to be rescheduled, we waited 5 years to see her again and, hand to heart, we’ll happily wait until she returns again!
Must Hear Songs by BENEE (In Our Respectful Opinion):
Wishful Thinking (Fire on Marzz, 2019)
Soaked (Fire on Marzz, 2019)
One of BENEE’s more endearing traits is her comfortability and overall contentment on the stage. Still rocking oversized boots and long sleeves, she seemed at home in front of the crowd, dancing through the shadows the minimal lighting provided. And smiling! Always smiling. Whether it was thanking her fans for taking the time to make an adorable sign or – and I’m not saying I understand how we got here – speaking about Canada and leading the entire venue through an impromptu round of “Oh Canada” she cleared enjoyed her time in Vancouver.
BENEE’s latest album continues to experiment with genres, mixing upbeat pop with lighter, more experimental melodies. Perhaps unsurprisingly, her shows are never one-note as she moves back and forth between these sounds, creating a “what’s next” situation where it’s beyond difficult to get bored or into anything resembling a sleepy rhythm. Her show is visually dark, and moody, and there is smoke! But there is a lot coming at you, and a lot to love.
Benee Setlist:
Sad Boiii
Cinnamon
Vegas
Beach Boy
Wishful Thinking
Soaked
Doomsday
Demons
Prey4U
Animal
Heaven
Make You Sick (Snippet)
Glitter
Princess
Underwater
Afterthought (Joji cover)
Supalonely
Off The Rails
Play Video
Green Honda
Once again, we had an incredible night at The Hollywood Theatre and loved every moment of the show. Thank you, BENEE! Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
All Photo Credit: Jason Martin
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: A Sold-Out Night of Performance Art With Sudan Archives
Words by Kali Moreno
Photos by Kelli Rothwell
A sold-out night at The Pearl set the tone for a show that felt half concert, half art installation. Sudan Archives brought her genre-blurring world to Vancouver following the release of The BPM in 2025, with support from Cain Culto.
Cain Culto confidently navigated an energetic, multi-media set backed by Indigenous, Latin American, and Bluegrass influences – what he calls Kentucky Latin Art-Pop. As he gradually shed layers of clothing, he added homemade props to deliver his song’s messages of empowerment and resistance in both Spanish and English. His musical skills as a vocalist and violinist, paired with his artistic expression as a visual artist, created a riveting piece of performance art.
Dressed in a skin-tight, full body suit and wearing otherworldly grey contact lenses, Sudan Archives commanded a sold-out stage for her one-woman set at The Pearl. The deeply human themes of her songs, which sit in genre around house, techno, and R&B, were shared with the rowdy audience alongside recurring mechanical sounds and choreographed robotic movements. This examination of technology and humanity reminded that her artistry and expression transcend her talents as a singer, violinist, and beat-maker. Sudan Archives performed three encore songs, jumping off the stage to dance with the screaming crowd before leaving Vancouver with the parting words: “y’all are fucking lit.”
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
02-18 San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom
02-19 San Diego, CA – Music Box
02-20 Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre
More info on Sudan Archives’ website.
SUDAN ARCHIVES
CAIN CULTO
All Photo Credit: Kelli Rothwell