Festivals
Osheaga Festival Announces 2024 Headliners: Noah Kahan and SZA, in addition to Green Day!
The OSHEAGA Music and Arts Festival presented by Bell in collaboration with Coors Light is shaping up to be an unforgettable weekend of musical delights! At last, here are the headliners who will be joining Green Day for this year’s festival: Noah Kahan and SZA, both recent GRAMMY nominees.
Hailing from Strafford, Vermont (just south of Montreal), Noah Kahan has made a name for himself as a truth-telling troubadour with a knack for writing catchy songs with unfathomable depths. The “Stick Season” singer has had a meteoric rise since he put out his first single, “Hurt Somebody”, to critical and commercial acclaim! Kahan, whose online buzz has been a veritable phenomenon, has over 22 million monthly listeners, and his music has been the soundtrack to millions of TikToks. With a high energy and twangy sound, Kahan has enjoyed being at the top of the Billboard rock and alternative album charts and has collaborated with some of the best and brightest in the business these days, including Kacey Musgraves, Zach Bryan, and a massive hit with Post Malone. On December 2, Kahan will take the Saturday Night Live stage as musical guest, a gig he said in a 2015 tweet that he would “do anything” for. Fans can look forward to chill-inducing singalong moments when Noah Kahan hits the stage on Friday, August 2 at this summer’s OSHEAGA!
Leading the pack this year with 9 new GRAMMY noms, SZA is one of the world’s biggest superstars at the moment, and despite being somewhat shy about fame, her exceptional live shows have been making headlines around the globe. Born Solána Rowe in St Louis, Mi, SZA grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, where she honed her skills as a performer while studying to be a marine biologist – but her career took a musical turn when she became the first female artist to sign with Top Dawg Entertainment (Kendrick Lamar’s label). Fans will note that this isn’t SZA‘s first OSHEAGA: the singer was part of the stellar lineup back in 2015 as well! Since then, her star has been on the rise in a huge way – her debut album, Ctrl, has remained on the Billboard 200 chart since July 2017. Her follow-up, SOS, became the longest-running No. 1 album by a female artist of the decade, and she’s just getting started. With a fresh take on a classic sound, the singer, who cites legendary vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald and Lauryn Hill as primary influences, will be taking the OSHEAGA stage on Sunday, August 4 as a new queen of soul.
Announced earlier this month, Green Day will be playing their first-ever show in the festival’s history this summer, as they take the stage on Saturday, August 3, for what is sure to be an unforgettable night of pure punk rock bliss on! It has been over 6 years since Green Day last “came around” to play a show in Montreal, leaving the sold-out Bell Centre crowd in awe! Just this past week, the band took over the Grey Cup halftime show in Hamilton, ON for an electrifying performance some of their hits, including “Basket Case” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”. Many spectators claimed Green Day delivered the greatest halftime show in years! Now, with a new album on the horizon called Saviours, the iconic group is preparing a world tour for 2024 that will showcase their searing new material along with anthems from classic albums like Dookie (celebrating 30 years since its release) and American Idiot (that turns 20 next year).
The full OSHEAGA 2024 lineup will be unveiled in the New Year, and single-day tickets will be available. 3-Day tickets are currently available for purchase here.
Festivals
FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver – Kx5 and SG Lewis
The FIFA Fan Festival™ shifted into concert mode on July 17 as Vancouver welcomed one of the festival’s Signature Concert nights. After weeks of blending live music with FIFA World Cup action, Friday’s schedule focused entirely on the evening lineup, giving fans a chance to enjoy a full night of electronic music at the amphitheatre.
The gates opened at 5 p.m., with Shades of Day kicking things odd. Vancouver artist Grayson Repp followed at 6:30 p.m. Repp did exactly what an opening act should do, warming up the growing crowd and setting the tone for the night. As more fans poured into the festival grounds, the atmosphere steadily built toward the evening’s headline performance.
SG Lewis started at 7:30 p.m., bringing his signature mix of house, disco, and electronic pop. His smooth production and dance-friendly set kept the energy climbing, with the audience fully embracing the chance to dance in the new amphitheatre. By the end of his performance, the venue had transformed into a massive outdoor dance floor.
The night’s main attraction arrived at 9 p.m. as Kx5 took over the stage. The collaboration between Deadmau5 and Kaskade has become one of the biggest names in electronic music, and their performance lived up to the anticipation. Massive visuals, pyrotechnics, synchronized lighting, and booming production turned the FIFA Fan Festival into a festival within a festival. Fans packed the amphitheatre from the floor to the lawn, singing along when vocals appeared and raising their hands as the bass echoed across the PNE.
Unlike many of the FIFA Fan Festival days that balanced football broadcasts with music throughout the afternoon, July 17 belonged entirely to the concert experience. From Grayson Repp‘s early set to SG Lewis‘ polished performance and Kx5‘s high-powered finale, the Signature Concert delivered one of the biggest musical highlights of the Vancouver Fan Festival.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Kx5
SG LEWIS
GRAYSON REPP
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Festivals
Phillips Backyard Music Festival – Day 3 Recap & Photos
The final day of Phillips Backyard Music Festival brought another full afternoon and evening of music, giving fans one last chance to enjoy one of British Columbia’s best summer festivals. After two successful days, the crowds returned in large numbers, and there was little sign that anyone was running out of energy.
Darrian Gerard opened the Main Stage, welcoming early arrivals with an upbeat performance that got the final day started on the right foot. Shortly afterward, Amulet began the Music BC Stage programming before Fake Shark took over the Main Stage. The Vancouver rock band got the audience moving quickly, as usual. Their fast-paced set injected fresh energy into the afternoon and produced one of the liveliest crowds of the day.
Both stages remained busy with performances from Infidelity, the highly anticipated Angine de Poitrine, Chopping Spree, and Runner. One of the strengths of Phillips Backyard has always been its commitment to showcasing artists from British Columbia alongside nationally recognized names, and Sunday’s schedule reflected that balance well. Fans who wandered between stages were rewarded with several impressive discoveries throughout the afternoon.
Wolf Parade returned to Victoria with a performance that reminded everyone why the band continues to hold such an important place in Canadian indie rock. Their songs translated well to the outdoor setting, and longtime fans sang along throughout the set. The band sounded tight, confident, and completely in control, making their performance one of the standout moments before the headliner.
Modest Mouse closed the festival with exactly the kind of performance many fans had been waiting all weekend to see. Their set mixed well-known favourites with deeper cuts, keeping longtime listeners happy while giving newer fans a chance to experience one of indie rock’s defining live acts. The band’s sound filled the festival grounds, and the audience stayed engaged until the final notes.
As the last songs ended, it was clear that Phillips Backyard had delivered another successful edition. The festival once again struck the right balance between established touring artists and homegrown talent, giving both equal opportunities to connect with the audience. Combined with excellent weather, smooth organization, quality food and drinks, and a relaxed setting that encouraged people to stay all day, the festival closed its 2026 edition on a high note.
Check out our favourite photos of the day below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery! You can find our recap and photos of Day 1 here and Day 2 here.
MODEST MOUSE
WOLF PARADE
RUNNER
CHOPPING SPREE
ANGINE DE POITRINE
INFIDELITY
FAKE SHARK
AMULET
DARRIAN GERARD
FESTIVAL
All Photo Credit: Kelli Rothwell