Concerts Photos
Emei Brings the Drama to Vancouver on Her Birthday on the ‘Night at the Opera’ Tour
Theatre was always going to be part of Emei’s world. The Chinese-American pop singer has described herself as a lifelong “theater kid,” and at the Vogue Theatre on October 3, that side of her was impossible to miss. Her Night At The Opera tour lived up to its name, turning the Vancouver stop into a colourful, theatrical production that happened to fall on Emei’s birthday.
The night opened with Madelline, whose theatrical pop was an easy match for the evening. She grabbed the room quickly with strong showmanship, upbeat songs and sticky melodies, wrapped in a playful cabaret aesthetic. The audience clearly understood the assignment too, with plenty of fans showing up dressed for the occasion.
Once Emei took the stage, the show unfolded in acts, complete with dancers and enough visual drama to keep the audience guessing. Songs from Night At The Opera sat comfortably alongside older favourites, including “Late to the Party,” “Scatterbrain” and “Love Me Not.”
The birthday theme became part of the show itself. After “Irresponsible,” fans raised handmade banners for Emei, turning the room into a giant birthday card.
Then came the kind of concert moment no production meeting can plan for. During “Late to the Party,” technical problems brought the performance to a stop. Rather than let the silence take over, Emei turned the delay into roughly ten minutes of completely unplanned entertainment. She answered questions from the crowd, talked about her current Lady Gaga obsession and her appreciation for getting some sleep on the tour bus, accepted a crocheted duck from a fan and posed for a group photo with the audience. Of course, the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” too. Once the technical issue was sorted, Emei simply restarted the song and carried on.
Later, during “You Are Bad,” Emei and her two musicians froze onstage as her dancers used the moment to surprise her with a birthday sash. Party hats followed for the guitarist and drummer, prompting another round of “Happy Birthday” from the crowd. An interlude featuring Emei briefly hitting the drums kept the theatrical momentum moving.
The whole thing could have felt chaotic. Instead, it felt personal. I last saw Emei at All Things Go in Toronto in 2025, and I was really excited to her on her own headlining tour. Her command of the stage and her ability to pull a crowd into her world have grown since then. She has the songs, the theatrical instincts and the live confidence to back them up.
If this is only Act 1, I’m very looking forward to see what Emei does next.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
EMEI
MADELLINE
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Photos
Epik High Turns Vancouver’s Orpheum Into a Hip-Hop Party
Epik High brought its 3.0 Tour 2026 to Vancouver’s Orpheum on October 20, delivering a night of sharp lyricism, ridiculous humour and plenty of crowd interaction. With BOBO.XX opening the show, the Korean hip-hop trio proved that more than two decades into their career, they still know how to make a concert feel like a party among friends.
BOBO.XX, a musician and photographer who works on Epik High’s video and content, warmed up the audience with a taste of his own sound before handing the stage over to the headliners. Anticipation grew during the break, and the theatre erupted when Tablo, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz appeared for “High Technology,” followed by “One.”
The group’s chemistry was clear to everyone. Their introductions quickly turned into a comedy routine, complete with DJ Tukutz’s sound effects and playful jabs at one another. Tablo might be the trio’s longtime leader, but Tukutz had recently claimed the title through a band competition, giving the three plenty of material to work with.
That humour carried through the night. Fan-submitted Post-it challenges put the members on the spot, leading to dance covers, awkwardly adorable aegyo and plenty of laughter. The challenges often involved bending the rules, with multiple notes taped together and presented as a single request. The trio’s willingness to make fools of themselves made the audience feel like part of the show rather than spectators.
The music never took a back seat. Tracks such as “ANTIHERO,” “Rosario” and “BURJ KHALIFA” kept the room moving, with the group’s tight delivery matched by DJ Tukutz’s work behind the turntables. The mood shifted for more emotional performances, including “1 Minute, 1 Second” and Mithra Jin’s solo “Will I Be Okay?,” showing a more vulnerable side to the performers.
The most meaningful moment came when Tablo spoke about the group’s long journey. His message was simple: if Epik High could keep pushing forward after 22 years, fans could overcome their own obstacles, too. It gave “Born Hater” an extra punch.
The trio closed with an encore of “EPIKISM” and “Don’t Hate Me,” sending the crowd home smiling. Epik High’s strength lies in the balance between serious musicianship and complete silliness. They can deliver an emotional message one minute and turn a fan-requested dance challenge into a comedy show the next. At the Orpheum, that combination made for a concert that felt personal, unpredictable and a whole lot of fun.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
EPIK HIGH
BOBO.XX
All Photo Credit: Chaehyun Lim
Concerts Photos
Buffalo Traffic Jam at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto
There is something magical about voices matching the season. The excitement of walking up to the Danforth Music Hall on the perfect autumn night, only to be engulfed in raw, emotive rasp.
Lydia Maes really pulled me in. There’s such an emotional quality to her voice. The way she incorporates the saxophone and the way she hypnotizes the crowd. She played a beautiful set and then later came out with her fiddle, to join Buffalo Traffic Jam.
Colin Lynch completely caught me off guard, with a voice that sounds like he sells out stadiums. He’s young, but that soulful, raspy, depth speaks to every age.
Then came the one and only Buffalo Traffic Jam. Gritty, earthy harmonies took over the Danforth and the crowd was electrified. There’s something about their sound that feels both stripped down and warm at the same time, and the moment they started, we were all at their mercy.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
BUFFALO TRAFFIC JAM
COLIN LYNCH
LYDIA MAES
All Photo Credit: Bailey Morgan