Concerts Photos
Mt. Joy at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby
On August 19, Mt. Joy brought their 2025 headlining tour to Deer Lake Park in Burnaby, filling the hillside with indie folk-rock jams and good vibes. The Philadelphia-born five-piece, touring in support of their latest record Hope We Have Fun, delivered a set that balanced fresh tracks with fan favourites.
The band split their performance into two sets, giving fans plenty of time to soak in the mix of new material and older tracks. They opened with “Pink Lady” before moving through early standouts like “Jenny Jenkins” and “I’m Your Wreck.” The crowd responded in kind, singing and swaying as the band shifted between slow-burn ballads and extended jams. Jackie Miclau’s keys added a psychedelic shimmer throughout, especially on “Ruins” and “Dirty Love,” while Matt Quinn’s vocals carried both tenderness and grit.
Set two leaned into their 2022 album Orange Blood and this year’s Hope We Have Fun. Songs like “Julia” and “Lucy” drew some of the biggest reactions of the night, with Quinn pausing to speak about friendship and community before “Lucy,” earning loud cheers. A playful snippet of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away” slipped into “Mt. Joy,” and by the time “Silver Lining” closed the main set, the audience was in full voice.
For the encore, the band pulled a surprise with Wheatus’s “Teenage Dirtbag,” sparking a sing-along, before ending with the fan-favourite “Astrovan.” Mt. Joy has managed to turn Deer Lake Park into one big campfire jam.
Upcoming tour dates:
August 22 – Hayden Homes Amphitheater – Bend, OR
August 23 – The Greek Theatre – Berkeley, CA
August 24 – Santa Barbara Bowl – Santa Barbara, CA
August 26 – The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park – San Diego, CA
September 11 – Budweiser Stage – Toronto, ON
September 12 – September 14 – Borderland Music Festival – East Aurora, NY
September 13 – United Center – Chicago, IL
September 16 – The Armory – Minneapolis, MN
September 17 – Kohl Center – Madison, WI
September 20 – TD Garden – Boston, MA
September 23 – Koka Booth Amphitheatre – Cary, NC
September 24 – ExploreAsheville.com Arena – Asheville, NC
September 26 – TD Pavilion at The Mann – Philadelphia, PA
September 27 – TD Pavilion at The Mann – Philadelphia, PA
More info on their website.
Check our our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
MT. JOY
All Photo Credit: Bailey Morgan
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
Concerts Photos
Sabaton Bring Fire and Fury to Vancouver on North American Tour Finale
After many many years away from Vancouver, Sabaton returned to the PNE Forum on October 8 for a fiery night of heavy metal, military-themed theatrics and massive sing-alongs. The Swedish metal band chose the city to close out its North American tour, and it went out with a bang.
Opening the night was Pop Evil, whose modern hard rock offered a different sound from the headliner’s power metal. Tracks like “Trenches” brought plenty of energy, giving the crowd a reason to get moving before the main event. Their heavier riffs and commanding stage presence made for a solid start to the evening despite the low lighting.
Sabaton wasted little time making its return count. Kicking off with “Ghost Division,” the band delivered a wall of sound backed by pounding drums, sharp guitar riffs and bursts of fire that lit up the Forum. The stage, complete with military-inspired hardware, gave the performance the feel of a full-scale production rather than a standard metal concert.
Frontman Joakim Brodén led the charge with his unmistakable voice and natural sense of showmanship. Songs like “The Last Stand,” “Stormtroopers” and “Night Witches” showcased the band’s knack for turning historical stories into anthems built for thousands of voices. The crowd happily did its part, singing along throughout the night.
The spectacle never distracted from the music. Flames punctuated the band’s heaviest moments, adding extra intensity to “Bismarck,” “Fields of Verdun” and “The Attack of the Dead Men.” For the latter, the band leaned into the song’s subject matter with gas masks, adding another theatrical touch to an already explosive set.
The closing stretch was pure Sabaton. “Swedish Pagans” brought another huge audience sing-along before “Primo Victoria” and “To Hell and Back” sent the Forum into the night at full volume.
After seven years, Sabaton gave Vancouver plenty of reasons to welcome them back. Closing the North American tour with a performance this tight, loud and entertaining was a fitting end to the run. With commanding vocals, memorable choruses and enough pyro to warm the entire Forum, the band left little doubt that its next visit cannot come soon enough.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
SABATON
POP EVIL
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer