Concerts Photos
Nate Smith at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver
Nate Smith rolled into Vancouver last night for the second-to-last stop of his Through The Smoke tour, and the Orpheum crowd gave him a full-throttle welcome. With festival season around the corner and just one show left in Victoria, this one felt like a send-off party—and Smith brought the heat.
The night kicked off with Preston James, who wasted no time showing off his mix of country, soul, and gritty Southern charm. A Tennessee native with a powerful voice and easy charisma, he won the crowd over fast. His set included heartfelt originals and a cover or two that had people pulling out their phones. I
Then, just after 9, Smith hit the stage like a man on a mission, wearing an amazing custom Canadian leather jacket adorning the O Canada lyrics on one sleeve. No giant video walls. No crazy lasers. Just a full-throttle country rock show. He tore into “Whiskey on You” early in the set, getting the entire crowd on their feet singing—and honestly, it could’ve ended there and people would’ve left happy.
But he kept it going. New single “Nobody Likes Your Girlfriend” hit hard, and “Sleeve” brought a quieter, emotional moment. He then covered “Chasing Cars” in a way that somehow didn’t feel cheesy. He made a giant theatre feel small for a second.
By the time he closed with “World on Fire” and “I Like It,” phones were up, fists were pumping, and Smith looked like he’d left everything he had on stage. Country fans in BC got a treat last night—and if Victoria’s the finale, it’s going to be a hell of a night.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
NATE SMITH
PRESTON JAMES
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Concerts Photos
Wave To Earth Bring ‘the pieces tour’ to Vancouver
By the time Wave to Earth took the stage at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena on September 4, Vancouver was already buzzing. A lineup stretched around the block as fans waited to see the South Korean indie-rock trio kick off the first date of their the pieces tour in the city.
The band’s stage setup immediately set the tone, arranged to look like a cozy living room, complete with windows that opened onto a constantly changing view of the world outside. The clever screens showed footage filmed just outside the arena, creating the illusion that the stage was looking out onto the neighbourhood. Periodically, TransLink buses could be seen passing by, an unexpectedly Vancouver specific detail that made the arena feel intimate.
That sense of intimacy carried into the band’s entrance, with lead singer Daniel Kim stepping onto the stage wearing a UBC Arts cap, a small but memorable nod to the city and its university community.
From the opening notes, Wave to Earth leaned into the warm, laid-back atmosphere that has made their music resonate with fans around the world. The contrast between the arena’s size and the deliberately homey stage design made the show feel like being invited into the band’s living room.
As the opening night of the pieces tour, the Vancouver show set the tone for what promises to be a visually thoughtful and atmospheric run of dates.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
WAVE TO EARTH
All Photo Credit: Kelli Rothwell
Concerts Photos
Goose Brings their ‘Summer Tour’ to the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
Goose brought their 2026 Summer Tour to Vancouver on Tuesday night, turning the Commodore Ballroom into a sweaty, late-night dance party that stretched well past 11 p.m.
The Connecticut-based quartet — Rick Mitarotonda, Peter Anspach, Trevor Weekz and drummer Cotter Ellis — has built a reputation for letting songs breathe onstage, and Vancouver got the full treatment. The band played two sets and an encore, giving the crowd plenty of room to settle into the grooves and watch the songs take unexpected turns.
The first set opened with “Yeti” before moving through “All I Need,” “Turbulence & The Night Rays” and “Time to Flee.” “Everything Must Go” kept things moving before “Hungersite” closed the set with one of the night’s bigger stretches of improvisation.
After a break, Goose returned and launched into “Electric Avenue,” a crowd-pleasing choice that had the Commodore singing along.
There was little interest in rushing through the evening. Goose gave each section space, moving from tight grooves to loose instrumental passages without making the show feel like a collection of extended solos.
For a band coming off a European run and heading into some of its biggest U.S. shows, Vancouver felt like another strong stop on the way. The Commodore may be a much smaller room than Madison Square Garden or SPAC, but Goose seemed perfectly happy to stretch out inside it.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
GOOSE
All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer