Last night, I had the chance to photograph Alestorm at the Commodore Ballroom, and honestly, it was one of the most fun shows I’ve shot in a long time.

From the second the band hit the stage, the energy in the room was unreal. The crowd was singing every word, throwing their hands in the air, and fully embracing the pirate-themed chaos that Alestorm is known for. It felt like one massive party where everyone was in on the same joke.

As a photographer, this show was packed with great moments. Between the colourful lighting, the band’s larger-than-life stage presence, and the nonstop crowd interaction, there was always something happening. Every time I thought I had captured my favourite shot of the night, another moment would unfold right in front of me.

One thing that really stood out was how connected the band was with the audience. You could tell the fans weren’t just there to watch. They were there to be part of the experience. Looking around the room and seeing hundreds of people singing together made it clear why Alestorm has built such a loyal following over the years.

My favourite photos ended up being the ones that captured that connection. The laughter, the singalongs, the raised hands, and the pure excitement on people’s faces told the story of the night better than any stage setup ever could.

Alestorm brought the music, the fun, and the chaos in the best possible way. If you ever get the chance to see them live, be ready for a night that’s equal parts concert and pirate adventure.

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

ALESTORM

All Photo Credit: Raphael Arthur

The Vogue Theatre, Vancouver | May 28, 2026

THOT Squad

Opening for Qveen Herby was rapper and songwriter THOT Squad (also known as Blvck Bunnie) who is best known for their 2023 viral hit “Pound Cake” which recently featured in the hit video game “Dispatch.” It’s great, THOT is great, we were late to the party, and we blame everyone we have ever talked to. Why didn’t anyone tell us?

The best way to describe a THOT Squad show (if it can be described) is that Harvey is 50% rapper, 50% singer, and somehow checks math also an additional 64% personality. They’re a lot! Wigs, tops, boots, there’s a lot going on (and in another gut punch to reasonable math) somehow even more coming off. Does removing multiple layers count as costume changes? We’ve no idea!

While leaning up against the edge of what’s appropriate for some of the younger people in the audience (was this an all-ages show?) the crowd was certainly down to sing along with THOT Squad, although one song did consist of a single word (c*nt) repeated for several minutes over and over. Their songs are dripping with emotion and heartfelt content, clearly written during points of their life where scream singing about an ex-partner or punching the stage was the best form of relief available.

Their props were excellent (we don’t understand how her shape light wands worked) and it’s great anytime an artist gets into the crowd with their fans. Entertaining doesn’t begin to describe the set, we just know they need to be booked at every festival this summer because their energy is a perfect match. What a fun opener, and a great way to settle in for a night at The Vogue.

Qveen Herby

The star of the show and the artist everyone stood in line to see (the sold-out show was absolutely PACKED to capacity before THOT Squad even took the stage, not something you see at every show these days) was rapper, singer, songwriter and, as far as I can tell, burlesque sensation Qveen Herby. Making her first ever tour stop in Vancouver at the always amazing Vogue Theatre, Qveen Herby brought her enthusiastic, over-the-top show to fans that have been waiting an ETERNITY to see her perform live.

Starting behind a screen for a song’s worth of shadow dancing, Qveen Herby bounced through “Sensational” before boarding her cruise ship for a quick ride and another song. We’ve seen artists that take their visuals extremely seriously, and Qveen does that. We’ve also seen artists who have a budget for set design and props, and you can tell Qveen’s people have put in both time and effort. What sets her show apart is the tone; more than anything else, Qveen Herby wants her show to be joyful. Colorful costumes, playful backdrops, everything has a little bit of whimsy. There is a volcano! Sailors to assist her! Nothing is dull, or lazy, or overcomplicated.

Must Hear Songs by Qveen Herby (In Our Humble Opinion):

• “The Fool” ft/ THOT Squad (Isle of Qveen, 2026)
• Overnight ft/ Richard Carter (Single, 2026)
• Happy Healed Hoe (Single, 2026)

Vocally, Qveen Herby is a masterpiece. She can rap – proper, speedy rap – and it has defined the later half of her career. But then, after a quick costume change, she is lounging on an inflatable clamshell and singing songs from The Little Mermaid. And it works! It wasn’t until some light researching that I discovered she was part of Karmin, who’s hit single “Brokenhearted” topped some American charts over 10 years ago. I swear to God I thought that song featured Kesha! Qveen Herby is an incredible talent and a joy to watch perform live.

Our Qveen Herby joked that she had never played Vancouver before and seemed genuinely taken aback at the warm reception, getting emotional several times during her lengthy setlist. We hope she enjoyed her night at least as much as we did, and we can’t wait for another chance to see her. Come back soon!

Qveen Herby Setlist:

• Intro
• Sensational
• Self Aware
• My SZN
• Vitamins
• Pure Imagination
• The Fool
• Magic
• Hacky Sack
• Thank Goddess
• Taboo
• Little Mermaid
• Preroll
• Beautiful
• F Myself
• Brokenhearted
• Mission
• Sugar Daddy
• Rabbit Hole
• Aura Poppins
• Housewife
• Abracadabra
• Medicine Woman
• High Priestess
• 5D
• Lucky
• Busta Rhymes
• Sade in the 90s
• Overnight
• Marie Antoinette
• Mint

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery. Thanks for attending the show with us, and for checking out our review!

QVEEN HERBY

THOT SQUAD

All Photo Credit: Jason Martin