Concerts Photos
The Cat Empire at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver
Last night, The Cat Empire turned the Commodore Ballroom into a global block party for the first of two nights in the city. Touring behind Bird in Paradise, their newest album and second release with their refreshed lineup, the long-running Australian collective showed exactly why their reputation as a live band remains untouchable.
Bermuda Search Party opened the night with a solid, brass-heavy groove set that got the early crowd moving, but it wasn’t until The Cat Empire made their entrance, kicking off with “Blood On The Stage,” that the party truly kicked off. Frontman Felix Riebl and keyboardist Ollie McGill, the two remaining original members, led a stage full of seasoned musicians who each took turns stealing the spotlight.
The setlist jumped from old favourites like “The Chariot” ( with Bermuda Search party joining the band on stage for this track) to newer songs like “Bird In Paradise” and “Going To Live,” mixing ska, jazz, Afrobeat, and Latin rhythms into something uniquely their own. It’s hard to overstate how tight the band sounded. Every breakdown, horn solo, and tempo change hit clean.
The emotional centre of the night came with “Be With You Again,” a tribute to Riebl’s late brother Max. The room softened for a few minutes, before erupting again in joy as the band pushed into a dancey encore medley and ended with “All Night Loud.”
The Cat Empire is still evolving, and still throwing some of the best live shows you’ll ever see!
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Jun 15, 2025 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
Jun 17, 2025 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre
Jun 18, 2025 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club
Jun 19, 2025 – Stanley, ID – Sawtooth Valley Gathering
Jun 20, 2025 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Commonwealth Room
Jun 21, 2025 – Bellvue, CO – The Mishawaka
Jun 23, 2025 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
Jun 24, 2025 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line
Jun 26, 2025 – Oshkosh, WI – Leach Amphitheater (Waterfest at Riverside Park)
Jun 27, 2025 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
Jun 28, 2025 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest
Jun 29, 2025 – Kalamazoo, MI – Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Bell’s Beer Garden Concert Series)
Jun 30, 2025 – Toronto, ON – The Danforth Music Hall
Jul 2, 2025 – Montreal, QC – MTELUS (Montréal Jazz Festival)
Jul 4, 2025 – Calgary, AB – Calgary Stampede
Jul 5, 2025 – Quebec City, QC – Festival d’été de Québec
Jul 6, 2025 – Alma, QC – Festirame
Jul 8, 2025 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair
Jul 9, 2025 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
Jul 10, 2025 – Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Bluesfest
Jul 12, 2025 – Winnipeg, MB – Winnipeg Folk Festival
More information on their website.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
THE CAT EMPIRE
BERMUDA SEARCH PARTY
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