Festivals
Osheaga Festival Announces 2024 Headliners: Noah Kahan and SZA, in addition to Green Day!
The OSHEAGA Music and Arts Festival presented by Bell in collaboration with Coors Light is shaping up to be an unforgettable weekend of musical delights! At last, here are the headliners who will be joining Green Day for this year’s festival: Noah Kahan and SZA, both recent GRAMMY nominees.
Hailing from Strafford, Vermont (just south of Montreal), Noah Kahan has made a name for himself as a truth-telling troubadour with a knack for writing catchy songs with unfathomable depths. The “Stick Season” singer has had a meteoric rise since he put out his first single, “Hurt Somebody”, to critical and commercial acclaim! Kahan, whose online buzz has been a veritable phenomenon, has over 22 million monthly listeners, and his music has been the soundtrack to millions of TikToks. With a high energy and twangy sound, Kahan has enjoyed being at the top of the Billboard rock and alternative album charts and has collaborated with some of the best and brightest in the business these days, including Kacey Musgraves, Zach Bryan, and a massive hit with Post Malone. On December 2, Kahan will take the Saturday Night Live stage as musical guest, a gig he said in a 2015 tweet that he would “do anything” for. Fans can look forward to chill-inducing singalong moments when Noah Kahan hits the stage on Friday, August 2 at this summer’s OSHEAGA!
Leading the pack this year with 9 new GRAMMY noms, SZA is one of the world’s biggest superstars at the moment, and despite being somewhat shy about fame, her exceptional live shows have been making headlines around the globe. Born Solána Rowe in St Louis, Mi, SZA grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, where she honed her skills as a performer while studying to be a marine biologist – but her career took a musical turn when she became the first female artist to sign with Top Dawg Entertainment (Kendrick Lamar’s label). Fans will note that this isn’t SZA‘s first OSHEAGA: the singer was part of the stellar lineup back in 2015 as well! Since then, her star has been on the rise in a huge way – her debut album, Ctrl, has remained on the Billboard 200 chart since July 2017. Her follow-up, SOS, became the longest-running No. 1 album by a female artist of the decade, and she’s just getting started. With a fresh take on a classic sound, the singer, who cites legendary vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald and Lauryn Hill as primary influences, will be taking the OSHEAGA stage on Sunday, August 4 as a new queen of soul.
Announced earlier this month, Green Day will be playing their first-ever show in the festival’s history this summer, as they take the stage on Saturday, August 3, for what is sure to be an unforgettable night of pure punk rock bliss on! It has been over 6 years since Green Day last “came around” to play a show in Montreal, leaving the sold-out Bell Centre crowd in awe! Just this past week, the band took over the Grey Cup halftime show in Hamilton, ON for an electrifying performance some of their hits, including “Basket Case” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”. Many spectators claimed Green Day delivered the greatest halftime show in years! Now, with a new album on the horizon called Saviours, the iconic group is preparing a world tour for 2024 that will showcase their searing new material along with anthems from classic albums like Dookie (celebrating 30 years since its release) and American Idiot (that turns 20 next year).
The full OSHEAGA 2024 lineup will be unveiled in the New Year, and single-day tickets will be available. 3-Day tickets are currently available for purchase here.
Festivals
PNE Summer Night Concerts – Pierce The Veil
By the time Pierce The Veil took the stage at Vancouver’s Freedom Mobile Arch on September 5, the place was packed and the anticipation was impossible to miss. As part of the PNE Summer Night Concerts, the San Diego post-hardcore veterans delivered a set that mixed nostalgia and chaos.
The show opened with “May These Noises Startle You in Your Sleep Tonight” and “Hell Above.” From there, the night barely let up. “Bulls in the Bronx” got the crowd going, followed by “Circles” and “I’m Low on Gas and You Need a Jacket.”
There was plenty for longtime fans, too. “I’d Rather Die Than Be Famous,” “Yeah Boy and Doll Face” and “Floral & Fading” reached back into the band’s catalog, while their cover of the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind?” provided one of the evening’s fun surprises.
Visually, Pierce The Veil made the most of the outdoor stage. Tony Perry and Jaime Preciado were constantly moving, throwing themselves around the stage with guitars in hand, while drummer Loniel Robinson provided the thunder behind them. At the centre was Vic Fuentes, whose voice still carries the emotional weight that has defined the band since its early days.
The emotional high point came with “Hold On Till May,” a song that has become deeply personal for many fans as phones went into the air and voices rose across the venue. Predictably, the place lost its mind when they ended with “King for a Day.”
After nearly 20 years, Pierce The Veil still know exactly what their music means to their fans. On this night, Vancouver gave that love right back.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
PIERCE THE VEIL
All Photo Credit: Kelli Rothwell
Festivals
PNE Summer Night Concerts – Train
After almost 10 years away, Train made its highly anticipated return to Vancouver, taking the stage at the PNE as part of the Summer Nights series for an electric night of nostalgia, energy and some of the band’s biggest hits. Nearly 10,000 fans packed the venue to welcome the group back to the city.
With nearly 33 years of performing together, Train proved that its signature sound and undeniable stage presence remain as strong as ever. Currently on the Drops of Jupiter: 25 Years in the Atmosphere Tour, the band is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its iconic album with a set that served as both a celebration of its enduring catalogue and a reminder of why these songs have remained fan favourites for decades.
Opening with “Calling All Angels,” the band quickly launched into a crowd-pleasing run of classics, including “Hey, Soul Sister,” “Marry Me” and “Drive By.” Throughout the night, the set balanced humour and heart, with frontman Pat Monahan connecting with the crowd and reflecting the warmth and personality that have become synonymous with Train’s live performances.
The night ultimately came full circle with the song that started the 25th-anniversary celebration: “Drops of Jupiter.” As the familiar opening notes rang out across the PNE, nearly 10,000 voices joined in, creating a fitting finale to a night that celebrated not only one of Train’s most beloved albums, but an iconic career spanning more than three decades.
Check our our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
TRAIN
All Photo Credit : Jill Meagher