music festivals

Lorde dances on stage Sunday, Sept. 18, during the final day of Rifflandia 2022 at Royal Athletic Park. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Lorde sends off Victoria’s Rifflandia music festival in style

Thousands filled Royal Athletic Park for the final day of the festival

 

Wide Mouth Mason performs at Laketown Rock 2022. (Robert Porter/RMS Media)

Laketown Rock thrills thousands of concert-goers

Tom Cochrane, John Fogerty and more

 

Festival goers leave Worthy Farm in Somerset, England, Monday June 27, 2022, following the Glastonbury Festival. Organizers at Canada’s summer music festivals say even as pandemic restrictions lift and live concerts return to some semblance of normalcy, it’s anything but normal behind the scenes. (Photo from the Canadian Press)

From travel woes to inflation, music festivals face most unpredictable summer yet

Several factors make putting together a festival more tumultuous, costly and unpredictable

 

Arkells perform at Laketown Shakedown in Youbou over the 2022 Canada Day long weekend. (Robert Porter/RMS Media photo)

Fans flooded Laketown Ranch for Laketown Shakedown

Wu-Tang Clan, Arkells and more

Arkells perform at Laketown Shakedown in Youbou over the 2022 Canada Day long weekend. (Robert Porter/RMS Media photo)
Laura Jayne’s work, “SHE,” has been unveiled as the Vancouver Island MusicFest’s official poster for the 2022 event.

Island artist Laura Jayne designs 2022 Vancouver Island MusicFest poster

With the return of its live festival this July, Vancouver Island MusicFest…

Laura Jayne’s work, “SHE,” has been unveiled as the Vancouver Island MusicFest’s official poster for the 2022 event.
Left, Owen Hogg and Alora Killam dance to Michael Bublé’s version of the Leonard Cohen classic “I’m Your Man” . Right, Rose Spivack performs “Polish Dance (Op. 82)” by Edmund Severn.

Cowichan Music Festival’s best shine at Highlights Concert

Festival was limited to one Highlights Concert in 2022

Left, Owen Hogg and Alora Killam dance to Michael Bublé’s version of the Leonard Cohen classic “I’m Your Man” . Right, Rose Spivack performs “Polish Dance (Op. 82)” by Edmund Severn.
A colourful float makes its way down Ste. Catherine St. during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Montreal, Sunday, March 22, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Students, festival organizers make masks a choice as Canada nears St. Patrick’s Day

Return of the Irish holiday doesn’t come without risks, even though provinces have lifted mandates

A colourful float makes its way down Ste. Catherine St. during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Montreal, Sunday, March 22, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Tim McGraw sings “Something Like That” in a video posted to Youtube.com. The American artist is booked to perform during the 2022 Rockin River Fest in Merritt, B.C.

Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker headline summer’s Rockin River Fest in flood-hit Merritt

‘Now more than ever, we need things to be excited about,’ city’s mayor says

Tim McGraw sings “Something Like That” in a video posted to Youtube.com. The American artist is booked to perform during the 2022 Rockin River Fest in Merritt, B.C.
Cecile Doo Kingue, from Montreal, will be playing guitar along with singing. Photo supplied

All-star blues women to headline Vancouver Island MusicFest on first night

Shakura S’Aida is bringing many friends to the Comox Valley to sing and play the blues

Cecile Doo Kingue, from Montreal, will be playing guitar along with singing. Photo supplied
Bass Coast raised $21,100 for disaster relief; music festival is back for 2022 (Photo - basscoast.ca)

Merritt’s Bass Coast raises more than $20,000 for flood relief; festival back for 2022

The festival will run from July 8-11

Bass Coast raised $21,100 for disaster relief; music festival is back for 2022 (Photo - basscoast.ca)
Darius Rucker is the headliner for Sunfest 2022. (Photo courtesy of dariusrucker.com)

Darius Rucker to headline Sunfest 2022

Cowichan Valley also welcomes Dallas Smith, Billy Currington Hardy, Kip Moore

Darius Rucker is the headliner for Sunfest 2022. (Photo courtesy of dariusrucker.com)
The youthful exuberance is not limited to the on-stage performers. 16-year-old Devon Cox has been a wizard behind the scenes, doing the majority of the filming and editing for the upcoming festival. Photo supplied

Plenty new at the 2021 Vancouver Island MusicFest

Black Press to stream 25 hours of music July 9-11

The youthful exuberance is not limited to the on-stage performers. 16-year-old Devon Cox has been a wizard behind the scenes, doing the majority of the filming and editing for the upcoming festival. Photo supplied
Rita Coolidge played the main stage at Vancouver Island Musicfest in 2017. (Black Press file photo)

This year’s Vancouver Island MusicFest to virtually showcase beauty of Comox Valley

Returning July 9 through 11 with more than 25 hours of music performances

Rita Coolidge played the main stage at Vancouver Island Musicfest in 2017. (Black Press file photo)
The organizers of the annual 39 days of July festival hope to return to live shows in Charles Hoey Park this year, like in this photo taken in 2019, but audiences at the show may be limited to 50 people due to health protocols. (File photo)

39 Days of July hoping for outdoor events in Duncan this summer

Annual music festival will run from June 25 to Aug. 2 this year

The organizers of the annual 39 days of July festival hope to return to live shows in Charles Hoey Park this year, like in this photo taken in 2019, but audiences at the show may be limited to 50 people due to health protocols. (File photo)
Rita Coolidge played the main stage at Vancouver Island Musicfest in 2017. The three-day music festival has been cancelled for 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Black Press file photo.

Vancouver Island MusicFest cancelled for 2021

Vancouver Island MusicFest has been shelved for 2021, due to the pandemic.…

Rita Coolidge played the main stage at Vancouver Island Musicfest in 2017. The three-day music festival has been cancelled for 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Black Press file photo.
Shambhala Music Festival has been postponed to 2021. File photo

Virtual Shambhala Music Festival postponed due to allegations of sexual violence

Postponement announced following sexual violence allegations made against performer Billy Kenny

Shambhala Music Festival has been postponed to 2021. File photo
Cha Wa was one of the highlights onstage at last year’s MusicFest. On July 10, organizers are holding an online Facebook celebration to mark the weekend that was supposed to be this year’s festival. Record file photo

Annual music event in Comox Valley celebrates online instead

Vancouver Island MusicFest holds virtual celebration set for July 10

Cha Wa was one of the highlights onstage at last year’s MusicFest. On July 10, organizers are holding an online Facebook celebration to mark the weekend that was supposed to be this year’s festival. Record file photo
Laketown Shakedown and Sunfest have been rescheduled for 2021, with options for ticket holders to receive refunds or credit for future events. (File photo)

Shakedown and Sunfest rescheduled for summer 2021

Ticket holders can get refunds or credit for future events

Laketown Shakedown and Sunfest have been rescheduled for 2021, with options for ticket holders to receive refunds or credit for future events. (File photo)
Shambhala Music Festival has been postponed to 2021. File photo

Shambhala Music Festival postponed to 2021

The popular electronic music event near Nelson announced the news Tuesday

Shambhala Music Festival has been postponed to 2021. File photo
Five Alarm Funk performing at the Islands Folk Festival in 2009 at Providence Farm in Duncan. This year’s Islands Folk Festival has been cancelled due to COVID-19. (Kevin Oke photo)

Islands Folk Festival cancelled in Cowichan for 2020

While we are disappointed, we stand behind the government’s decision

Five Alarm Funk performing at the Islands Folk Festival in 2009 at Providence Farm in Duncan. This year’s Islands Folk Festival has been cancelled due to COVID-19. (Kevin Oke photo)