Author Archives: Katelynn Dilday

Why Rifflandia 2025 may be their most meaningful year yet!

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Summer is just around the corner, and with the sunny weather comes a music lover’s favourite time of year, festival season! So many awesome festivals are happening across BC this summer, but this annual Victoria-based festival is doing things a bit differently…

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Rifflandia music and arts festival is held in Victoria every summer, and it’s not something to miss. Since their founding in 2008, they’ve had performances from international superstars including Post Malone, Lorde, Moby, and Charli XCX, to name a few. 

Rifflandia isn’t just interested in hosting large names either. They provide a platform for emerging independent artists, regardless of their mainstream success. Along with the musicians, Rifflandia offers a space for Victoria’s local artisans and food vendors to showcase their work and connect with customers. 

2025 is a special year for Rifflandia, as it marks their 15th festival! To celebrate this great milestone, they’re giving back to the community they’ve called home since the beginning. Sticking to this numerical theme, 15% of this year’s ticket sales will go directly to 15 local organizations that are making all the difference in education, housing, community outreach, youth services, and so much more for Victoria. 

Festival-goers can even choose which group they’d like to support by applying a code at checkout. If no specification is made, that 15% will go to the Rifflandia Foundation, an organization that “aims to increase equity and access to sports, live events, and cultural activities for individuals and communities facing social, economic, or physical barriers.” 

If you’ve been debating checking out the festival, it seems like this year is the year to do it!

Rifflandia 2025 is set to take place in the Rock Bay area of Victoria from September 11th through the 14th. This year’s lineup features over 50 amazing acts, including Sleater-Kinney, Alessia Cara, and Walk Off the Earth, just to name a few!

From giving back to local organizations, to housing local artisans, to drawing in tourists from other areas to support the community, it’s clear that Rifflandia cares so deeply for Victoria and the people who call it home.

 “We are proud to have become a September staple for so many locals and have welcomed tens of thousands of music lovers to Victoria, BC. We serve a diverse and creative music forward community and shine a light on the best of our city. There would be no Rifflandia without Victoria.”

-Rifflandia Festival, via their website

 

BC’s music scene – Beyond Vancouver (part 2)

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When people discuss “BC’s music scene,” it can be difficult not to zoom right in on Vancouver. Almost rightfully so, the scene here is so vibrant and alive, but what about the smaller areas of our province that don’t quite get enough love?

No matter where you are, it’s always a challenge to find community in a new space, especially as an artist, but being in a big city definitely helps. In my research on local and ‘local-adjacent’ artists, I started to wonder about their experiences as artists working outside of BC’s most populated city.

In part one, I spoke with Nanaimo-based singer/songwriter, Charis Tazumi. Moving to BC’s interior, I spoke with Finley Kinghorn of Bucket, a pop-punk band out of Nelson.

When I spoke with Finley, he had a lot to say about both the scenes in Nelson and Vancouver. “I think because there’s a really good music program in Nelson, it’s kind of full of really good musicians, but there’s not a lot of just music fans,” he told me, “it’s sort of a lot of musicians watching other musicians, which is awesome because it just creates so many great bands out here.”

Bucket itself was born out of this same music program, and their first EP, Doorm Room Demos, was recorded entirely in Finley’s dorm. 

While he says Nelson fosters a great community of artists, it can be difficult to find your footing as a band in the smaller scene. “I think that if your goal is to grow a fan base, it can’t really grow that big here,” he says, “the first time I played [in Vancouver] was a few years ago, and I just noticed immediately, there were so many people. It was great to see.”

He notes that the number of younger people involved with Vancouver’s music is particularly refreshing, “there were young people out too that were just so stoked to be watching live music, and you don’t see that as much around here. I thought that was kind of dead, younger kids coming out to see shows.  It’s so, so cool to see out there, especially lately with the indie scene down there. Everyone’s super bought into it, and it kind of branches off into the punk and rock sounds. What’s going on out there is definitely awesome.”

If you’d like to hear more from Bucket, you can check out their featured episode of New Music Now on the Evolution Podcast Network, along with their work on Spotify! They’ve been working on some exciting stuff recently, so I highly recommend you check them out.

BC’s music scene – Beyond Vancouver (part 1)

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If you’ve lived in the Vancouver area for long enough, chances are you’ve seen how active our music scene is. New bands are making their debuts all the time, and fans fill up our different venues nightly. 

No matter where you are, it’s always a challenge to find community in a new space, especially as an artist, but being in a big city definitely helps. With so much of the “BC music scene” being generalized to one area, I wondered how the experience of being an independent musician in other parts of BC differs. I was lucky enough to speak with 2 amazing artists recently: Charis Tazumi, a singer/songwriter from Nanaimo, and Finley Kinghorn of Bucket, an indie pop-punk band from Nelson, to find out more.

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

My conversation with Charis took place after she played a show here at Redgate. It was her second time performing in Vancouver, and though she was a bit nervous, she says she felt super welcomed. “It’s intimidating to go to a new city and play your music where you don’t know a lot of people,” She told me, “but I felt really embraced. I found that the energy at that show was just so heartwarming and supportive. I feel lucky.”

When I asked her about her experiences in Vancouver compared to her experiences on the island, she said there are many similarities.“Both [feel] very warm, very communal. People really want to support local art, and they make an effort to do that in both cities.” 

And as to the differences, she noted, “from what I have seen going to shows in Vancouver, it [is] just a different vibe. It felt really intimate. I felt really vulnerable, is what I’ll say. Not to say that there’s not that vulnerability in the Victoria scene…but it’s just different.” 

To hear more from Charis, you can check out her featured episode of New Music Now on the Evolution Podcast Network. As well as her debut, In Subtle Ways, on Spotify. I had such an amazing time chatting with her, I really think you’ll love to hear what she has to say. 

While the differences between Vancouver and the Island may be fairly small, it leads me to wonder how things may differ up in our interior. You can check out part two of this article to hear a bit from Finley Kinghorn of West-Kooteney-based band Bucket!

Is this local event the start of a wider movement for Vancouver’s music scene?

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There’s a new event happening in Vancouver, and its organizers claim it “redefines how we experience music.”

Curious? Well, so were the hundreds who filled up Caffe Artigiano Roundhouse on the morning of May 11th for Outlier’s first-ever Morning After daytime coffee party. The free event ran from 11am to 2pm and featured house music sets from three local DJs: Johnny Jover, Clu, and VStar. Attendees could grab a coffee, socialize, dance, or just hang out and enjoy the music. 

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While the event was free to attend, guests were prompted to RSVP online to ensure the cafe wouldn’t be overcrowded. The guest list was maxed out at 530 people registered, and while that doesn’t confirm how many were actually in attendance, videos posted to Outlier’s social media show the space was packed!

So, who exactly is Outlier? According to their Partiful profile, they’re “re-defining event spaces, music, and culture,” and “creating a space where wellness and culture overlap.”

In a number of promotional posts on social media, Outlier said, “the music scene is evolving.” They promised “a fresh wave” was coming, and with it would come “new spaces, new energy,” and “something totally different.”

While it’s hard to say for sure how much of an impact they’ll have based on this event alone, it definitely seems promising for new things to come. People have shown their support and excitement for the fresh ideas coming from Outlier. 

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It’s especially refreshing to see an event like this in a time when people feel so isolated. It’s already notoriously hard to make friends in Vancouver, and with other factors like high prices, work schedules, and the alcohol-centered nature of most live events, it can be easy for many to feel excluded from the scene. 

In recent years, sobriety, as well as just cutting back on one’s alcohol consumption, has been on the rise, especially among older Gen Zs. With this de-emphasis on drinking for many, I can only imagine sober events like this will increase as time goes on. Aside from Outlier, groups like the Club Soda Collective have been forming around Vancouver. This offers more inclusive and accessible events for those who, for whatever reason, may not feel comfortable in the heavily alcohol-focused environment that many social spaces provide. 

What do you think? Are events like this going to usher in a new era of Vancouver’s music scene? Or is this just a small fad that will lose traction over time? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

What’s next for The Aubreys?

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In late August of 2019, The Aubreys released their first singles, Brother and Afraid to Drink on Bandcamp. Since then, they’ve put out an EP, a handful of singles, and their debut album, Karaoke Alone. But where did the Aubreys start, and where are they headed from here?

The Vancouver-based duo consists of Finn Wolfhard (of Stranger Things fame) and Malcolm Craig. Before forming the Aubreys, the pair made up one half of the short-lived indie band Calpurnia, but they’ve been playing music together for even longer. 

Finn and Malcolm met at just 11 years old on the set of Toronto band PUP’s Guilt Trip music video. They bonded over their shared interest in music and started jamming together shortly after. 

When Calpurnia disbanded in 2019, The Aubreys were born, and they’ve continued to improve their sound with each release. Karaoke Alone is one of my all-time favourite albums, and their most recent singles, Kato and Running (my favourite single they’ve put out yet,) show a lot of promise for their upcoming work.

It’s been over a year since Running dropped, and with limited word from the duo, many wonder if The Aubreys may face the same fate as their prior band, Calpurnia: releasing an amazing single before abruptly disbanding and fading into obscurity. Luckily, Finn and Malcolm have confirmed they’re not going anywhere.

In an interview with Paste Magazine, Finn discussed the band’s creative process. As they’re both so busy with other factors of their lives, they aren’t putting any pressure on themselves to make anything on a strict schedule. When the pair has an idea, they make the time to flesh it out before returning to their other projects until the next idea comes along. 

He says this process is “really creatively stimulating, because it doesn’t feel rushed. It feels like an alive, fun thing that you’re doing.”

Recently, Finn has been focusing on his solo musical debut. He released Choose the Later, the first single off his upcoming album, Happy Birthday, in March 2025. The album is set to release in June, with the first leg of his Objection! tour starting soon after. 

Malcolm says he has been working on his own stuff as well, though it seems to be much less publicly than his co-star.

While you may think pursuing independent projects would deter the duo from working on music together, they say it has had the opposite effect.

“We’ve come to the conclusion that, in order to grow as musicians, we need to also be writing other stuff.” Finn told Paste, “The idea is for both of us to come back to The Aubreys whenever we can, release stuff and then, if we have ideas for other projects, go do those.”

While no new music has been announced, I’m confident that The Aubreys will return eventually, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.

What Red Gate means to me

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Tucked away on Main Street, just a 3 minute drive from Science World, sits a small, grey building. From the outside, it looks pretty boring. But what if I told you this unassuming little spot houses one of the most beloved production and performance spaces in Vancouver’s music scene?

The Red Gate Arts Society first opened on East Hastings in the 2000s and was intended to be an affordable and accessible space for low-income artists to create and perform. Since then, it has survived multiple location changes and bounced back better than ever each time. Red Gate has called their current location at 1965 Main Street home for the last 5 years. 

Red Gate’s back alley – Much less boring than their entrance, right?

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

My first introduction to this venue was in 2023. I was 17 at the time, and convinced my mom to bring me to the city to see one of my favourite bands, The Aubreys, perform alongside other local favourites like Felicia & the Jazz Rejects and Kylie V. I had never been to such an intimate venue before, and I remember being blown away by how strong the sense of community was. It’s hard to describe, but something about the home-grown feel of both the performers and the space we were in made getting involved in Vancouver’s music scene feel possible to me in a way it never had before. 

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

Less than 2 years later, I sat behind Red Gate to interview Kylie V before their show. As I awkwardly stumbled through my prepared questions and listened to their responses, I remember thinking to myself: I’m a real life, fancypants journalist now? When did that happen? 

Honestly, it still makes my head spin to consider how I’ve gone from living in a small town where the closest thing to a “music scene” is a Metallica cover band playing shows at the local ice rink (shoutout to Metallicats!) to interviewing incredible artists and producing podcasts. Even writing these articles feels surreal to me, and I have Red Gate to thank for first introducing me to the possibility.

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

It’s not just me who’s been impacted by this space. Here’s what some users online have said about Red Gate:

 HANDS DOWN one of the best venues in Vancouver, such a beautiful space for socializing and creating. Great vibes as usual and fun decoration, the staff is also super ultra mega friendly. Much love for the Red Gate crew <3

I love Vancouver, and this place is one of the reasons. Such a vast variety of people, talents, and vibes. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a good time, or want to get to know the people who make up the best part of the city.

Whether you’re looking to be inspired, make new connections, or just catch some great local music, Red Gate is the place to be. For information on upcoming events, you can check out their Instagram or Website.

The concerts that helped me call Vancouver home

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September 1st, 2024. I’m sitting on my couch, scrolling through local event forums. It’s my first full day living in Vancouver, and I want to make the most of my new freedom. The whole city is at my fingertips, but what to do…? 

I stumble across a post promoting an annual event: Victory Square Block Party – this afternoon!

“Sure,” I think to myself, “why not?”

With absolutely zero expectations, I make my way from Burnaby to Gastown, relying on Google Maps to help me navigate each step through this new environment. 

I’m feeling a bit turned around, but I can hear music in the distance. I follow that sound until I find exactly what I was searching for. A vibrant patch of green, with various cool-looking people sprawled across picnic blankets and camping chairs. Ahead of the crowd, there’s a band playing on the small stage, along with a few tents selling small snacks, merchandise, and raffle tickets. 

I find my own patch of grass and take a seat. Most attendees were in groups of 3 or more, but I don’t mind the solitude. I just sit, soak in the sun, and enjoy the music. Before I know it, the sun is starting to set, and the night is coming to a close. Riding the skytrain home, I can’t help but feel inspired by the day I just had. 

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

The Victory Square Block Party is an annual free event put on by CiTR FM and Discorder Magazine, both of which are projects of UBC’s Student Radio Society. 2024 featured performances from local artists, including Lilex & the Apocalips, New Age Doom, and Scarlet Fever, just to name a few.

In my experience, this was the perfect welcome to Vancouver’s music scene. I immediately felt a sense of community. Every one of us was there for the same thing: we love music and want to support local artists. 

By the end of the night, it didn’t matter that I was one of the only people who came alone, or that I was too shy to introduce myself to anyone, or even that my moves were rusty as hell. Victory Square became one big dance party! We grooved, we boogied, dare I say we even jived. It felt like I had found a circle of friends, even just for one night.

Connection

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

For the first few weeks I lived in the city, I spent as many nights as I could at Victory Square. New artists were playing there all the time, until it finally got too cold for outdoor shows and they had to stop for the season.

As the nights get warmer, keep an eye on the Victory Square Events Instagram, where shows are announced. Nothing is official yet, but I’m sure you’ll be able to find me lounging in the grass, listening to some of the best local bands this summer.

Got any Friday plans? Well, you do now!

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Some may say this city is boring, the nightlife is dead, there’s nothing to do. My response? You just don’t know where to look! Vancouver is packed full of events for all different kinds of people. So no matter your style, there’s something out there for you!

So, it’s a Friday night, what’re you up to?

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Emma Goldman album release party @ Red Gate

This Vancouver-based screamo band just released their debut album All You Are is We, and to celebrate, they’re playing a killer all-ages show at the Red Gate Arts Society. With three supporting acts Smuther, Coup D’etat, and Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (what a mouthful!) 

Dog Gone @ Portside

The local indie surf rock band will be playing Portside Pub alongside Christian Peterson Band tonight at 7:00.

Lights @ The Commodore

This Canadian electro-pop artist is headlining the Commodore Ballroom tonight, shortly after the release of her new album, A6. The supporting act is King Mala.

The Exit Strategy @ Back Alley

Three up-and-coming Vancouver punk staples, The Exit Strategy, Chronic Fatigue, and Nitroglcerin will be rocking out tonight, as well as Caveman and the Banshee all the way from Nanaimo!

Feel like dancing? Along with live music, plenty of awesome DJs are playing in the city tonight!

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Good Music Weekends @ Portside

After a live show by Dog Gone, the party keeps rolling with DJ Lupo spinning from 10 pm until 3 am! Portside’s Good Music Weekends are a local favourite.

Cancun Fridays @ The Red Room

The Red Room is home to Vancouver’s longest-running Latin night. Stop by tonight for the best mix of Latin, Brazilian, and Top 40 hits!

Cowgirl Fridays @ Yale Saloon

Feeling more country than Cancun? Not to worry! Tonight is a special edition of their weekly event. To celebrate the release of Blake Shelton’s new album, they’ll be teaching line dances and giving away prizes like signed Blake Shelton merch and $100 bar tab discounts!

Dance Romance @ The Biltmore 

To celebrate her newest release, Mayhem, The Biltmore Cabaret is hosting a Lady Gaga dance night! They promise to play all the Gaga hits, along with tracks from Chappell Roan, Beyonce, and more of pop music’s biggest superstars!

Just Dance Night @ The Birdhouse

Just Dance lovers, listen up! The Birdhouse is throwing a party tonight, starting with a Just Dance power hour! The hit dance-along game will be projected for everyone to follow along and show off their skills.

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This is just a small handful of the killer events happening around town tonight! With so many different venues in this city, the possibilities are endless. So…do you still think Vancouver’s boring?

“RIP Grimes, you would’ve loved Grimes”

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Claire Elise Boucher, Grimes, as you may know her, is one of the most polarizing artists in the alternative scene of the last decade. But did you know she was born and raised right here in Vancouver?

Her breakout album, Visions, which earned her a JUNO nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, as well as the #1 spot on Pitchfork’s 200 best tracks of the decade so far (2014) continues to influence the world of electronic and alternative music to this day, yet the creative process she claims to have gone through to produce it is…questionable to say the least.

According to her Spotify artist profile, Visions was “recorded during a 2 week speed binge wherein she did not leave her bedroom.” This same profile highlights when she “lived in a crack den in Montreal with no heat (where she got frostbite twice and her neighbor was bludgeoned to death in the hallway.)” While some read this bio and laugh, others consider it to be in poor taste. 

If you’re unfamiliar with her music, chances are you recognize her for her long-term partnership with the infamous Tesla CEO, Elon Musk. From 2018-2022, Grimes was in an on-again, off-again relationship with Musk, and the pair have 3 children together. 

Many claim Grimes spent her early career “cosplaying poverty” to appear more artistic despite coming from familial wealth.

She’s also been criticized for her rapidly shifting political values. The most glaring example being when she made public appearances sporting the Communist Manifesto after her first split with Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, and arguably the face of modern capitalism. 

To add to her growing list of controversies, Grimes was under fire for multiple comments, including her repeatedly defending her pride in “white culture.” She attempted to refute claims of naziism in a (now deleted) tweet, which only worsened public reception of the artist.

In January of this year, she released a statement on X apologizing for her previous comments, saying, “I very much denounce Nazi-ism and white supremacy. I am sorry I didn’t take this more seriously sooner, I did not realize the extent of the issue.”

Despite these examples merely scratching the surface of the many controversial moments throughout her career, Grimes still has an incredibly active fan base. Some defend her previous actions, while others fully denounce them. This has sparked a running joke among fans saying, “RIP Grimes, you would’ve loved Grimes.”

As a huge fan of her Visions era work myself, I find my stance on her conflicting. Not only does this tie into a wider discussion regarding cancel culture and whether or not one can “separate the art from the artist,” but it also leaves me to wonder what parts of her public persona (if any) are even sincere.

If one gains publicity by making statements they may not even fully align with, is this still a reflection of their true nature? Even if it is, is it my responsibility to care? At the end of the day, such questions can really only be answered by the individual.

No matter how, if at all, you choose to react to Grimes’ behaviour, there is no denying the impact she has had on both her fans and the music industry in general throughout the years. From Vancouver private schools to Montreal crack dens to Silicon Valley, the one constant we can expect from her is that we have no clue what’s coming next.

Your guide to the 2025 PNE Summer Concerts Series

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Summer is just around the corner, and with that comes the annual Summer Night Concerts series at the PNE. Each year provides a stacked lineup full of amazing artists to see. Previous acts include TLC, the Beach Boys, Billy Idol, and so many more.

With over a dozen talented artists set to play this year, it’s looking like 2025 is not a summer you’re gonna want to miss.

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So, who’s scheduled for this year?

Counting Crows

This San Francisco rock band, known best for Mr. Jones and Rain King, is set to take the stage on August 16th as a stop on their The Complete Sweets tour.

 

Lynyrd Skynyrd

After over 50 years of success, this classic Florida rock group is still at it! Their fan base expands across all generations and will no doubt be filling up the PNE’s Pacific Coliseum on August 17th.

 

Flo Rida

The Hip-Hop and Pop icon, who’s responsible for countless record-breaking hits of the 2010s and beyond, is back by popular demand! He’ll be performing on August 22nd.

 

Marianas Trench

These local legends, known for their chart-toppers like Stutter, Fallout, and Who Do You Love? Will be making a stop in their hometown on August 24th before embarking on the Australian leg of their Force of Nature tour. 

 

Wilco

The Chicago-based, Grammy Award winning, indie rock group, known for their cult classic 2001 release, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, will be performing on August 27th.

 

Foreigner

Similar to Lynyrd Skynyrd, featured above, this band has been around for decades and is still going strong. Headlining many arena tours over recent years, I’m sure this is a show you won’t want to miss. They’ll be playing on August 28th.

 

Meghan Trainor

This pop superstar is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her breakout album, Title, this year by remastering the project along with releasing a live EP. She’ll be performing hits from Title and her 5 other studio albums here in Vancouver on August 30th.

 

Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Returning to Vancouver after their November performance at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena, this indie folk band, known best for It’s Called Freefall, Cocaine Jesus, and Painkillers, is set to take the stage on September 1st. 

RKS

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

 

Who are you looking forward to most? Personally, I’m hoping to catch Wilco and Rainbow Kitten Surprise, but I’d be happy going to pretty much any concert I can.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning (May 9th) at 10, so set your alarms!

For the full list of performers, along with other events happening this summer, you can visit pne.ca