Music festival postponed until 2022 over COVID concerns

The Phillips Backyard Double Header, the first Vancouver Island event of its kind to require its patrons to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination before entering the venue, has been postponed until 2022.

The two-day event, which was set for Sept. 10-11 at the Phillips Brewing and Malting Co. on Government Street, “was originally conceived to be a celebration of a return to concerts in British Columbia,” the company said in a statement. “Over the course of this week, it has become clear that we will not be able to produce the event we had planned and dreamed of producing.” Rock acts Black Mountain, The Beaches, U.S. Girls and Metz were among the acts expected to perform.

When it was announced Aug. 6, the Phillips Backyard Double Header made waves with its double-vaccination requirements. That drew some complaints in the community, but brewery owner Matt Phillips told the Times Colonist at the time he made the decision in order to avoid “undue risk.” The rise in COVID-19 cases on Vancouver Island was instrumental in the decision to postpone, the company said Friday.

“We have decided to move these events to summer 2022 … where we hope we will be able to deliver the celebratory event that we first envisioned.”

Get Funk’d, another live event set for the same site, is still going forward at Phillips Brewery on Sept. 25, “but will be subject to regulations from provincial health officers” if those details become available, said producer Darryl Mar of the Victoria Jazz Society. “Right now, we are going ahead.”

It is recommended that guests attending the event, featuring The Funk Hunters, be vaccinated prior to entry, “but that is not mandatory,” Mar said.

Information on rescheduled dates for The Phillips Backyard Double Header will be posted in the coming days. For ticket refunds and information, e-mail info@phillipsbeer.com.