Top 10 music festivals to consider
As the weather heats up, the options increase as summer season hits full stride.
It’s become a perennial tradition: When the first days of summer roll around, we take a glance at the road ahead, spotting what the music festival season has in store for us in Vancouver and across B.C.
The list of choices grows ever longer each year, with something for every type of budget and for all kinds of ears.
Will you go for the big, all-out bash involving camping and all the trimmings, or will you pick the smaller, more family-minded event close to home for your music adventure this summer?
We picked 10 of the best to consider.
Fvded in the Park
When: July 3-4 Where: Holland Park, Surrey What: Electronic superstar deadmau5 and “noir & B” artist The Weeknd headline this two-day event aiming to please fans of big beats and dark atmospheres.
Why: Great headliners, and added value with rappers Tyler, The Creator and Danny Brown, as well as electro favourites like Flosstradamus, Afrojack and B.C.-bred dubstep monster Excision. Easy access via public transit.
Why not: Surrey. Info: fvdedinthepark.com
Vancouver Island MusicFest
When: July 10-12 Where: Comox Valley Fairgrounds, Courtenay
What: Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, Graham Nash, and Buddy Guy (fresh from the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival) are the big guns at MusicFest this year.
Why: A deep lineup that also includes great B.C. talent, MusicFest is always a strong festival on the roots and folk circuit.
Why not: There are duplicate performers with other festivals on the mainland, for those who would rather avoid the ferry ride.
Info: islandmusicfest.com
Vancouver Folk Music Festival
When: July 17-19 Where: Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver
What: The 38th annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival continues the tradition of multistage folk performances and afternoon workshops.
Why: Top names include Vancouver favourites Said The Whale and Frazey Ford, alongside Richard Thompson, Adam Cohen, Trampled By Turtles and Angelique Kidjo.
Why not: It’s been a rough few years for the VFMF, losing yet another headliner this year (Taj Mahal, due to health reasons) and continuing to struggle with logistical issues.
Info: thefestival.bc.ca
Pemberton Music Festival
When: July 17-19 Where: Pemberton What: The Black Keys, Jane’s Addiction, Kendrick Lamar, Weezer, Jack U (Skrillex and Diplo) and Missy Elliott top the bill at this supersized event returning for a second round with promoter Huka Entertainment at the helm.
Why: Arguably the festival that goes the deepest, featuring an undercard filled with some of last year’s most critically acclaimed (rappers Run The Jewels), this year’s mega-hyped (Aussie rocker Courtney Barnett, Canadian jazzhop trio Badbadnotgood) and some noteworthy legends (De La Soul, Preservation Hall Jazz Band). Also, comedians including Cheech & Chong and Reggie Watts.
Why not: It’s a full weekend commitment, with camping and everything that it entails. For the young and the young at heart, mostly.
Info: pembertonmusicfestival.com
Center of Gravity
When: July 24-26 Where: Kelowna What: The fest kinda formerly known as Keloha (it’s complicated) returns with a sharper focus on electronic artists, with headliners including Diplo, Phantogram and rapper Flo Rida, along with B.C. faves Delhi 2 Dublin.
Why: Bigger, bolder, and beachier. It’s a midsummer bash like only Kelowna can provide (and handle).
Why not: Some of the Keloha charm has been lost with the stronger emphasis on big, brash party mode.
Info: centerofgravity.ca
Rockin’ River Country Music Festival
When: July 30-Aug. 2 Where: Merritt What: Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Big & Rick with Cowboy Troy, B.C.’s Dallas Smith and The Washboard Union take part in this big country bash spread out over four days.
Why: Formerly set in Mission, the Rockin’ River moved to Merritt to rekindle the old flame of the Merritt Mountain Music Festival, extinguished after the 2009 event.
Why not: Actually, yeah, why not? It would be nice to see Merritt get its country groove back for good. (Sorry, Mission.)
Info: rockinriverfest.com
Squamish Valley Music Festival
When: Aug. 7-9 Where: Squamish What: Sam Smith, Mumford & Sons, and Drake headline the sixth year of the popular Squamish fest, organized by brand LIVE and Live Nation.
Why: The convivial, family-friendly fest remains a popular attraction thanks to top-notch production and a site that is hard to beat.
Why not: Pemberton’s poaching of a number of Live Nation acts means, considering the price of admission, a somewhat lacklustre undercard more reminiscent of the early days of Live at Squamish rather than last year’s extravaganza that ushered the fest into the big leagues.
Info: squamishfestival.com
Shambhala
When: Aug. 7-10 Where: Salmo What: The 18th edition of the popular electronic music fest set on a ranch in Salmo features heavy hitters like Skrillex, Datsik and Excision peppered with more experimental acts like Bonobo and a few legends like Mix Master Mike and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Why: Tried, tested and true. Shambhala is a safe haven for electro lovers. Why not: No Bassnectar this year? The popular electro artist is a Shambhala regular, but doesn’t appear on the lineup (yet). Info: shambhalamusicfestival.com
Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival
When: Aug. 14-16 Where: Salmon Arm What: Community-first fest is a little nugget off the beaten path and away from the hubbub. Why: True blue roots here: Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Canned Heat, Current Swell, John Oates, plus a Grateful Dead 50th anniversary celebration jam. Why not: The festival might be lacking one big name (Steve Earle, for example, who pulled out earlier this year for personal reasons) to seal the deal. Info: rootsandblues.ca
Rifflandia
When: Sept. 17-20 Where: Victoria What: Electro dance-party duo Chromeo, The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas and The Voidz, Canadian dance artist Kiesza, and rapper Joey Bada$$ are already on the bill at this big end of summer blowout. Why: The last bash before the leaves turn brown, Rifflandia usually offers great value for your buck and great talent. Why not: By the time you see the full roster, you might have already blown your festival budget. Info: rifflandia.com