Vancouver Music Festival Roundup: Part One

Summer is finally here… and with it comes the obligatory music festival season we know you’ve been waiting for. On our Notable radar, a choice few festivals we think you ought to consider heading out of town to attend…

First up, why not head to the Keloha Music & Arts Festival taking place less than two weeks from now in the always-sunny Okanagan (July 6-8). That’s right, one of BC’s newest festivals is set to bring a plethora of entertainment, art, music and much more to this gorgeous lakefront locale. There will be music from more than 26 different indie, folk, pop, rock and alternative bands and an island-style theme to help set the mood. Look for the Tokyo Police Club, Cold War Kids, Said the Whale, Hey Ocean and Juno winner Dan Mangan to round out a great list of talents taking the stage. The Lake Okanagan’s stunning backdrop will provide the perfect setting that will ultimately be transformed to echo a truly inspiring oasis of island-chic with more than 25 artisans on-hand helping to add to the laid back vibes. For more info on passes and to view the entire line-up of events, accommodations and more, click here.

Taking place that same weekend (and a bit closer to home) is the Summer Playland Festival at the PNE. With acts such as current Canadian pop sensation (who happens to be from BC) Carly Rae Jepson set to take one of two stages alongside Marianas Trench, Gym Class Heroes, Dragonettes, One Republic, Cobra Starship and plenty more. Be sure to book yourself in for a weekend fuelled by old-fashioned fair-style fun; your $60 ticket to the festival scores you access to the park, all rides and more – so there’s no excuse not to unleash your inner kid.

The following weekend, pack your best beach blanket, sunscreen, prairie dress and head over to Jericho Beach in Kitsilano to grab yourself a spot at the 35th Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival taking place July 13 to 15th. Always a laid-back, fun festival done in true west coast style, this year features more than 60 different acts taking various stages. Look for Ani DiFranco, K’naan, Serena Ryder, Lucinda Williams and many more.

Looking for a destination for the August long weekend (August 3-5)? Look no further than this post and nab a few of the remaining day passes to attend the second annual Centre of Gravity party taking place in Kelowna. Touted as Canada’s “hottest beach fest,” this is weekend-long event guarantees the perfect mix of the outdoors, sun, sports, music and fun. Expect to find around 20 of the biggest names in hip-hop, dance and electronic music in attendance (look for acts like Lupe Fiasco, Nero, Morgan Page, and Bloody Beetroots for starters). If you’re looking for an adrenaline fix, be sure to check out one of the many sport-minded zones (they’ll have beach volleyball, dirt bike demos, wakeboarding competitions and more).   

It ain’t over yet. We’ll round-up the remaining summer festival options around YVR in our next post…