It’s be a great summer of music on the South Island and the city-wide good vibes on day four of Rifflandia seemed to have pushed the weekend clouds away and ensured we ended the festival season on a warm, comfortable and relaxed note.
The de facto Riff opening act, The Choir, once again greeted guests with their signature choral arrangement of popular and indie hits. It was a nice, familiar admittance that seemed to say, “Welcome back. It’s nice to see you again”.
At the Rifftop Tent, local high school phenoms from the Vic High R&B Band put on a funky, stylish performance that demonstrated a level of talent greater than their age would have you believe was possible. A+, guys.
Indigenous artist Iskwe was next up on the main stage with a powerful, resonant set that mixed a traditional native sound with modern pop sensibilities into a truly beautiful and inspiring combination.
Under the Tent, Chattanooga, Tennessee native Johnny Balik showed he has a true R&B soul trapped inside a bit of a hipstery body. Balik’s easy grooves and funky soul were the perfect pairing for the warm, humid afternoon, giving us one more kick at the summer can.
The whole of Sunday had an optimistic, upbeat feeling as festival favourite Chad VanGaalen took to the main stage with his signature brand of straight-ahead indie-rock. The smell that filled the park during VanGaalen’s set may have been coming from the enduring upside down UP house that was all over the festival scene this year, but I don’t think so. For some Riff-goers, October 17 doesn’t seem to get here fast enough.
Radio-favs The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer turned their set at the Rifftop Tent in a good ol’ family cookout with a bluesy, harmonica-fueled rock that begged to be paired with a cold glass of sweet tea. While on the main stage, Edmonton’s Nehiyawak rocked the crowd with a booming, epic, storytelling sound that honored their indigenous history while adding a contemporary, prog-rock bent.
Surf-hipsters The Zolas then hit the Tent with a rollicking set that probably would have been just as much at home on the main stage if that honor hadn’t been bestowed on supersonic pop-babe Lights who wowed the crowd with a dreamy, contemporary and charmingly youthful exuberance.
Back at the Rifftop Tent, the sleeper-hit of the festival and Victoria’s new favourite DJ, Beardyman, beatboxed, looped and laughed his way into the city’s heart. With an almost preternatural talent, I think it’s safe to say Beardyman took the uninitiated by surprise (author included). If you’ve heard the Smashing Pumpkins song ‘Zero’ a lot since Sunday, I can tell you exactly why.
Finally, Current Swell and their band of friends (get it?) filled the main stage for the very last time at Rifflandia #11. Playing their own audience-favourite hits, Current Swell were joined on stage by members of Carmanah, Jon and Roy and the Metchosin One himself (I never tire of that name), Jesse Roper to bring their own flavor to the festivities.
As a sweet and poignant love letter the region’s vibrant scene, the final act by a who’s who of local talent was a unifying and electrifying exclamation point on a festival season that brought homegrown talent to their rightful place in the forefront.
Rifflandia 11 ended on a positive, upbeat and harmonizing note thanks to the outstanding acts and familial crowds. Thanks for a great summer, Victoria. We should do this again some time.
