Rocktographers wants you to kick off your Rifflandia right. With over 150 artists playing over 20 stages, there is the proverbial “something for everyone,” but we’ll be your guide to some of the (often hidden) gems to be discovered in such a huge festival.
Decisions are hard and that’s why Rocktographers is here to help you. Here’s who to see at Rifflandia 2016 on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Here are our picks for Thursday, September 15.
Illvis Freshly
8:00PM, Thursday, 15th
Phillips Backyard
Illvis Freshly is a funky, bass heavy, hip hop monster. They’ve blended the classic sample heavy hip hop sound of the 90s with live rock n roll guitar, rapping, and turntablisim. The two MCs, Danimal House and Doc Zoo, bring high energy, raw, and unforgiving lyrics with complex flows and a wide variety of content and themes. DJ Mt Doyle is always on point mixing samples and keeping the party live. Phil Lyons absolutely shreds the guitar, captivating the crowd with face melting riffs and his ridiculously entertaining antics.
Plus, his mom had this to say:
Caleb Hart
8:30PM, Thursday, 15th
ANIÁN Yard
Winner of Do250’s Road to Riff contest for a slot at the Rifflandia Music Festival is Trinidad and Tobago’s Caleb Hart. It was clear that this reggae rocker was going to win the battle of the bands style contest early in his set when he did an amazing cover of Matisyahu and Shaggy. Caleb Hart and his band put on a fantastic and entertaining set. If you like reggae, ska, or just good vibes this is the set to kick off your Rifflandia with.
Lovecoast
9:30PM, Thursday, 15th
ANIÁN Yard
The Zone’s Band of the Month for April (click here to download their entire new EP), Lovecoast is a gaggle of Nanaimo-based musicians who blend new pop and old soul into a ridiculously happy, catchy sound. Danielle, Mike, Andrew, Jesse, and Phil are always fun for Rocktographers to cover live.
Maverick Cinema
9:30PM, Thursday, 15th
Studio CMCT at The Mint
Nanaimo’s indie folk duo Maverick Cinema have been popping up quite a bit in the Victoria music scene lately. Maybe that’s because they’ve just put out a fantastic debut album called Sanctuary with some help from Mike Edel and Juno award winning producer, Colin Stewart. Their set at Studio CMCT promises to be an intimate and powerful performance in a unique location.
Little India
10:30PM, Thursday, 15th
Victoria Events Centre
Hailing from Vancouver, Little India will be bringing their vibrant sound to the Victoria Event Center on Thursday night. Mixing intricate indie rock with samples and obvious ’80s and nostalgic rock influences, this band is a force to be reckoned with. We can’t wait to hear a mix of old and new, with their forthcoming album Neon Jungle set to be released this fall.
De La Soul
11:00PM, Thursday, 15th
Phillips Backyard
Long Island hip hop legends De La Soul cement their status as Victoria festival favourites, closing out the Phillips stage for night one of the festival. Veterans of both Rifflandia and the Backyard Weekender, MCs Posdnuos, Dave and Maseo once again bring their conscious flow to the masses. Set to wow the crowd with iconic jams like “Me Myself and I” and the Gorillaz’ “Feel Good Inc.”, De La knows the stakes is high when it comes to kicking off another year of Riff.