Few things signal the bittersweet end of summer quite like the opening of your local Spirit Halloween, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, that chill in the air, back-to-school season, and the Rifflandia Music Festival.
Rifflandia returns for its fifteenth iteration and one last kick at summer—this year featuring four absolutely jam-packed days and nights of great music, comedy, dance parties, family fun, and what we can only describe as that “September feeling!”
While we plan to catch as many acts as possible during the festival, here are seven we won’t be missing. But you’ll also definitely find us groovin’ in The Dome with Party Grimace, hanging in the comedy tent, and singing along to “Confetti” Charlotte Cardin.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
VICTORIA SYMPHONY PLAYS DAFT PUNK
You read that right — the Victoria Symphony is performing a Daft Punk set on the first night of Rifflandia. If that’s not enough to get you out on a Thursday night, we don’t know what is.
Every year, as we sit on the couch streaming Coachella, we dream of our little seaside city’s symphony reaching the heights of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and taking the main stage at a local music festival.
Well, the dream has finally come true — with a criminally short Thursday night set that we hope lives up to the hype we’ve built up in our heads.
Also, Rocktographers is currently taking bets on what tracks the Symphony will play. The safe money’s on “Get Lucky,”but we’re dying to hear how they tackle “Da Funk.”
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
CANADIAN BEAUTY
You know that meme: “Mom, can we have this?”
“No, we have that at home.”
And the thing at home is… the knock-off version.
Now imagine you couldn’t afford to see Dead & Company at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
Well, guess what? We’ve got that at home — and it’s Canadian Beauty at The Dome.
Canadian Beauty is made up of some of the most talented musicians in Victoria, BC — including Marc Jenkins (leader of The Choir), Esme John (Jon & Roy), Chris Van Sickle (drummer to the stars), Lucky Budd, and Damian Graham. Together, they channel the spirit of the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia, bringing those legendary vibes to life right here at home.
Even if the sky has a touch of grey, it’s worth throwing on your best tie-dye for this set. And no, we definitely won’t be buying any strange balloons in the parking lot beforehand… wait — that’s a Phish thing.
MACY GRAY
There was a time when Macy Gray’s mega-successful single “I Try” seemed to be everywhere—flooding the airwaves, playing non-stop on MuchMusic, and even making it onto the playlist at both of the high school dances we attended. But it wasn’t until we dug deeper into her discography that we truly became enamoured.
The Ohio-born singer has been one of the most influential voices in soul and R&B for nearly three decades, thanks to her unmistakable tone and powerful songwriting. With over ten albums, a Grammy win, and an induction into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2014, Macy Gray continues to evolve and reinvent herself with every new project.
Rifflandia isn’t the first time Macy Gray has graced our city, but it’s the time we’re most excited to see her perform. With the sun setting behind the main stage and her voice soaring across the Matullia Lands, we know there’s going to be magic in the air.
THE DECEDENTS
Rifflandia never fails to book a punk act that makes us go, “What the hell? How did they get them?” We’ve said it before with Iggy Pop, Suicidal Tendencies and even hardcore band Cro-Mags.
The Descendents are pioneers of the pop-punk sound we know and love today. Their signature mix of rapid tempos, catchy hooks, and lyrics that are personal, honest, and often hilariously self-deprecating—covering everything from adolescence to heartbreak to suburban angst—set them apart from the rest.
We’re curious to see if the battle vests will be out, if a mosh pit will break out in the early evening, and—most importantly—if our old Milo Goes to College shirt still fits.
If you’re looking for a good time and a chance to relive your rebellious youth, this is the set for you. Even if your knees hurt now.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
SLEATER-KINNEY
or a long time, it felt like Victoria was the spiritual companion to Portland, OR—with our strong Pacific Northwest roots, bike lanes, craft beer, our love of putting birds on things, and, of course, the fact that we never really grew out of the ’90s. It was only a matter of time before we were visited by Sleater-Kinney.
Yes, we know Sleater-Kinney is from Olympia, WA, and not Portland—but the joke only works that way, okay?
Firmly rooted in the birthplace of the Riot Grrrl movement (and grunge), we’ve always dreamed of Sleater-Kinney gracing the Rifflandia Music Festival stage. Following in the footsteps of other legendary artists from that scene—like Bikini Kill, L7, and Courtney Love—they’re finally here.
Get ready for us to get emotional and scream-sing every word that Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein belt out on Saturday night.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
ARMCHAIR CYNICS
Who thought we’d be checking off a 20-year anniversary this year? Not us — but local legends Armchair Cynics are back to prove they’ve still got it with a reunion performance at Rifflandia, celebrating their seminal 2005 album Killing the Romance.
The younger crowd in the Victoria music scene might not know (or remember) the Armchair Cynics — but they should. Their legacy helped pave the way for so many local bands. They were among the earliest Zone @ 91-3 Bands of the Month, which led to commercial radio play and eventually a signing with 604 Records.
The Rocktographers crew fired up our OG iPods to spin Bang, Surprise Ending, and Coalmine in preparation for this weekend’s show. We’re ready to relive our youth — even if our hairlines have receded a little too far back for the emo swoop.
WALK OFF THE EARTH
Do you ever find yourself wondering why certain bands—especially Canadian ones—never seem to make it to our city? For us, Ontario’s Walk Off the Earth has always been one of those bands.
This indie-pop outfit has been earning critical praise for years, but somehow that never translated to them hopping on a ferry and gracing the Garden City. Well, the wait is finally over — they’re coming to Victoria, BC to perform at Rifflandia Music Festival.
Known for their infectious pop melodies, multi-instrumental talent, tight harmonies, and playful stage presence, Walk Off the Earth blends elements of folk, rock, and reggae into a sound that’s uniquely their own. Their set will be the perfect soundtrack to a Sunday evening — and we can’t wait to dance along with friends under the fading summer light.
The music festival to end all music festivals—Rifflandia—kicks off this Thursday, September 11, and runs through Sunday, September 14. We’ve heard rumblings that it’s close to selling out, so grab your tickets ASAP… or risk a year of serious FOMO. Click here for tickets.
