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Tthere’s a ton of live music, much of it free, to check out this summer both in Vancouver and farther afield
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
It’s been less than stellar times for music festivals in Vancouver.
Last year, Fvded in the Park cancelled and we nearly lost the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. This year, Ambleside Music Festival is taking a breather but, according to the West Vancouver event’s website, “is set to return in summer 2025.” Annual EDM street fest party Monstercat Compound is also not happening this year.
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Nevertheless there’s a ton of live music, much of it free, to check out this summer both in Vancouver and farther afield. And if you like bats, have we got a festival for you.
When: July 4, 11, & 25 and Aug. 22 & 29 at 7 p.m.
Where: East Beach, Grand Chief Bernard Robert Charles Memorial Plaza Parking Lot and West Beach, Memorial Park, White Rock
Info: whiterockbia.com
The free concert series kicks off with 54-40 on July 4 and Crystal Shawanda the following Thursday (July 11). On July 25, ABBA and Dixie Chicks tribute acts Arrival and Gaslighter take the stage. Barney Bentall & The Legendary Hearts perform Aug. 22 followed by two more tribute acts, Night Moves (Bob Seger) and Dead Man’s Town (Bruce Springsteen) on Aug. 29.
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When: July 6 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Where: West 4th Ave. from Burrard to Macdonald
Info: khatsahlano.ca
Hotel Mira and Babe Corner headline this year’s Khatsahlano Street Party. Created in 2011 by the Kitsilano West 4th Avenue Business Association, this one-day street festival features multiple stages showcasing local musical talent. Other acts include Bend Sinister, History of Gunpowder, Victoria Raskin, Fionn, Devours, and Amanda Sum. Sum recently released a new project called: does it make me naive if I’ve never been part of something where i’ve meant more to them than they did to me? and which she describes as “a 16-minute suite made up of 18 short movements” that is “a journalistic review of a failing love life.” The 10-block street fair also features street performers, artisanal vendors, a wide variety of food options, giveaways, special activities, and licensed beer gardens.
When: July 5 & 6
Where: Holland Park, 13428 Old Yale Road, Surrey
Tickets: As of this writing, 2-day VIP passes for $389.99 plus fees and Saturday GA and VIP passes for $179.99 and $229.99 plus fees were still available at fvdedinthepark.com
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This 13-year-old two-day EDM festival took a breather last year for unspecified “difficulties.” Headliners include Kx5 (Kaskade and Deadmau5), Swedish House Mafia, Diplo, Chris Lake, Chase & Status, John Summit and Dom Dolla. Organizers are calling the two-day event “the biggest dance music lineup we have ever hosted.”
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When: July 13 from 4-10 p.m.
Where: Point Roberts Marina, 713 Simundson Dr., Point Roberts, Washington
Tickets: $30 at stringsandthingsmusicfestival.com
The lineup of mostly Vancouver-based musical acts includes Black Dog String Quartet, the Whiskeydicks and the Living Orchestra along with L.A.-based the Red Fiddler, a violin looper and composer. Organizer and Living Orchestra vocalist Mike Bell describes Strings and Things thus: “Four acclaimed violin driven acts take strings for a ride through rock, classical, folk, funk, electronic, and Celtic music for a brand new one-day festival in the beautiful anomaly of Point Roberts.” The Pier Restaurant will serve food and drinks on-site.
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When: July 26-28
Where: Fraser River Heritage Park, 7494 Mary St., Mission
Tickets: From $25-155 before July 25 at missionfolkfestival.ca and 604-309-6079
The 37th edition of the Fraser Valley festival features nearly 30 acts, including Indigenous throat singers PIQSIQ, bluegrass band Jackson Hollow, Trinidadian band Kobo Town and Swedish folk group Frānder. Workshops, a children’s area, an artisan market, and food trucks are also part of the three-day event. On-site camping is available as well.
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When: July 27-28
Where: Fort Langley Community Hall, 9167 Glover Rd., Langley Township
Info: fortlangleyjazzfest.com
The free festival features local, regional, national and international artists performing on two outdoor stages in front of the Fort Langley Community Hall. Main Stage performers include the Hilario Duran Trio’s tribute to Oscar Petersen, Dino and the Sound of Soul and Wild Blue Herons with Horns. The Rising Spirit Stage showcases Indigenous performers and emerging young musicians, including the winners of this year’s Rising Star Jazz Awards. Other features include the Mardi Gras Strolling Parade, the Opus Outdoor Painting Challenge and the Kidz Zone.
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When: Aug. 2-11
Where: Argyle Ave. from 14th to 16th Street, West Vancouver
Info: harmonyarts.ca
Around 50 musical acts are performing at this year’s free Harmony Arts Festival, including Melanie Dekker, Serengeti, the Pat Chessell Band, Tiller’s Folly, the Boom Booms and Jim Byrnes. Food trucks and local restaurants are there to take care of your eating and drinking needs, and there are plenty of visual arts events including exhibits in waterfront galleries and open-air tents. Kids can enjoy art workshops and family activities at John Lawson Park.
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When: Aug. 10 at 12 p.m.
Where: 780 E. Cordova St., Vancouver
Info: lightorganrecords.com
Local record label Light Organ is throwing a free street party featuring many of its bands. Two stages feature Actors, Haleluya Hailu, The Golden Age of Wrestling, Post Modern Connection and more.
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When: Aug. 9-11
Where: Yellowhouse Art Centre, 2517 Sturdies Bay Rd., and Galiano Golf Course, 24. St. Andrews Crescent, Galiano Island
Tickets: $41.75 single-day tickets and & $77.63 weekend passes at active-passive.tickit.ca
The Galiano Island festival is hosting more than 20 acts this year, including Montreal’s RAMZi, a.k.a. producer and DJ Phoebé Guillemot, and Tess Roby and Edmonton’s Khotin. Other performers include Penelakut Island’s Coastal Blood Singers and Vancouver’s Gamelan Kembang Telang and Mitote. Additional programming includes immersive audio-visual experiences and BatSonic!, a free, all-ages “bat listening party.” Festival-goers can learn about local bats, listen to the creatures using bat detectors, hear music composed with bat sounds, and then play with bat recordings using synthesizers
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When: Aug. 10 from 4-10 p.m.
Where: Deer Lake Park, 6450 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby
Info: burnaby.ca
Gospel and soul singer Mavis Staples headlines a lineup that includes Tex-Mex roots rockers Calexico, Houston soul band The Suffers, Canadian singer-songwriter Crystal Shawanda and Vancouver’s The Della Kit. Amenities at the 23-year-old festival include food trucks and a beer garden.
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