Four days of non-stop activity came to a close Sunday with yet more rock, pop and rap at Royal Athletic Park, putting a cap on the fourth and final day of Rifflandia.
The homegrown music festival, now its eighth year, was huge in 2015. Everything took on an extra sheen, thanks to the involvement of 22 venues and 230 artists — both milestones for Rifflandia. Those taking it all in must have felt as if something was happening at all times and all hours Thursday through Sunday.
In many ways it was. The city’s core was hopping, and there’s no denying the effect Rifflandia has on local business, from food to taxis. The festival’s four-day attendance, including the night stages and Royal Athletic Park, registered 33,000 unique visits, up 10 per cent from last year, according to organizers. Royal Athletic Park alone drew audiences of approximately 5,500 Friday, 7,500 Saturday and 4,700 Sunday, which would have been even higher had poor weather not hampered two of the three days of programming. In any event, with regards to its execution and effectiveness, this was the year Rifflandia showcased itself in the best possible light.
Thus, Rifflandia might not have taken a substantial step forward in terms of its bottom line. But with regard to its execution and effectiveness, this was the year the event showcased itself in the best possible light.
Royal Athletic Park on Sunday offered much of what drives Rifflandia: acts from across the globe, in front of an audience that is willing to be part of the experience. Tie-dyed clothing — and hair — was everywhere Sunday, as it was the day’s official theme (Saturday was “Caturday” at the park, which had some getting in on Halloween a month-and-a-half early).
The burst of bright clothing supplied Rifflandia with some of its only sunglasses-worthy rays on Sunday; Royal Athletic Park was subject to intermittent rain. Much of the crowd on site, however, appeared to be unhampered by the elements, especially during the festival-closing set by Vancouver’s Mother Mother. Kudos to the festival folk for persevering.
Mother Mother oozed confidence and was the perfect pick to bring Rifflandia home. The band’s Bowie-sque Ryan Guldemond is a pro’s pro, so he didn’t let a second of the band’s second Rifflandia finale go by without a few spectacular shining moments. (They also closed the festival in 2012.)
O My Heart, one of their earliest hits, remains a power-pop classic; The Stand, a newer staple of the band’s catalogue, was also a highlight. The band as a whole was on point, too. Drummer Ali Siadat was propulsive and the double harmonies of Molly Guldemond and Jasmin Parker are intangibles that give the group much of its oomph. Ryan Guldemond, who was rolling at this point, quipped early into Mother Mother’s set, “What a day, what a life, what a festival!”
Indeed.
Others were also on fire Sunday. Hometown hero Jesse Roper delivered a triumphant set that showcased the big, beefy riffs of Red Bird, drummer Steve Ling’s dramatic, multiple tom-crushing solo and the set-closing favourite, Yukon Girl, which led the crowd to chant, “One more song!” at the end of his set. Roper has quickly become one of the most dependable festival bookings around.
Toronto group Hollerado, a perennial favourite in this market, was another early highlight. Forgoing concerns about the rain, the members wore all manner of sleepwear — nightshirts, onesies and the like — and delivered on their reputation for being exceptionally fun and lively in concert.
The other big act of the day, fronted by Julian Casablancas of the Strokes, was not nearly as effective. However, the sight of a dishevelled-looking Casablancas flanked by a ragtag crew of hair-metal lookalikes — otherwise known as his bandmates in the Voidz — will likely become a much-talked-about Rifflandia moment.
The New York group (which even Casablancas said is not a “normal band”) was making a difficult transition to the stage from the studio, and as their synth-heavy mix is not an easily discernible sound, the set came off as bizarre. Points to Casablancas and Co. however, for keeping it real. Real trashy.
With a whopping 20 participating venues both Friday and Saturday nights, the city was overrun with action, all of it musical. The downtown core was abuzz with bands and people, and though the lateness and sound volume might have caused some residents to complain, the city was showcasing itself through the weekend to the music industry across Canada, members of which were in town for the BreakOut West conference and Western Canadian Music Awards.
In larger cities in Canada, this type of all-encompassing activity is the norm, but few can match the accessibility of Victoria. Rifflandia producers Atomique Productions, who were honoured Saturday during BreakOutWest as talent buyers of the year, also booked nearly 20 local acts at Rifflandia, putting what the city produces in terms of its own talent under the spotlight as well.
“The event brought a diversity to our festival and a significant amount of international and national music industry members to our city, showing them what an amazing pool of talent we have and what a dynamic city we live in,” Atomique Productions co-owner Nick Blasko said in a statement following the Western Canadian Music Awards on Sunday night.
The city’s inaugural run of hosting a festival, conference and awards show simultaneously during a four-day span was met with high regard from participants, in an event that was seen by many as a coming-out party for the capital region.
Could the Juno Awards be next?
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