by Tanya Fader
Has Vancouver’s jam-packed summer concert and music festival season passed you by? Don’t fret! This fall, the musical acts keep pouring in, with something for everyone. So, trade your well-worn flip-flops for some badass boots and check out these music festivals and concerts in Vancouver when the leaves hit the ground. [Photo courtesy of Tourism Vancouver/Brandon Klemets]
Westward Music Festival
Ring in the fall at the Westward Music Festival with Canadian powerhouse A Tribe Called Red, who have been making their mark on the international music world while bringing Native issues to the forefront. Edgy, yet accessible, this act will get stuck in your head and heart. Other shows include Toronto punk band Pup (they will have you singing along with their catchy choruses) and Japanese musician Bishop Briggs (catch this breakout artist now while you can still catch her in smaller venues). It should also be your sworn duty to check out as many local acts as you can: get soulful with Maiwah-Fkn OtherPeople, get seduced by Alexis Young of Youngblood, and, of course, more than a few people will be checking out Gang Signs, Little Destroyer and Hannah Georgas.
Festerval
From stoner rock to punk, this is the festival for you if you want to embrace the heavy darkness of the changing skies and seasons. You can’t get much more legendary than punk band Dead Kennedys. Other bands are from Sweden, Czechoslovakia and California, including Fu Manchu. Bring your earplugs or get dizzy, the choice is yours.
Bumbershoot
Okay, okay, so Bumbershoot isn’t in Vancouver, but why not take a road trip just over the border for the ever-popular festival in Seattle? Art, music, cultural, literary events and beer gardens make this a go-to for Vancouverites year after year. The massive line-up includes the likes of Lorde, Weezer and Deep Vally (also playing Festerval in Vancouver).
Other than festivals, there are lots of big names and quirky gigs to keep you grooving through a variety of genres and price tags this fall.
And if concerts are out of your budget, put some moody, philosophical music through your headphones or check out a live musical, including the Sound of Music and Jersey Boys (at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre) and Cabaret (at Club XY). There are also lots of smaller gigs less damaging to the wallet that will expose you to plenty of local talent. Check out Lanalou’s, The Railway Stage & Beer Café, Revel Room and Café Deux Soleils, to name a few.
