The big festival in our small town came back with a bang last weekend. Rifflandia spanned four nights, two venues, dozens of food trucks and pop-up shops, hosted a few weddings, and celebrated Victorians for the culture-loving people we are.
As is common for most larger events, there were some hiccups. Both Black Pumas and Pussy Riot had to cancel, which left many attendees upset (Pussy Riot didn’t announce their cancellation, due to visa issues, until the event was happening), but not as angry as those of a certain Vancouver festival that same weekend. And sure, there were the usual slight delays in set times and long bathroom waits, as well as smoking areas being far away from the festivities. However, after four years of no Rifflandia, these setbacks were minor, and the wait was worth it.
Thursday night kicked off the weekend with a bang in the form of an all-night dance party on Electric Avenue (which you know as the downtown area centred around Phillips Brewing). As obvious from the glowing social-media coverage, the night was a hit. The vibrant excitement for Rifflandia continued on to Friday night, as seen through the high attendance levels as early as 3 pm. From Bikini Kill’s display of the true power of a girl group’s matriarchy through a continuous rotation of roles within the band throughout their show to Cat Power performing through a slight cold, young women in Victoria had many role models that night. Then there was Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals’ reggae influences intermixing with a rock-legend level of guitar exploration as Harper played the instrument like a keyboard.
Saturday night’s attendance looked to be down slightly, maybe because Western Speedway was having its last event that same night. Nevertheless, big names Cypress Hill and Charli XCX maintained the high levels of excitement from the previous night. As Sunday night brought the event to a close, four happy couples decided to celebrate their love for each other, and for Rifflandia, by getting married in the festival grounds. The performances were also more spread out to accommodate for attendees’ draining stamina while maintaining an enthusiasm for incredible artists such as Lorde, whose performance was so good it felt like the night was her’s, not a festival’s.
The festival had more going for it than just the big-name performers, though. Since the Royal Athletic Park allowed attendees of all ages, lots of people brought their children with them, which was a beautiful sight to see. There was also a market’s worth of vendors and food trucks, including a barber, all of which brought the attention of spectators beyond the gates.
Overall, the biggest highlight of the event was seeing Victorians coming together in celebration of a love for music and making memories. Whether you’re a family making a special night for your little ones, a young person taking the opportunity to experience a live festival for the first time, getting married, or just having a great time out enjoying live music again, there was something for everyone in the community Rifflandia created over the weekend.