The Ultimate Guide to Rifflandia Festival

If you know someone who lives in Victoria, chances are, they’ve told you about the city’s awesome music scene. It’s also possible that you heard about Victoria’s music & arts community from Rolling Stone

Rifflandia Festival (now in its 10th year) will once again blossom within the core of Victoria’s historic downtown. The festival (known as Riff by locals) marks the finale of one of Western Canada’s busiest entertainment seasons, coming at the tail end of nearly 99 straight days of live music on outdoor stages starting in late May, and dozens of music, food or craft beer festivals across Vancouver Island. So, whether you’re a first timer or a seasoned attendee, this Ultimate Guide to Rifflandia should help you to have the best experience possible. 

6 TIPS FOR YOUR ULTIMATE RIFFLANDIA EXPERIENCE

1. Spend your days at the park

Affectionately referred to as the festival’s “beating heart,” Royal Athletic Park (or RAP) is where all the action takes place during Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the festival. With two stages slinging back-to-back performances, a craft beer gypsy wagon, artisan pop-up boutiques and more food trucks than you’ll know what to do with, it’s undoubtedly the place to be. Gates open at noon each day. 

2. Spend your nights at Electric Avenue

What started a few years ago as a low-key evening venue at the Phillips Backyard has evolved into a mini-festival of its own. Linking three stages between Phillips, Anian Surf Shop and Capital Iron, Electric Avenue is a fully-licensed spectacle of sound, craft beer, and all types of music. Check out up-and-coming acts, dance your face off, and cheers to good times with friends old and new. 

3. Discover New Artists, and New Venues

One of the beautiful things about Rifflandia is the diversity of venues and acts that the festival encompasses. Whether you’re seeing your favourite artist play at The Mint or Alix Goolden Hall, or you find yourself at The Copper Owl or Wolf/Sheep Arthouse listening to something completely new, there’s magic in the fact that you will likely discover a new favourite venue or band at some point during Rifflandia. 

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Go Solo

You know what they say about “no friends on a powder day?” Rifflandia is kind of the same. Don’t waste time herding your friends from show to show – meet up with them when it’s convenient (RAP is always a safe bet as everyone’s there during the day), but keep your nights to yourself. Pick a night venue and stay there, or choose to jump around (which is easier with a VIP wristband), but make sure to curate your own festival experience. Rifflandia is a social event, but it’s really about the music too so for gawd’s sake ditch those friends who just want to get pizza and get to the show already  

5. Get There on a Bike

Riff is super walkable, but biking is faster and more fun. Get a bike, get a helmet, get some lights, don’t drink too much, and enjoy the freedom of the festival experience on two wheels. 

6. Take Advantage of Wristband Connect

It just gets better – not only does your wristband get you into shows; it also gets you some great deals at local businesses around town from Sept 10-17. Check out the Rifflandia Magazine (available everywhere, it’s bright pink) for a full list of participating businesses and all the deals. 

RIFF HISTORY & MORE FROM D0250

In 2008, Rifflandia started with a tent and a handful of colourful pins. That year, they set up with a boombox and some astroturf in front of McPherson Playhouse and Victoria got its first taste of the “choose-your-own-adventure” experience that has come to define Rifflandia over the past decade. Now, the festival spans 12 stages and over 120 artists. Having presented the likes of Courtney Love, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Modest Mouse among others, this year’s lineup boasts 75% BC-based artists and over 50 female artists. It even has its own beer: Rifflandabrau, brewed lovingly each year by Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. 

So, where’d the name come from?

Music Festivals come in all shapes and sizes, and some with more inventive name origins than others. For instance, Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival honours an old Seattle term for an umbrella (parachute + umbrella?). Bonnaroo is derived from an old New Orleans Creole slang meaning “a really good time” (bon à rue in french = best of the street) and even Lollapalooza is claimed to have been inspired by something one of the festival’s co-founders heard Moe say during a Three Stooges episode.

Rifflandia on the other hand was a product of pure muse: “in a very brief yet spirited naming session, when it was clear that we had a festival on our hands in the Spring of 2008.” festival producer Nick Blasko recalls, conceiving the event as a “a magical land of (guitar) riffs.”

“It was one of those situations where a new word popped into my head and rolled off my tongue without any previous thought, that word was Rifflandia.” – Kim Persley, Amelia Artists

 

8 REASONS TO GET STOKED FOR RIFFLANDIA 2017

1. You can tell your friends you saw at least 10 artists before they were cool.

2. You’ll feel safe among one of the friendliest festivals, and nicest cities on Earth. Trust us when we say that partying with kids rules.

3. You’ll be able to walk between five indoor/outdoor stages, under the lights down at Electric Avenue. Fully licensed and offering an all ages venue.

4. You’ll breathe a sigh of relief, because planning can be hard. Rifflandia Festival offers passes of all types, for individual days, or for the whole weekend – perfect for the non-committal or indecisive at heart.

5. You’ll learn how eating and drinking at a music festival should be done.

6. You’ll be initiated (and discounted) at dozens of great local joints around Victoria with wristband connect.

7. You’ll gain huge karma points for supporting local musicians and up-and-coming artists. This year will see the most BC and local artists ever at Rifflandia Festival, including an entire night venue dedicated to BC-based musicians.

8. You can say you were at Rifflandia, and in Victoria, before the word got out (via Rolling Stone). 

What’s Do250? 
We’re glad you asked. Do250 is an online event calendar (and app!) where you can see what’s going on in Victoria, buy tickets, and enter contests to win concert tickets. 

All images courtesy of Atomique Productions

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