Interview with Kim Churchill at Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Boy Golden at Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Volunteers at Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2024
Ruen Brothers at Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Black Umfolosi at Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Blue Rodeo at Edmonton Folk Festival 2024
Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2024
Orchestra Gold at Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2024
Ben Howard at Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2024
Black Pumas at Edmonton Folk Festival 2024
Greensky Bluegrass at Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Watchhouse at Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Interview with Jeremie Albino at Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Half Moon Run at Edmonton Folk Festival 2023
Old Crow Medicine Show at Edmonton Folk Fest 2023
Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2023
Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2019
Memoirs
One Love Music Festival
Pigeon Lake Music Festival
About Me
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Contact

The Music festival Memoir

Interview with Kim Churchill at Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Boy Golden at Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Volunteers at Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2024
Ruen Brothers at Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Black Umfolosi at Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Blue Rodeo at Edmonton Folk Festival 2024
Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2024
Orchestra Gold at Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2024
Ben Howard at Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2024
Black Pumas at Edmonton Folk Festival 2024
Greensky Bluegrass at Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Watchhouse at Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Interview with Jeremie Albino at Edmonton Folk Music Festival
Half Moon Run at Edmonton Folk Festival 2023
Old Crow Medicine Show at Edmonton Folk Fest 2023
Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2023
Edmonton Folk Music Festival 2019
Memoirs
One Love Music Festival
Pigeon Lake Music Festival
About Me
Shop
Contact

SONIC BOOM MUSIC FESTIVAL DAY 2Day two of Sonic Boom was as amazing, if not better than the first day. The wind had calmed down, and there was a glow from the crowd. Walking around the grounds, you could see the excitement on everyone’s faces. It co… — SONIC BOOM MUSIC FESTIVAL DAY 2
Day two of Sonic Boom was as amazing, if not better than the first day. The wind had calmed down, and there was a glow from the crowd. Walking around the grounds, you could see the excitement on everyone’s faces. It could’ve been the improvement on the weather, but I asked several people who they were excited to see and the answer was unanimous. With the biggest grin on their faces, it was “The Lumineers”.

Syd Arthur, Modern Space, Zella Day, Banners, Wintersleep, Jake Bugg, the Arkells, Vance Joy and the Lumineers, all took the stage on the second day and charmed the crowds in their own unique way. I took notice to the dedicated fans near the front of the stage. Most of them, if not all of them, stayed there the entire weekend. The one thing that was most impressive? They knew every single lyric, to each artist’s songs. From the juking and jiving Jake Bugg, to the sweet serenades of Vance Joy, the Sonic Boomers knew their stuff. Max Kerman from the Arkells sent a jolt of energy into the crowd as he jumped right into them during their set and the Sonic Boomers held him up with open arms.

As the night went on, you felt the buzz in the crowd. I watched the people who were lying on the grounds, pack their blankets and head towards the stage. The crowds in the beer gardens had one final cheer and finished up their drinks to get ready for the main event. The Lumineers were set to go on and everyone posted up to get the best spots they possibly could.

One thing I’ve often talked about is “festival magic”. It’s just this euphoric feeling you get, that you’re meant to be in that spot, at that exact moment. Everything makes sense, your troubles disappear and you let the music take you over. You’re not too sure what triggers it, or when it will happen, but I felt that "festival magic" during the Lumineers’ set. Their songs are very emotional, and while playing, they exuded those emotions that the crowd gave right back at them. They took the crowd on an adventure of happiness, sadness and overall enjoyment. At the same time, the crowd sang, clapped and danced as they fed off the Lumineers and vice versa. I had seen the Lumineers a month prior in Montreal, but the feeling that Sunday night at Sonic Boom was different. Perhaps it was due to their first performance ever in Edmonton? Whatever the case, the "festival magic" was in the air that night.

Mid set, The Lumineers ran through the crowd and set up to play a few songs on a little stage with their fans. The lighting was perfect and in combination with their eloquent vocals, it silenced the crowd to only hear the lyrics of the Lumineers. There was a feeling in the air that everyone around you was your friend, and everyone held their loved ones a little tighter. After playing on the little stage in the crowd, I saw their lead singer shake a fan’s hand. That fan turned around and you could see the tears of happiness roll down her face. It was just a moment of pure joy.

This was my 5th Sonic Boom, and I’ve had many memorable times and seen unforgettable performances. This year, however, was very special. The Lumineers’ closing the festival was the perfect way to end the magical weekend. I felt for many, that it was not only a closure to the festival, but an amazing night cap to end the entire summer. When I was leaving the festival there was still the glow in the crowd. One gentleman was singing the words to “Flowers in Your Hair” and he riled up a big group to join him. They were singing and clapping their way out and then his friend jokingly said to him, “ but the show is over!”. The singer turned to his friend with the biggest smile and screamed out a big "SONIC BOOM!" and continued singing and clapping. Everyone left Sonic Boom that night with a little bit of giddiness, infectious happiness and a whole lot of love. Thank you Sonic Boom for the ultimate party to end the summer and leaving us with a little magic to get us through the winter. See you next year!

SONIC BOOM MUSIC FESTIVAL DAY 1I covered the SONiC 102.9 Sonic Boom music festival this past weekend. Day 1 had many great acts including Halsey, JULY TALK and The Naked And Famous, but the artists that stole the night for me were twenty one pilots.… — SONIC BOOM MUSIC FESTIVAL DAY 1

I covered the SONiC 102.9 Sonic Boom music festival this past weekend. Day 1 had many great acts including Halsey, JULY TALK and The Naked And Famous, but the artists that stole the night for me were twenty one pilots. I hadn't seen them live before, and I was curious to see if they could live up to the hype train. I learned that they didn't come just to play, they came to melt faces.

They kicked... off their show right off the bat with their much talked about high energy. Wearing ski masks to cover their faces, they pulled off a successful heist as they stole everyone's hearts while leaving them in awe.

(Spoiler alert) Their drummer channeled his inner Travis Barker and set the tone for an uptempo show. Their singer, Tyler, ran miles, climb stages and walked out into the crowd in a giant red bubble.

From costume changes to bare chests, from the lighting to psychedelic videos, my brain was on stimulation overload. Not only that, they performed on platforms, held up by their fans in the crowd. They simultaneously banged on drums, while still sounding mint and orchestrated all their fans to sing along to their songs.

In my ten years of going to music Festivals and the hundreds of shows I've seen, I admittedly have an almost stupidly pretentious high standard for live performances. I left Sonic Boom saying to my friends, that Twenty One Pilots was top 10 best performances I've ever seen. The hype train is real and I'm excited to see where these lads go.

Me at SONiC BOOM Festival

Lauren Hunter from Sonic 102.9 — Lauren Hunter from Sonic 102.9

Atlas Genius — Atlas Genius

Atlas Genius — Atlas Genius

Atlas Genius — Atlas Genius

Bryce Kelly from Sonic 102.9 — Bryce Kelly from Sonic 102.9

The Naked and Famous — The Naked and Famous

The Naked and Famous — The Naked and Famous

The Naked and Famous — The Naked and Famous

The Naked and Famous — The Naked and Famous

The Naked and Famous — The Naked and Famous

Halsey — Halsey

Halsey — Halsey

Halsey — Halsey

Halsey — Halsey

Halsey — Halsey

Halsey — Halsey

Twenty One Pilots — Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots — Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots — Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots — Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots — Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots — Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots — Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots — Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots — Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots — Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots — Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots — Twenty One Pilots

Twenty One Pilots — Twenty One Pilots

Wintersleep — Wintersleep

Wintersleep — Wintersleep

Wintersleep — Wintersleep

Wintersleep — Wintersleep

Bryce Kelly and Garner Andrews from Sonic 102.9 — Bryce Kelly and Garner Andrews from Sonic 102.9

Set list from Jake Bugg — Set list from Jake Bugg

The Arkells — The Arkells

The Arkells — The Arkells

The Arkells — The Arkells

The Arkells — The Arkells

The Arkells — The Arkells

The Arkells — The Arkells

The Arkells — The Arkells

The Arkells — The Arkells

The Arkells — The Arkells

The Sonic 102.9 crew! — The Sonic 102.9 crew!

Vance Joy — Vance Joy

Vance Joy — Vance Joy

Vance Joy — Vance Joy

Vance Joy — Vance Joy

Vance Joy — Vance Joy

The Lumineers — The Lumineers

The Lumineers — The Lumineers

The Lumineers — The Lumineers

The Lumineers — The Lumineers

The Lumineers — The Lumineers

The Lumineers — The Lumineers

The Lumineers — The Lumineers

The Lumineers — The Lumineers

The Lumineers — The Lumineers

The Lumineers — The Lumineers

The Lumineers — The Lumineers

The Lumineers — The Lumineers

The Music Festival Memoir 2016