This year’s Reverb Music Festival brought an electrifying mash-up of indie, hip-hop, rock, and soul to Victoria’s Phillips Backyard, transforming the brewery courtyard into a pulsating festival epicenter. The lineup struck a balance between global heavyweights, playful tributes, and rising local talents, making for a weekend that felt both intimate and grand in scale.
Headliners this year included Peach Pit, whose breezy indie-pop sound and hometown connection got the crowd in a glowingly nostalgic mood. Fans also caught the genre-bending duo Phantogram, bringing their signature mix of dream-pop, electro, and alt-rock to the backyard stage. But it wasn’t all indie vibes. The Roots, the legendary hip-hop collective and longtime house band of The Tonight Show, delivered a headline-grabbing closing set that blended tight musicianship with undeniable gravitas.
Beyond the main acts, the weekend held plenty of surprises. Mac Sabbath, the fast-food–themed Black Sabbath tribute troupe, added theatrical hilarity and spectacle, costumes included Ronald McDonald and Grimace, complete with parody lyrics that put a humorous spin on heavy metal classics. Børns and Dragonette delivered synth-pop flair and pulsing electropop energy, while Danielle Ponder offered soulful, cinematic R&B that many described as evocative and emotionally rich. King Cruff, also known as Bob Marley’s grandson, infused hip-hop with reggae and Afrobeats, carrying forward a legacy in his own vibrant, modern style. Prado Monroe, blending Afro-Metis rap and songcraft, and Terell Safadi, who delivered laid-back, thoughtful hip-hop with global flair, added further depth to an already eclectic roster.
Local and emerging names also shone bright with rising Canadian voices like Layten Kramer, merging psych-western folk influences with local spirit, and Uncle Strut, who channeled surf-rock grooves and wild energy. Vox Rea, consisting of Kate and Lauren Kurdyak, offered dreamy indie-pop harmonies with familial charm. Diamond Cafe delivered silky synth-funk and falsetto-driven grooves that seduced the crowd with retro-modern flair. Emmett Jerome, Clare Twiddy, Ivan Hartle, Antonio Larosa, Pony Gold, and ZADA rounded out the lineup with genre-spanning styles, from warm soul and electro-pop to alt-country and R&B-infused folk.
Reverb 2025 was less about linear progression and more a vibrant tapestry of sound. The festival curated a spectrum that ranged from the nostalgic, to the unexpected, from rising breakout acts to seasoned game-changers. The production maintained that trademark Phillips Backyard charm, intimate yet electric, where craft beer and communal spirit met stellar performances under the August skies. It was an immersive, genre-hopping festival that delivered laughs, grooves, soulful moments, and unforgettable music, all within the warm embrace of Victoria’s beloved brewery backyard.
