Rifflandia, Victoria's 18-year music festival, folds permanently
The beloved multi-day festival, which launched acts like Charli XCX and Lorde before they became mega-stars, could not sustain operations despite decades of critical acclaim.
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Rifflandia, one of British Columbia's most acclaimed music and arts festivals, is shutting down after 18 years.
Founders Nick Blasko and Casey Austin announced the immediate cancellation Wednesday, saying the festival operated at a loss every year despite drawing fans globally and moving millions of dollars through Victoria's economy. "Despite the joy it brought and the millions of dollars it helped circulate through our local economy, the festival was never profitable," they wrote on the Rifflandia website.
Since its debut in 2008, Rifflandia booked artists including Iggy Pop, Run the Jewels, the Flaming Lips, Pussy Riot, Sleater-Kinney, and Bob Moses. The festival was known for championing emerging talent—Charli XCX, Post Malone, and Lorde all played Rifflandia before exploding into global megastars. It also consistently featured West Coast acts, from Mother Mother and Peach Pit to Hailey Blais.
The festival took a four-year break starting in 2019, right before the pandemic. Blasko and Austin attributed rising production costs and an inability to find a suitable downtown Victoria venue as factors that made continuation impossible. "For every one of its operating years, Rifflandia Festival has been a labour of love and a gift to our city," they wrote. "Each year when we've turned off the sound and lights, it's been bittersweet for us."
The founders had hoped to stage one last festival in September but determined it was financially and logistically unattainable. They said their team remains committed to supporting music, arts, culture, and entertainment experiences in B.C.