Sadly, Rifflandia 2011 is over. Check out our review of the festivals best acts below.
Kim Chruchill
Mwinyi: For me Kim Churchill was the best performer and the most intriguing artist at Rifflandia! The amount of talent this one man has can put anyone to shame. He plays the drums, guitar, harmonica, while singing and interacting with his audience which gives his performance quite a special and unique feel. Kim Churchill is a must see for any music fan….
Kevin: Having already seen Kim Churchill live this past summer at the Squamish Music Festival, the Australian singer-songwriter is already one of my favourite artists. While his lone album is a small body of work, the consistent quality in Churchill’s music is evident throughout With Sword and Shield and shone through more so in the intimate confines of Wood Hall.
Jesse: The talent of this one-man-show is undeniable. This 20-year-old Australia native has a unique finger-picking/tapping guitar style with a soulful voice. Playing both the guitar and harmonica, as well as hitting the kick-drum without missing a beat, Churchill puts on a show you don’t want to miss. Seeing him in a setting as intimate as the Wood Hall was fantastic, an unforgettable show.
Del La Soul
Mwinyi: “The LEGENDARY DEL LA SOUL was in the house for Rifflandia 4 and they showed us why they are still one of the best hip hop acts every to be on the mic. I’ve been to a lot of rap shows in my time and Del La Soul has taken the number one spot for best rap performance on my own personal list”.
Kevin: As a Three Feet High and Rising baby I hold De La Soul as a cornerstone of the House of Hip-Hop. As a sampling fiend, Plugs One, Two and Three have thrived as an inspiration for myself many others who passionately support remix culture. Witnessing De La Soul live blew away my three foot expectations, confirming the group as Hip-Hop legends in my mind forever.
Jesse: I’ve always known of De La Soul and listened to some of their popular tracks, but I can’t say that I have ever been a huge fan. After seeing their performance, I regretted not knowing more of their music. You can tell these guys have been performing for years, because they really know what they are doing on stage, especially in getting the crowd into it. These legends of hip hop proved that their music is still relevant and these guys can still kill it.
Dan: I’ve been an avid fan of De La Soul since the first day I heard their unique blend of soul and hip-hop several years ago on an episode of entourage. The trio certainly didn’t disappoint at Rifflandia, engaging the crowd and maintaining a level of excitement that was rarely topped the entire weekend.
The Knocks
Mwinyi: I’ve been following these New York natives since they first popped up on to the scene and I have always been curious as to how their production style would transfer into a live setting. The Knocks performance was a mix between live Djing and Live Instruments which made the feel good dance tracks lots of fun. Overall these guys were swell and had the whole crowd breaking it down to their beats.
Kevin: The Knocks, The Knocks, all I heard Sunday afternoon was the buzz following a show by the New York duo Saturday at the *venue*. With a second chance to catch their infectious performance, I was blown away by the duo’s different approach to a live electronic show. The Knocks’ Sunday afternoon outdoor set fused electronic elements with live percussion to close the gap between performer and music fan, building a party atmosphere that resulted in a healthy side-stage crowd prepared to dance to the DJs all night long.
Jesse: Having never listened to The Knocks before Rifflandia, I was not sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised with what I heard. Their music may not be the most innovative, but their combination of DJing their sampled and remixed tracks as well as live drums/percussion had the crowd rocking. Awesome show, fun to be a part of.
Dan: The Knocks were a group relatively new to me entering Rifflandia 2011, but it didn’t take long for me to understand where the hype stems from. These boys from New York know how to entertain a crowd, their combination of energetic drumming, upbeat vocals and electronic flavor left me wanting more. Ben “B-Roc” Ruttner and James “JPatt” Patterson should be around for years to come if they continue to blend originality with popular contemporary artists like Adele and Foster the People. Next year Rifflandia, give them the big stage.
Ra Ra Riot
Mwinyi: Ra Ra Riot received quite a bit of love after releasing their 2010 album The Orchard so when I saw that they were a part of the Rifflandia Festival I was quite excited to see what they had in store for us. Ra Ra Riots tunes are catchy and fun but overall the show was exactly what I thought it would be nothing too special.
Kevin: Pleasant surprise of the festival Ra-Ra-Riot put on a fun and energetic show during Friday’s set in front of the Royal Athletic Park crowd to the delight of the ears (and eyes) of music fans. Front man Wes Miles’ stage presence kept the under-age crowd captivated and moving during the set; however older male fans especially may have found themselves slightly distracted by the tandem of cellist Alexandra Lawn and violinist Rebecca Zeller who are both as beautiful musicians contributing to Ra Ra Riot’s playful melodies.
Jesse: If the fantastic instrumentation of Ra Ra Riot is not enough to make you a fan; allow the stunning beauty of cellist Alexandra Lawn. After a minor hiccup at the beginning of the performance with microphone issues, the band got things going and got things going well. I was really impressed with their musicianship. The bass player carried the rhythm phenomenally and the addition of both the cello and violin in a modern rock band is something you don’t get enough of these days. It was hard not to groove to these guys while they performed, I definitely recommend checking them out.
City and Colour
Mwinyi: It’s crazy how one man playing a guitar can captivate an entire adudience. City and Colour’s, frontman Dallas Green did just that by showing Rifflandia his softer side, I saw a Alexisonfire show a few years back and wasn’t really a huge fan of him when he was a hardcore-indie rocker but after seeing this performance I feel in love with Dallas Green and his music.
Kevin: Admission: I used to outwardly dislike Dallas Green. Exposure to Alexisonfire and the subsequent breakout of Green to become City and Colour simply didn’t sit well with little V before going through my own musical renaissance. Given my previous beef, Rifflandia served as a perfect forum for Dallas Green to win me over. Dallas Green came as advertised, unifying his skill on the guitar with his backing band to form the full sound of City and Colour which was only outdone by selected songs performed only by Green himself. From The Girl to Body In a Box City and Colour’s set was one of the most satisfying performances of the festival.
Jesse: I’ve been a fan of City and Color for some time now, but never been fortunate enough to see him in concert. Dallas Green certainly exceeded my expectations. Playing a great mix of his older and newer stuff, Dallas played a little something for everyone. There’s always a concern that the voice of a singer live may not be everything it is in recordings, but Dallas carried a tune and carried it well. With a great stage presence, including a fantastic performance of Body in a Box, City and Color did not disappoint. My personal favourite performance of the weekend.
Dan: Having missed Dallas Green at Sasquatch the last couple of years I was anxious to hear his soothing vocals live. He certainly didn’t disappoint as the closing show Saturday night, combining both his old and new music culminating with a chilling performance of “Sometimes”. His stage presence was remarkable, a show I’m not likely to forget for a long, long time.
Cold War Kids
Mwinyi: How could you possibly be disappointed with Cold War Kids?
Kevin:Like Kim Churchill who was already mentioned above in this post, I have already encountered Cold War Kids once this summer, taking in their performance at the Sasquatch Music Festival this summer. Like their concert at the Gorge, Cold War Kids delivered a unique energy already evident in the majority of Nathan Willett’s fascinating lyrics. Despite witnessing their show twice in the last six months I still haven’t had my fill of Cold War Kids. One concert per album just feels like a good amount, doesn’t it?
Jesse: I had never listened to Cold War Kids before the release of spectacular album Mine is Yours. Since then I have been hooked¸ and had this album and Robbers and Cowards on repeat. It’s hard to find something you don’t like about this band. This was the second time I have seen this band live, and they were just as amazing as I thought they were the first time. With a performance and lyrics that engage the crowd incredibly well, it is difficult to not have a good time seeing this band live.
Daniel: What to say about the Cold War Kids…they have been one of my favorite groups since my sister introduced me to them in high school several years ago. They lived up to my expectations at Sasquatch this summer and they did it again at Rifflandia. Lead vocalist Nathan Willet commands respect on stage, playing a healthy mix of old and new, keeping devoted fans happy while also inviting new listeners to enjoy this group’s unique sound.
Photo Credit: Brian Van Wyk Photography
* Special thanks to our new friend Brain who provided all of these beautiful shots for this post.
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