Phillips Reverb at the Phillips Backyard is upon us this weekend.
It’s the second of two three-day festivals at Phillips Brewery happening Friday August 11 to Sunday August 13. With headliners Jesse Roper, Peach Pit and Fleet Foxes, the festival will feature 15 bands and artists. What are they like in a live setting? We have your Phillips Reverb Artist Preview.
Passes for Phillips Reverb 2023 are available at phillipsbackyard.com
Friday August 11
Acres of Lions is a pop-rock band from Victoria. The band originally formed in 2006. The local favourites have had a number of radio singles locally over the years. Their most well known track was their 2011 single ‘Reaction’. Acres of Lions performed at Lucky Bar for the first time in many years back in February. Expect some new music from Acres of Lions as they have been in the studio in recent months.
Vancouver rock band Little Destroyer aren’t strangers to the Phillips Backyard having performed last year’s edition nof Phillips Tilt! and Rifflandia as well the Backyard Weekender in 2017. Their show is sure to be high energy with lead singer Allie Sheldan spending much of the set near or with the audience.
Oshawa Ontario duo Crown Lands are going to blow minds. That’s what happened when the progressive rock band opened for July Talk at the Royal Theatre in March. Crown Lands won the Juno for Breakthrough Group of the year in 2021.
The Blue Stones are a blues rock duo from Windsor, Ontario. They last performed at a headlining show at Capital Ballroom in November 2022. They were nominated for Breakthrough Group of The Year at the Junos in 2020
If you don’t know who Jesse Roper is, you’re clearly new to Victoria. Lovingly known in these parts as “The Metchosin One’ Roper has headlined numerous shows and festivals in the region. He’s had multiple singles in high rotation on local radio stations The Zone and The Q. His live shows are always a good with Roper often running around with his guitar shredding solos. It’s guaranteed to be a great end to a full day of rock.
Saturday August 12
Babe Corner is an indie-rock band from Vancouver. The band last performed in Victoria for their ‘Crybaby’ album release show back in March at a packed Upstairs Cabaret. Their music is described as having “catchy guitar riffs, dreamy synths, and soothing melodic lead vocals that are backed up with four-part harmony.”
The Bankes Brothers are an indie-rock band from Victoria. They were a Zone Band of The Month back in March 2023 and have released two singles this year. They recently toured with Jesse Roper, have performed cover gigs at various bars in Victoria and performed at Phillips Implosion Explosion last year. We heard Jesse Roper has issued a challenge to fans to toss underwear at the band during their set. haha
Ruby Waters is singer-songwriter from Shelburne, Ontario. in 2022, her album ‘If It Comes Down To It’ was nominated for a Juno. She’s had a number of hit radio singles including ‘Supernatural, ‘Blow’ an ‘Open Arms’. Last year she performed at Rifflandia and her own sold out headlining show at Capital Ballroom.
Soul & R&B singer Allen Stone makes his first Victoria performance in nearly 5 years and six years since he last performed at the Phillips Backyard opening for Current Swell in 2017. The Seattle-based musician will put on a powerful live show
Peach Pit are an indie-pop band from Vancouver. Victoria’s Dougal Bain McLean is part of the group. This year alone, Peach Pit has performed major festivals like Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Osheaga. They last played in Victoria at a sold out show at Capital Ballroom in April 2022.
Sunday August 13
Cold Fame are an indie-rock band from Victoria. They were named The Zone’s Feburary 2023 Band of The Month. Their music will be a stark contrast to the folk style of the rest of Sunday’s lineup. They’ll kick off sunday with some high energy pop vibes.
Steph Strings is a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter from Melbourne, Australia. Her musical style is influenced by artists like John Butler Trio, Kim Churchill and Ziggy Alberts with a mix of Celtic, blues and indie-rock. This year she has opened for Kim Churchill and Vance Joy.
Jon and Roy are an indie folk-rock band from Victoria. They’ve headlined numerous shows and events in the city including their annual ‘Holiday Special’ that always sells out. Their music has been featured in TV shows and commercials. Some will also recognized Jon Middleton as one half of Ocie Elliott.
Hollow Coves are an indie folk duo from Brisbane, Australia. The have been
Fleet Foxes are an indie folk band from Seattle. The two-time Grammy Award nominees are returning to Victoria for the first time since 2008 to close out the festival.
