The Phillips Backyard Music Festival is back with its second festival of the year this weekend with Phillips Reverb 2024.
There are some noticeable tweaks to the layout of the grounds this time. The house DJ table is now located where the food trucks are while the DJ tent’s former location is now a much needed accessible viewing area for those with disabilities. The variety of food choices are more diverse this time. The merch tent isn’t hidden in a corner. Most importantly, the stage this time looks much higher with a larger video screen and what organizers have said is the largest amount of lighting for one-off concert event on Vancouver Island.
Trophy Dad launched Reverb 2024 with a fast paced set, squeezing in as many songs as they could in their 30 minute opening timeslot. They performed songs from their new 4-song EP ‘A Little Taste’, but didn’t have time for their cover of Cher’s ‘Believe’. The band attracted a nice sized crowd to come to the festival early
Surf-rock band Surf Hat was up next. The Squamish, BC band playfully proclaimed near the start and end of their set that they were from Squamish, Newfoundland.
Victoria’s Bankes Brothers had the middle timeslot. The band had just returned from recording new music in Toronto. They debuted some of that new music at Reverb. The festival crowd had grown significantly when they took the stage
Victoria’s Current Swell took the stage as the penultimate act of the day while all of the band members’ kids watched on from side stage. Trombonist Dave St. Jean was noticeably missing from the band. Scott Stanton would later inform the audience that he’s currently on tour with Jon & Roy. In his place was his Dope Soda bandmate, baritone saxophonist Matt Carter. Hey Ocean’s Ashley Ball also made a guest appearance for two songs. Current Swell performed a mix of old favourites as well as some new songs including one that is set to be released very soon.
Prior to Black Pumas, some of the radio hosts form The [email protected] took the stage to announce that Phillips Brewery is naming their light lager beer in memory of former Zone morning show host Dylan Willows whose battle with cancer came to an end in June. Proceeds form sales of ‘It’s All About Love’ light lager will be donated to Ocumel Canada, an initiative of Save Your Skin Foundation to increase awareness, advance treatment options, and build a supportive community for those diagnosed with primary and/or metastatic ocular melanoma, also known as uveal melanoma.
The Zone staff then took a photo recreating a photo moment of Dylan on that very stage. The capacity audience all raised their hands with peace signs.
It was then time for Dylan Willows’ favourite band, Black Pumas. This is a performance that fans in Victoria have been waiting for for two years. They were supposed to perform in the city at Rifflandia in 2022, but they cancelled their tour and went on hiatus. The wait was worth it. Black Pumas performed an incredible 16-song set.
While standing on the subwoofers in front of the stage during the third song, lead vocalist Eric Burton gestured to the audience to make some room before he jump into the crowd to and continued the rest of the song within the audience and at the guard rail. He would later sing ‘More Than a Love Song’ from down in the photo pit which, for those standing outside of the loading bay area of the stage, made it impossible to see him.
If there’s one down side to the Phillips Backyard, it’s that the slight the land has down from the stage makes for difficult sight lines, especially with a crowd that packed. Video screens on the sides of the stage with a camera team could be a possible solution in the future. It works effectively at Ska Fest and the festivals at Laketown Ranch.
Before the final song of the night, Burton was having trouble with his guitar. He then exclaimed, “Hey Victoria! Something had to break down because I believe this has been the best show on this tour. Thank you for bringing the fire! Y’all broke my guitar!”
Phillips Reverb continues until Sunday August 11, 2024 with headliners Earl Sweatshirt and JUMGLE. Some passes still available at phillipsbackyard.com
