The bass thumped through downtown Victoria on Sunday night, spilling out from the back lot of Phillips Brewing and into the warm August air. In the glow of the setting sun, friends leaned on each other’s shoulders, plastic cups in hand, as the crowd pressed closer to the stage. It was the final night of Phillips Backyard’s “Reverb” festival – three days of sunshine, sweat and songs that have turned a brewery’s parking lot into one of the city’s biggest summer rituals. From Friday to Sunday, 24 acts filled two stages – 15 on the main stage and nine more on the Music BC stage, which spotlighted up-and-coming artists from across the province. This year’s lineup had something for every ear: Peach Pit, Ruby Waters, Mac Sabbath, Phantogram, BØRNS, Danielle Ponder, and the weekend’s closing headliners, The Roots. What started as a modest lot party back in 2013 has grown into a full-scale production. The main stage, now two feet higher, gave fans a better view over the sea of heads that stretched to the limits of the Phillips Backyard. For Saanich resident Nolan Sams, the festival has become a summer staple. He’s been every year since COVID restrictions lifted, but seeing The Roots live carried a special weight. “I mean look around and tell me that live music isn’t back,” Sams said. “Growing up, music was something that my dad and I could always bond over, and The Roots were one of those bands. This is going to be a core memory.” A few feet away, Victoria local Caroline Henderson was soaking in her first Phillips Backyard experience. “There wasn’t just one particular act I was looking forward to, more so just getting the chance to see live music and spend a good weekend with my friends,” Henderson said. “Sometimes I forget how much fun live music is, and seeing so many people here proves how important it really is to so many people.” Victoria’s next big festival is just around the corner – Rifflandia, a local staple since 2008, returns to Rock Bay from Sept. 11-14.
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