With 150 artists spread across 15 stages over four days, Rifflandia has come a long way since the Victoria festival’s first year in a tent outside McPherson Playhouse back in 2008.
This year's edition of Rifflandia has a little something for everyone, and is well worth travelling overseas for.
Like every year, there's plenty to keep the indie rock kids interested, with the likes of Death Cab for Cutie, The New Pornographers, Airborne Toxic Event, Dragonette, and Dum Dum Girls headlining.
There's also a heavy emphasis on the classics, with acts like hip hop legends Del the Funk Homosapien and Kool Keith, as well as Jamaican first wave ska pioneers The Skatalites (although only two of the original dozen or so members are still alive).
If you want to move your feet, perennial party-starter Girl Talk has you covered, as does Toronto dubstep duo Zeds Dead. Meanwhile, folksters Good For Grapes and Minto will keep the granola set swooning.
The main festival grounds will again be located at Royal Athletic Park where the big names will take the stage during the day, while more than a dozen venues around town will be hosting SXSW-style showcases. If you’re trying to see it all, you might need a spreadsheet to manage logistics.
