Jeremy Derksen

Jeremy Derksen

Managing editor

I began my journalism career covering music and theatre for Vue Weekly (a now-defunct Edmonton arts and culture 'zine), waaayyy back in the early-mid 2000s, and the Western Canada entertainment scene is still close to my heart. I also tended bar at New City Likwid Lounge (a now-defunct Edmonton live music venue) for a brief spell, where I got to see countless live acts. 

My all-time festival experiences include both being on stage and off, opening for Michael Bernard Fitzgerald with my band, meeting Shad at the Jasper Uplift Festival, seeing my favourite band Hey Rosetta live in Banff. Oh and there was that wild afterparty at the JPL with Platinum Blonde and a golf cart...

Live shows, new art, festival experiences—they trigger something new in our brains. That's what I love about it, and why I do what I do here as managing editor. I hope you'll agree, real live experiences beat screens hands down.

Stories by Jeremy Derksen

Posted

May is the month of flowers in Western Canada, but it's also the month of festivals! Why? Because May festivals and events lure us outside again as music, food, art and culture spring forth.

Read more about 'Western Canada festivals and events for May'

Couple kissing at Shambhala Music Festival, BC
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What made the 2025 festival summer highlight reel in Western Canada? YOU DID. Audiences showed up big time and the proof is in the photos you sent in for our season recap.

Read more about 'Summer 2025 festival season in review, feat. YOU'

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Tickets for 2026 festivals including Shambhala, Bass Coast, Rockin' Thunder are on sale now at early bird rates! Start planning now so you're there for the best of next summer.

Read more about 'Early bird sales for Alberta, BC 2026 summer music festivals on now'

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Have you seen who's headlining music fests in Alberta and BC for summer 2025? Check out these lineup announcements from some of BC and Alberta's biggest music fests. 

Read more about 'Here’s who is headlining Alberta and BC summer music fests'

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Have you seen who's headlining music fests in Alberta and BC for summer 2025? Check out these lineup announcements from some of BC and Alberta's biggest music fests. 

Read more about 'Big headliners released for major AB, BC summer 2025 music fests'

Posted

Feel like a Vermilionaire—head to Savor Vermilion, where "old prairie" meets "new school" at a food festival brimming with local makers, distillers and entertainment.

Read more about 'Rural Alberta food festival lets you Savor Vermilion and beyond'

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Check out some of the highlights and memories from summer 2024 festivals, and get ready to make your own memories as the biggest weekends of the summer light it up.

Read more about 'Don't let summer 2024 festival season pass you by'

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Beating the heat at summer festivals in Alberta and BC is all about your pre-game. With a little advance prep you can be free to indulge in all the spontaneous fun of the festival scene. 

Read more about 'FEST 101: Beating the heat at Alberta, BC summer festivals'

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From the summit of SilverStar Mountain, BC, looking out onto the Okanagan valley, you can see a mountain village teeming with trail runners, mountain bikers, live music and a vibrant arts scene.

Read more about 'North Okanagan shines with summer events, local vibes and soul'

Arts on the Fly Horsefly BC
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Check out over 20 music festivals in BC for summer 2026, bringing some of the biggest international artists as well as homegrown musical talent to the BC stage!

Read more about '20+ bangin' BC summer 2026 music festivals '

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Alberta's big summer music festivals fill a big landscape with joyous sound! Here are 20 to get you dancing and grooving.

Read more about '20 awesome Alberta music festivals for summer 2026'

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With all the over the top festival experiences these days, do you think you would have been fooled by these posts?

Read more about 'Real or fake? These April Fool’s Day festival posts test your wits'