Dave Van, a live music and event photographer from Victoria BC, has made a name for himself by photographing iconic events in the city over the past decade. Teaming up with him for Rifflandia 2023 was such a great experience, we thought we’d share a few of his favorite moments.
We asked Dave about his previous experiences with Rifflandia “I have photographed Rifflandia for the past 4 years, and every year has been better than the last. I’ve always been impressed by the artist lineup that they curate each year to grace our stages from world touring bands to local favourites.” he reminisces “The incredible work of the production teams, merchandise/food vendors and the support staff to ensure that it is an incredible experience and that everything goes smoothly. Rifflandia is easily one of the best events every year to cap off our incredible Summer in Victoria”
The event started off with the always amazing Electric Avenue, a festival that takes place within multiple outdoor stages and an array of music. This year’s lineup featured talents of big names such as Run the Jewels, Paris Hilton, Chris Lake and so many more amazing artists. Dave recalls meeting and chatting with dedicated fans up front before each performance as he stood in the photographers pit. You could tell the crowd was so excited to be there.
“Chromeo and Run The Jewels were amazing to see back to back on the closing night.” he replies when asked about his favourite performances of the night. “One mesmerizing moment for me was watching drones light up in the sky during Electric Avenue’s headlines.”
Electric Avenue wasn’t the only exciting part of Rifflandia, this two part event was followed up by an outdoor event at the park featuring multiple stages, local vendors, kids activities and grassy fields to hang out with friends. Big names such as Iggy pop, Diplo took over the stage drawing in crowds from everywhere. “It was really amazing to finally see Salt-n-Pepa for the first time.” Dave explains. Rifflandia has always been an amazing way to see some nostalgic artists you may have missed and 2023's lineup did not disappoint.
Check out Dave’s complete gallery featuring a variety of photos which really capture the magic of this festival: https://www.davevanphoto.com/Event/Rifflandia-2023
Rifflandia is such a staple event of Victoria and we can’t wait to see what’s next for 2024!
This year’s full festival will be held on the Matullia Lands at Rock Bay. Check out their website and social media for more updates and make sure to follow Dave Van Photo for his next adventures!
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