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All Your Friends Fest Is the Ultimate Throwback Party

With Avril, Simple Plan, The Veronicas and more on the lineup, these are the acts that will make your summer feel like 2007 all over again.

by Sarah Morisson

The resurgence of indie sleaze, emo nights, and pop punk is in full swing. For millennials, it feels like we’re trapped in a timewarp: soaked in nostalgia while simultaneously feeling the very real effects of aging, all as a new generation falls in love with the era that shaped us. 

The return of classic emo/pop punk music festivals in the U.S. made it clear just how massive the revival has become, and now, the team behind beloved country music festival Boots and Hearts is throwing their own hat into the ring with All Your Friends Festival–their take on an all-encompassing throwback celebration. 

Taking place in Oro-Medonte, Ontario, this marks the festival’s second year. Republic Live has done an incredible job in not only booking global icons, but also staying true to their roots by spotlighting fellow Canadian emo/pop punk legends. 

The festival’s ticket scheme has a variety of options, including GA weekend, VIP weekend, Camping Passes, and Single Day Passes for those looking to pop in for a shorter amount of time. A reminder: to attend the festival and camp, you will be required to purchase both a weekend pass and a camping pass! All of these ticketing options are on sale now

Curious what RANGE’s top five picks for the weekend are? Or maybe you’re not super familiar with the full lineup and want to prep before heading out? Either way, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. 

Avril Lavigne 

Duh, is this even a question? I’d be thinking “What the Hell!” if you didn’t catch what will be an iconic performance. Avirl Lavigne is undoubtedly Canada’s pop-punk princess. With classic hits like “Sk8er Boi” and “Complicated,” she quickly became a household name and has remained a staple in the emo universe ever since. If you never filmed a homemade music video set to one of her songs with your best friends, you missed out on a core childhood experience. Trust us, Avril is guaranteed to deliver one of the weekend’s most unforgettable sets.  

 

Simple Plan 

We may not have been blessed with any Canadian dates on their Bigger Than You Think! Tour, but Simple Plan made sure to add a handful of Canadian festival dates to their summer schedule. All Your Friends Fest will be the spot to catch them! For the younger generation, you may have heard their hit song “I’m Just A Kid” on your FYP, but to the millennial generation, they’re more than just a viral TikTok song. They were the soundtrack to every angsty high school hallway walk, every burned CD mixtape, and every teen movie montage that mattered. With a discography stacked with emo-pop anthems like “Welcome To My Life,” “Perfect,” and “Addicted,” their set promises to be a nostalgia-fueled sing-along from start to finish. 

 

Faber Drive 

For those craving that nostalgic CanCon post-punk fix, Faber Drive is an absolute must. Bursting onto the scene in the mid-2000s with hits like “Tongue Tied” and “When I’m With You,” Faber Drive quickly became MuchMusic staples. Whether you were blasting their songs on your iPod Nano or are just discovering them for the first time, Faber Drive will bring back all the feels. 

 

Knuckle Puck 

If your taste leans a little heavier on the punk side, a Knuckle Puck set will be just the fix. This band has been holding down the modern pop-punk and emo revival scene since the early 2010s. Expect cathartic singalongs, sweaty mosh pits, and the kind of set that leaves your heart full. 

 

The Veronicas 

The Aussie pop-rock twin duo made serious waves with their 2007 banger “Untouched.” Their sound was a perfect blend of emo, electro-pop and unapologetic girl attitude. With rare appearances in Canada over the years, All Your Friends Fest might be your one shot to scream “Untouched” at the top of your lungs with a crowd that just gets it. 

All Your Friends Fest takes place June 28 and 29 in Oro-Medonte, ON.

Tickets and full lineup available at All Your Friends Festival