There’s a common refrain — half earnest, half self-deprecating — in emo and pop punk communities: “It was never just a phase.” “It”, of course, referring to the love for a genre often derided by outsiders as immature — music that only appeals to teenagers in the throes of hormonal-driven angst. The inaugural All Your Friends Fest proved that adage to be true, attracting people of all ages upon Oro-Medonte, Ont.
this past weekend. Headlined by Billy Talent and Fall Out Boy on Aug. 23 and 24, the festival — organized by Republic Live, the company that also hosts country festival Boots and Hearts — also boasted acts such as The All-American Rejects, Silverstein and Jimmy Eat World.
Brooke Dunford, Republic Live’s director of talent planning and business development, said they were estimating roughly 10,000-15,000 attendees at the boutique festival, which also featured carnival rides, food trucks, and camping. Brooke Dunford is Republic Live’s director of talent planning and business development. Dunford said in curating the lineup, the goal was to allow fans to experience artists they “grew up listening to (but) never get to see.
” “It’s almost like you’re creating your favourite playlist at home where you just sprinkle in a bunch of music that you either loved listening to or that bring back those memories that you can enjoy with your friends.” Similar to Las Vegas’ When We Were Young Festival, which debuted in its current form in 2022, All .