The 1st annual Pemberton Music Festival
By Aaron “A*maze” Joseph
One of British Columbia’s biggest celebrations of music was nothing short of amazing with over 60 musical acts in three days. The Pemberton Music Festival was a huge success and is now one of the music festivals to rival. The three-day event brought in over 40,000 people to the small community of Pemberton, B.C. a visitor rate that has never been present even in the valley’s gold rush days.
The inaugural year of the music festival was better than gold for some, especially with a lineup which included: Nine Inch Nails, Metric, Jay-Z, Coldplay, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Tragically Hip, Buck 65, N.E.R.D. & more. Music fans finally got the chance to witness firsthand what a music festival is all about, and would agree it was worth the wait and the distance.



Buck 65’s set on the Lillooet Stage

Chromeo mixed it up for the people who managed to get into the Bacardi B-Live tent. The line up to get into the tent extended deep into the festival grounds.

We think this guy may have had a little too much to drink.

The Flaming Lips performing on the Mount Currie stage.

Though overpriced, some of the food was pretty good. Right Houston?

Jay-Z live on the Mount Currie stage. The audience loved him.



Despite the profanity, drug use and highly sexual vibe, the Pemberton Festival was a family event?

Matisyahu live on the Lillooet stage.

They arrived late due to heavy Highway 99 traffic, but N.E.R.D.’s stage show made up for their lateness.


Sam Roberts Band live on the Mount Currie stage.


Serj Tankian of System of a Down controlled the audience amazingly during his Mount Currie stage set.

Slip and slide action for the campers!

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers were the highlight for the older crowds.


Gordon Brownie and the Tragically Hip put on a great show on the Mount Currie stage for their fellow Canadians.


The infamous Bacardi B-Live tent.

A glimpse at the audience for Coldplay as they rounded off the event.
* Photo taken by Aaron Joseph. ** Photo taken by Hugo Lunny
The 1st annual Pemberton Music Festival | Pemberton Festival 2008 Photos


