About us
40 friends, a fireplace,and a pair of speakers.
That was the whole plan in 2014. Nobody was trying to start a festival. 12 years later it takes over a 100 year old building in downtown Kelowna every winter, and the plan is still basically the same.
2014
The living room
A seventies A frame lake house. A couple of speakers in the living room, a fireplace going, and about 40 friends. That was the whole thing.
Midwinter in the Okanagan goes quiet. That was the point. It was cold and there was nowhere to be, so we made somewhere.
Nobody called it a festival. It was just the best night of the winter.
2015 to 2017
Out of the house
The living room stopped fitting. We moved into real rooms with brick walls and proper PAs, and the thing that could have been lost in the move never was. People still stood shoulder to shoulder. Bands still played for a crowd close enough to touch.
These were the years it turned from a party into something Kelowna put in the calendar.
2018 to 2020
Fireside Sessions
The weekend spread out. Acoustic sessions in daylight, hip hop at Dunnenzies, a full night at BNA Brewing Co. In 2020 it ran across 3 venues over 3 days, which remains the most ambitious version of the thing we have ever attempted.
Then 2021 and 2022 did not happen. 2 winters went quiet, which is exactly the kind of winter Fireside exists to fix.
2023 to 2025
Back, and bigger
Red Bird and BNA, 3 days, 40 artists a year. Lex Leosis, Smalltown DJs, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Moontricks. By the 10th annual in 2025 the bill carried The Funk Hunters, Haviah Mighty and Whipped Cream, and the room was full both nights.
Somewhere in there it stopped being a thing we hoped people would come to.
2026
Back to the house party
Everything moved back under one roof at BNA, a new stage went into The Wardrobe, and 1,400 people came through the doors across 2 days. Miley Serious, The Free Label, The Sponges, Rumpus. Flash tattoos in the back room, a wall built out of mirrored discs, the whole building dressed by hand.
It was the closest it has felt to the living room since the living room.
Now
Year 12,February 6 and 7, 2027.
Saturday runs on low end. Bass, house and UKG across the main stage and The Wardrobe, with live art going up while it happens.
Sunday is the day party. House from open to close, starting while it is still light out, all ages until 10pm.
- Since 201412 years, 2 of them lost to the pandemic
- 600 capacity1 heritage building, 2 stages
- 40+ artistsKelowna, Vancouver and beyond
- 55+ crewIn house team, local volunteers
Still the best night of the winter.