SPILL FESTIVAL REVIEW: ROUNDUP MUSICFEST 2026 – DAY 2 @ PRINCE’S ISLAND PARK, CALGARY (AB)

ROUNDUP MUSICFEST 2026 – DAY 2

@ PRINCE’S ISLAND PARK, CALGARY (AB)

JULY 9, 2026

Prince’s Island Park in Calgary was treated to an unforgettable day of music on day two of the Roundup MusicFest. This is the first time ever that Roundup MusicFest has been two days, as it used to be only one day. The second day was full of excitement and amazing music as many incredibly talented indie rock and indie pop bands graced the stage, including GROUPLOVE and Foster The People.

The Royal Foundry, an electro-alt-pop-rock band from Edmonton, Alberta, opened things up on the second day. I really liked how dark and brooding their instrumentation was at times. Their sound reminded me lots of July Talk (another fantastic Canadian band). The Royal Foundry’s set was exceptionally strong and filled with thrillingly danceable, catchy synth-infused rock. Jared Salte hammered out some great guitar riffs; meanwhile, Bethany Salte was wonderful on the keys. Additionally, both have stellar vocals and a delightful stage presence. Some highlights from The Royal Foundry’s set were “Famous,” “Hopefully,” “Howlin’ At The Moon,” “I Give Up,” and “Sad Girl Summer.”

Vancouver-based indie rock band The New Pornographers were next. Their set was full of fascinating storytelling, intricate arrangements, stunning synth textures, crunchy guitar riffs, excellent hooks, and memorable choruses. “All The Old Showstoppers,” “Cat And Mouse With The Light,” “Falling Down The Stairs Of Your Smile,” and “The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism” were some main highlights from the set (all of them are absolute bangers and indie rock at its finest). The New Pornographers also performed many songs from their new album, The Former Site Of, including the beautifully entrancing “Spooky Action” and the ultra-catchy tunes “Pure Sticker Shock” and “Votive.”

After The New Pornographers, indie rock/indie pop sensations GROUPLOVE took to the stage. Before going to the festival, I only knew a couple of GROUPLOVE songs, but after seeing them live, I am a huge fan and will be listening to them non-stop for quite a while! GROUPLOVE delivered one of the most energetic and passionate sets I have ever seen. GROUPLOVE’s set was full of explosively exhilarating songs with a few softer arrangements here and there (which were just as incredible). Their set was all killer, no filler. Lead singers Hannah Hopper and Christian Zucconi were unstoppable on stage, continuously captivating audiences with their relentless, joyful energy, perfect vocal chemistry, and charmingly joyful stage presence. The other band members (Sean Gadd, Ryan Rabin, and Andrew Wessen) were also fantastic, delivering top-notch musicianship and fun entertainment. A main highlight from GROUPLOVE’s set was when their good friends Max Kerman and Mike DeAngelis of Arkells joined them onstage to perform “Tongue Tied” and a cover of The Top Notes’ “Twist And Shout.” These two songs got a massive response from the crowd, with loads of people dancing, jumping, and singing at the top of their lungs. Other highlights include “Borderlines And Aliens,” “Cheese,” “Colours,” “Deleter,” “Itchin’ On A Photograph,” “Lovely Cup,” “Malachi,” and “Raspberry.”

Foster The People was the last band to perform and they were just as amazing as GROUPLOVE. Frontman Mark Foster’s soaring falsetto was unreal. His voice on the studio recordings is spectacular but live it is so much better. He easily gave one of the best vocal performances I have ever seen live. The music sounded massive and electrifyingly cinematic. The synths and keys sounded ‘out of this world.’ They mixed impeccably with the guitars, drums, and bass. Although the synths were my favourite part of the show (besides Foster’s vocals) the guitars were also rock solid. Foster The People’s whole set was a masterclass of musicianship Plus, the light show behind the band was riveting and immersive, adding another layer to an already great show. Some of the main highlights from Foster The People’s set were “A Diamond To Be Born,” “Call It What You Want,” “Coming Of Age,” “Don’t Stop (Color On The Walls),” “Houdini,” “Pseudologia Fantastica,” “Lost In Space,” and “Lotus Eater.” Foster The People ended the night with a perfect two-song encore, the funky “Sit Next To Me” and the anthemic earworm “Pumped Up Kicks,” which of course had the whole park buzzing with energy.

Overall, the 2026 Roundup MusicFest was a super fun time, and I am looking forward to going to it many more times in the future!

Festival Links

The Royal Foundry Links

The New Pornographers Links

Grouplove Links

Foster The People Links