Sommo Festival 2026 Day One Review: Twenty One Pilots, KALEO, Rêve & More
Sommo Festival Opens with Powerful First-Day Performances
It was an exciting, chilly day as I made my way to the gates of Sommo Festival, on Prince Edward Island, Canada, taking in the view of the lush, rolling hills as the sun poked out from behind the clouds. The energy in the air was palpable as fans lined up at the gates, setting the stage for two unforgettable days celebrating incredible artists and the very best in local culinary excellence.
2026 marks Sommo Festival's fourth year since launching in 2023—the brainchild of Ben Murphy, CEO of Whitecap Entertainment. Murphy explained to Rock DNA Magazine the idea came to him in 2021 as an offshoot of his highly successful Cavendish Beach Music Festival, a country-focused event that has been a musical staple of Prince Edward Island for nearly 18 years. But with Sommo, he wanted to create a space for more rock-leaning artists while highlighting the wonderful food PEI is known for.
Standing tall on the grounds were three stages: Nova 7 Sandbar and Colliding Tides, home to a stacked musical lineup and one for exciting culinary demonstrations. It was a setup designed to dazzle all our senses.
So let's get into it.
The Nova 7 Sandbar Stage may have been the name on the schedule, but it should have been called the "Super" Nova 7 Sandbar Stage for its explosive sound and powerful performances. With DeeDee Austin, Melt, Rêve, and MARIS delivering an array of musical styles and incredible vocals, this stage was impossible to ignore.
Pop Meets Tradition: DeeDee Austin Shines at Sommo
DeeDee Austin delivered a powerful set showcasing her talent while giving visibility to and representing the Abegweit First Nation of Prince Edward Island, one she is a part of. Originally from Nova Scotia, she spent a lot of time on PEI, as her connection runs deep with family roots spanning back generations. Her performance was packed with strong vocals, hard-hitting lyrics, and undeniable beauty. Her music is a blend of contemporary pop with traditional Indigenous sounds. Backed by a four-piece band, DeeDee wove through songs like "Stay Dancing" and "Break Free." Throughout the show, she had Bria Vincent and Sophia Bourque, two local community dancers on the stage, dressed in stunning traditional Abegweit attire, adding an impactful layer of representation.
In a truly standout moment, DeeDee sat at a piano to perform "Buried Truth," a song reflecting her grandmother's experience attending a residential school. For those unfamiliar, residential schools were institutions where Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families to assimilate into Euro-Canadian culture. The lyrics of "Buried Truth" hit deep and gave the audience a glimpse into history and shined a light on stories that helped and inspired DeeDee's artistry.
DeeDee's energy never wavered, bringing the set to an energetic close with "Somebody New," leaving everyone moving until the end.
Be on the lookout for DeeDee's interview with Rock DNA Magazine as we look deeper into the music.
Melt Brings the Heat
Though the wind was blowing and the air was chilly, Melt managed to bring out the sun and turn up the heat. Since forming in 2017, lead vocalist Veronica Stewart-Frommer, lead guitarist Marlo Shankweiler, and bassist Lucas Saur have rocked countless stages with their remarkable sound and today was no exception. Their sweet fusion of pop, soul, and rock had festivalgoers hooked. Dressed in a mesh top, black shorts, a cheetah-print belt with a cheeky buckle, and bright red sunglasses, Veronica lit up the stage, leading the crowd through Melt's rich discography. Songs like "Plant in the Garden," "Fake Romantic," and "Heaven" had the entire crowd dancing with smiles on their faces, while curious onlookers were lured in by the sensational sounds flying off of the stage.
Dressed in a black ensemble with glasses to match, Lucas was another undeniable force. Wielding a vibrant orange five-string bass, he delivered a solid bassline and solo after solo, captivating the crowd. Meanwhile, working her magic on a hollow-body guitar, Marlo was the gel that meshed Melt's iconic sound together with her killer riffs and rhythmic skill.
"Stay for the High" truly showcased Veronica's rich, soulful yet lightly grit-toned voice. In a cool twist, Melt put their own spin on Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars.” They also delivered “Sour Candy,” the song that catapulted them into the spotlight in 2017, which proved to be a crowd favorite and left fans wanting more.
Rêve Delivers Pure Pop Perfection:
Briannah Donolo, known professionally as Rêve, set the stage ablaze, serving pure pop perfection in front of a packed crowd. Rêve first made waves in the music scene with her hit "CTRL + ALT + DEL" in 2021, with more than 66 million streams on Spotify. Since then, she has released numerous singles and a debut album, Saturn Return, on top of her most recent single "Devour" in June of this year. This Montreal-born, Toronto-based artist didn’t come to play—she came to move the crowd.
The energy in the air was electric, making it impossible not to want to dance the moment the DJ pressed play on Rêve's opening track. From impressive vocals to her polished choreography, with two dancers in tow, Rêve delivered a performance filled with insane energy that effortlessly pulled the crowd into her pop euphoria.
"Devour," "Big Boom," and "Contemporary Love" kept the fans moving non-stop. Paying homage to one of her biggest inspirations, Rêve covered Robyn's hit "Dancing on My Own" from behind a piano. Fittingly, like her name, which is French for "dream," Rêve left Sommo in a dreamlike state. Her set brought forth a collection of irresistible pop tracks reminiscent of the dance hits that shaped the late 90s and early 2000s dance and music scene.
MARIS Brings MOSH★PIT to Prince Edward Island
Bringing a sensational day at the Nova 7 Sandbar stage to a close was L.A. -based singer-songwriter MARIS. And if you didn't know who she was before the set, you definitely did after.
MARIS burst onto the stage rocking a varsity jacket over a cut-off Queen t-shirt, leopard-print pants, and black boots. Along with her signature star above her left eye, painted in blue, and two red pop tabs adorning each cheek. Behind her, drummer Tiger sat at a white TAMA drum set with neon-orange drumsticks in hand. As the beat dropped, MARIS ignited the crowd with her hit, "The Fight."
From there, she tore through a thrilling selection of songs from her new EP MOSH★PIT, along with hits from past bodies of work. She pulled the audience in with her edgy yet sweet, powerful voice. MARIS worked every facet of the stage, moving from left to right and leaning over the barricade to hold hands and connect with as many new and familiar fans as possible. She kept the energy high with a cover of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" while the whole crowd beamed and sang along. Her song "Missing Me" fired everyone up as she FaceTimed with the friends and family of those in the crowd so they wouldn't feel the Sommo FOMO.
And, dare I say, this audience was privileged to experience the first live performance of her latest single, "That's My Girl." MARIS closed out the set with "Bodies on Fire," her infectious pop-rock sound filling the Nova 7 Sandbar Stage one last time as the crowd smiled from ear to ear.
MARIS so kindly took the time to answer questions for Rock DNA Magazine. Lookout for her interview.
Now, if you thought that was all the music Sommo's first day had to offer, think again. Over at the Colliding Tides Stage, Baby Nova, KALEO, and Twenty One Pilots were next to crash in.
Baby Nova Brings an Exciting Blend of Country Pop
Baby Nova took the Colliding Tides stage and delivered a gripping taste of country pop sounds. She is no stranger to PEI or this stage, having performed here a decade ago during the Cavendish Beach Music Festival. Though currently based in L.A., she grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, before making her way to the Toronto music scene. Inspired by singers like Lana Del Rey and Dusty Springfield, she released her debut album Shhugar on January 16, 2026.
Baby Nova came out swinging with songs like "Jesus, Close Your Eyes," "Broke Bitch Boogie," and "Death Wish." Her sound lives in a sweet space between country and pop, marked by a vivid and visceral storytelling structure. In a way, her music took me to the same place Ethel Cain's does, slightly moody and undeniably cinematic. She chatted with the crowd, telling them stories about her songs and joking about all the wind before treating festivalgoers to "I Cried a River Through Palm Springs," an unreleased track, and "Sad Porn." Baby Nova closed out her set with her hit "Too Pretty for Buffalo."
KALEO Takes Us on a Journey
KALEO took to the Colliding Tides stage as the sun began to dip below the horizon and the chilly night air crept in. Frontman Jökull "JJ" Júlíusson led the band, joined by Rubin Pollock on lead guitar, Davíð Antonsson on drums, Daníel Kristjánsson on bass, and Þorleifur Gaukur Davíðsson on harmonica and keyboard. Together, they took festivalgoers on a journey through more than a decade of their music.
"Broken Bones," from their 2016 album A/B, kicked things off, setting the tone and pulling the crowd into the band's blend of blues, rock, and folk. They followed with "Still No Good" and "Bloodline." Switching between acoustic, hollow-body, and full-on electric guitar, JJ showed off his masterful guitar skills along with his smoky, soulful voice.
Þorleifur stole the spotlight, wailing on his harmonica during "Backdoor" as the crowd cheered him on. The moment everyone had been waiting for arrived with the band's massive hit "Way Down We Go." With eyes locked onto the stage, the crowd sang along at the top of their lungs. Even those at the very back rose to their feet to take in every second of this moving and beloved track.
Twenty One Pilots Leaves Its Mark on Sommo
It had been about nine and a half hours since the gates officially opened at Sommo, and for many of the eager fans waiting at the barricade, their time had finally come. After more than 15 years of making music and touring around the world, Twenty One Pilots finally made their Prince Edward Island debut, and they undoubtedly left their mark.
Bright red lights flickered from above as smoke permeated the stage, with a video montage playing as Josh Dun sat behind a sick white drum set and began to play. As the music built, Tyler Joseph shot into the air over his piano and grabbed a red-corded, glowing microphone. He launched into "Overcompensate," as the sea of fans sang along, setting the tone for an unforgettable set. Without skipping a beat, Tyler made his way into the screaming crowd, where fans held a platform above their heads for him to stand on while he sang "The Contract."
In a showstopping moment that had everyone looking up, Josh scaled a giant tower and sat behind a black drum kit to perform "Drum Show" while Tyler sang among the fans. During "The Ride," Twenty One Pilots brought up an unsuspecting security guard named Connor to sing alongside them and their thousands of fans. As the night continued, the hits kept coming as Twenty One Pilots ran through their more than a decade's worth of music. They mashed up Cher's song "Believe" with their track "Tally," then played The White Stripes' monstrous hit "Seven Nation Army."
It was so interesting and exciting to witness the lines between stage and audience become blurred throughout the night. The crowd was such an important aspect of the show, and Twenty One Pilots made sure of it. In return, festivalgoers gave them all their energy. As confetti rained from the sky, Twenty One Pilots closed out the night in the crowd again, playing two drums and singing "Trees" while all of Sommo sang along to the very last note.
As the last pieces of confetti settled and festivalgoers slowly made their way through the gates, the energy, excitement, and joy of Sommo Festival's first day lingered, a testament to the undeniable power of live music. But with another day of incredible performances and unforgettable moments still to come, the excitement for day two was already building.
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