Yellowknife’s Steadily Deadly Festival is back for a second year, offering metal and punk performances over four days and a family-friendly rager.
“The second Steadily Deadly Fest was almost not going to happen until I kicked myself a bit and realized what I’d be missing out on,” said organizer Tyler White-Keyes.
“I just didn’t want to give up on something that I believed in.”
This year, White-Keyes said the festival is focused on bringing up more bands, meaning shows will take place in “smaller, intimate” venues including the Raven Pub, Elks Lodge and Northern United Place.
“The biggest decision for switching from one day to three days is just to create a bit more of a longer celebration of heavy music culture,” White-Keyes said.
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The 2026 Steadily Deadly Festival opens with Gnarwhal, HYFY, PARTS and headliner Comeback Kid at the Raven Pub on Friday, September 4 from 7pm.
On Saturday, September 5, Brenden MacIntosh, Fort Smith’s Amy & the Easy Hundo, Sun Starved and headliner Death By Stereo will play the Raven Pub, again from 7pm.
Both shows will feature Pronoia for an after-party DJ set.
The festival will close out with an acoustic set by Alex and Jake of illScarlett, Gi Kindly, Corey Francis and Tyler White-Keyes, and headliner Punk Goes Acoustic Vol 3.
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Wanting to offer more music and live performance opportunities that all ages can attend, White-Keyes said there will be an All Ages Rager from 4:30pm on Saturday. HEDORO will headline – with some members returning to Yellowknife after playing Northern United Place 20 years ago – and they will be joined by Punch Dummies.
“There’s just so many different opportunities, different experiences that you can get from the festival,” said White-Keyes.
With the festival over three days this year, White-Keyes said people can craft their experience to see as many or as few shows as they like.
“If you’re coming to these shows, whether you’re a fan of the bands or you’re just getting into it, you can expect to feel some good self-reflective energy or share communal energy with the rest of the attendees,” said White-Keyes.
Also new this year is an Emo Night Pre-Party on Thursday, September 3 at The Underground featuring North-182, Not Another Hardcore Band, Turtle, and a DJ set by Comeback Kid’s Andrew Neufeld.
Thinking back to his favourite memory from last year’s festival, White-Keyes said he loved Yellowknifers singing along and “going wild” to headliner Belvedere.
“There was a moment where a bunch of people just started shaking the barricade, and that got real crazy,” he said.
The Thursday Emo Night is $25 in advance or $30 at the door. The two shows at the Raven Pub are $70 in advance or $80 at the door, the Sunday show at the Elks Lodge is $25 in advance or $30 at the door with limited free entries for youth at the door, and the All Ages Rager is free thanks to a donation from Yellowknife MLAs.
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White-Keyes said a Weekend Warrior pass for $150 gets you entry to the Friday, Saturday and Sunday night shows.
Advance tickets for the 2026 Steadily Deadly Festival are available online.
White-Keyes thanked the musicians, the community and sponsors, particularly FACTOR and the GNWT, who made the event possible this year.
