From Launch to Livestream: Sooke.live at the Sooke Music Festival 2025

One year ago, Sooke.Live made its very first public announcement at the Sooke Music Festival in Fred Milne Park. It was a sunny August afternoon, and our Vice President, Melissa, took the stage in her Sooke Radio t-shirt, sang her heart out, and told the crowd: “Sign up as members!” A few of our now-core team members heard that call and joined that day.

Fast forward to this year—and what a difference twelve months can make.

This past weekend, we were back at the Sooke Music Festival. Only this time, we weren’t just talking about Sooke.live, we were livestreaming the festival on it! Both Friday night and all day Saturday, our team broadcasted performances from the festival’s two stages directly to our online audience, bringing the magic of Fred Milne Park to listeners near and far.

A Team Effort, Old and New

One of the biggest highlights? The fresh faces who stepped up to volunteer at the festival. New volunteers jumped right in, chatting with festival-goers, helping with the tech, and getting a feel for the energy of live community radio in action. Their enthusiasm reminded us exactly why we do this, and why Sooke.live is growing so quickly.

Learning, Adapting, Innovating

Livestreaming a music festival is no small feat, and this weekend pushed us to think creatively. We experimented with different sound recording processes for each stage, testing new setups to make sure the live feed captured the heart and energy of every performance. Thanks to quick thinking, problem-solving, and a willingness to try new things, our team was able to blend the sound from both stages into one continuous stream for listeners, with transitions provided by local DJ And volunteer broadcaster Natty!

From Launch to 20 Broadcasters and Counting

In just one year, we’ve gone from launching our station at this very festival to building a lineup of 20 volunteer broadcasters, running regular live music events, and streaming them online. We’ve grown in numbers, in skills, and in ambition, and being back at the Sooke Music Festival felt like coming full circle.

This weekend felt like a celebration of how far we’ve come, and a glimpse of where we’re going next.

We can’t wait to see what the next year brings. Still not a member, or want to volunteer? Click "Join Us" above to get started!