Maple Ridge News Article - Friday October 30th, 2026 by Colleen Flanagan
A heavy metal band with roots in Pitt Meadows, whose members range in age from 10 years to 12 years old, have started a music festival to bring together new and emerging youth bands together for an evening of fun for the whole community.
The inaugural Kids Rock Day Music Fest was dreamed up by members of The Fangers, and will include performances by four musical groups, including their own, at Site B Community Center in Port Moody.
Logan Maltais, 12, and Miles Van Sickle, 10, formed The Fangers in 2023.
The pair were taking lessons at Long & McQuade and met while waiting for their teachers to start their lessons. They didn’t event know they attended the same elementary school until they started talking.
Both were inspired by bands like Metallica, AC/DC, Blink 182, Green Day, and Sum 41.
When they started their band, they knew three cover songs, “Brain Stew” by Green Day, “T.N.T.” by AC/DC, and “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes. Now, they have a full band with members from Pitt Meadows to Port Coquitlam, including: Logi Vahimi, 10, Gabe Stewart, 10, and PJ Delacour, 12 – and many other tunes under their belts.
In late 2025, the boys came up with the idea for a music festival when they sat down to set their goals for the following year.
“Among their biggest wishes was a music festival centred on young people: a place where they could play, invite their friends, celebrate other local youth bands and share the excitement of live music with their community,” explained mom, Melissa Maltais, The Fangers band manager.
Her son Logan noted the festival is about making music feel accessible to other youth.
“It’s pretty cool that we get to play with bands we really like, and that our friends can come watch us. I hope other kids see us playing and think, ‘Hey, I could do that too!’” he explained.
Performers at the festival will also include: Becca Stefanson, Concrete Lullaby, and Westwood Theory.
Becca Stefanson, 18, also hails from Pitt Meadows, and draws influence for her music from a wide range of artists like The Beatles, Stevie Nicks, Jeff Buckley, Lizzy McAlpine, and Gracie Abrams.
Concrete Lullaby bills themselves at a 1980s-2000s rock revival band, and Westwood Theory is based out of the Tri-Cities and were born from after-school jam sessions and a shared obsession with making loud music.
The festival is built around more than music, noted Maltais.
“Over the past year, these young musicians and their fellow performers have supported one another, cheered each other on and grown together as part of a local music community. Now, they’re bringing that spirit to a stage where kids can rock out, parents can join the fun, and everyone can experience the joy of live performance,” she said, adding there is no need to be a seasoned concert-goer to attend.
“Whether families are coming to cheer on a young musician, introduce their kids to live rock music or simply spend a Sunday evening surrounded by creativity and community, the festival welcomes music lovers of all ages. At its heart, Kids Rock Day Music Fest is a celebration of young people finding their voices and discovering that when you build something together, the whole community gets to share in the excitement.”
Kids Rock Day Music Fest will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Site B Community Center, 3012 Murray St., Port Moody.
There will be a full bar available and Blaze Gourmet Burger Food Truck on site.
Tickets are $22.63 each for youth aged 12 and under, and $27.96 for adults.
To purchase tickets go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kids-rock-day-music-fest-tickets-2001088199673.