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10 Artists We’re Most Excited to See at Summer Smash 2025

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June 20–22 | SeatGeek Stadium, Chicago, IL

It’s the seventh year of Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash, and the lineup feels like something out of hip-hop fan fiction. Future is headlining. Don Toliver and Yeat are forming a duo (?!). And Young Thug is making a long-awaited comeback that’ll probably go down in festival history. This is one of those “don’t miss it” kind of years.

We went through the lineup and picked 10 sets we think will be the talk of the weekend. Whether you’re here for the hits, the chaos, or the surprises, these are the artists you’ll want to catch.

young thug

Young Thug

Young Thug hasn’t performed live in years, and after all the legal noise, he’s finally back. His first post-jail performance is going down in Chicago, and there’s no doubt the energy is going to be off the charts.

Thug’s catalog is deep, weird, beautiful, and just plain fun. From “Lifestyle” to “Hot” to his newer features with Lil Baby and Carti, there’s so much he could pull from. Expect surprises. Expect emotion. Expect a crowd that knows every single word.

don toliver yeat

Don Toliver & Yeat (World Debut as a Duo)

This is brand new territory. Don Toliver and Yeat teaming up for a full joint set is not something we had on our 2025 bingo card. It’s an odd pairing on paper—Don’s smooth, Yeat’s chaos—but that’s exactly why we want to see how it plays out.

Don brings the melodies, the vibes. Yeat brings the alien energy and viral slang. If they’ve got unreleased music together (which, let’s be honest, they probably do), this set could be the birth of something big—or at least weird and fun.

future

Future

Few artists can command a festival stage like Future. He’s a headliner in every sense—hits for days, that hypnotic voice, and a catalog that spans club anthems to heartbreak bangers.

You know the crowd’s going to go feral the second “March Madness” drops. Or “Mask Off.” Or anything from DS2. Future doesn’t need much to own a stage. Just hand him a mic, hit play, and let the crowd go off.

sexyy red

Sexyy Red

Sexyy Red is pure fun. Her music’s blunt, her delivery is bold, and she has that wild charisma that makes everything feel like a party. She’s not afraid to get a little messy with it, and fans love her for that.

If you’ve seen any clips of her live shows, you already know: this is not a chill set. It’s a twerk-a-thon, a scream-along, a good time.

lil yachty

Lil Yachty

Yachty’s been on a wild evolution the last few years. From colorful trap kid to psychedelic rocker to full-on experimental weirdo, he’s doing whatever he wants—and it’s working.

He still knows how to bring the hits (“Minnesota,” “Broccoli,” “iSpy”), but if we’re lucky, he’ll throw in some Let’s Start Here material or one of those moody guitar-heavy tracks. His stage presence has only gotten better with age.

saba

Saba

Saba is one of Chicago’s finest, and this hometown set is going to feel special. He’s not the flashiest artist on the lineup, but he’s one of the most thoughtful. His bars hit home, and his live band usually brings a whole other level.

If you want something more grounded after the high-octane chaos, this is the set to hit. It’ll still be lively, but in that “hold-your-chest-and-nod-your-head” kinda way.

ski mask

Ski Mask the Slump God

Ski Mask is pure adrenaline. His flow is rapid-fire, his beats slap, and he moves like he’s powered by energy drinks and anime references. If you’re trying to rage, this one’s non-negotiable.

He’s been quiet on the release front lately, so there’s hope we’ll get some new material too. Either way, expect pits, weird dance moves, and a whole lot of yelling.

nle choppa

NLE Choppa

Choppa’s energy is unmatched. He’s the kind of performer who’s jumping into the crowd before the first chorus even hits. His songs are rowdy, catchy, and built for live shows.

He’s also leaned more into wellness and spirituality recently, which makes for an interesting contrast—he might start his set with yoga and end it with “Shotta Flow.” We’re here for all of it.

TiaCorine

TiaCorine

TiaCorine brings that offbeat, genre-bending vibe that breaks up the lineup in the best way. She’s playful, unpredictable, and low-key one of the most stylish artists out right now.

Her songs can flip between cute and chaotic in the same breath, and she knows how to work a crowd. It’s gonna feel like a glitchy anime rave..

chance the rapper

Chance the Rapper

Chance showing up as a “special set” feels like a wink to the city. He’s been quieter in recent years, but when he shows out in Chicago, it’s always love. His early stuff still hits like nostalgia, and Coloring Book will always be a crowd favorite.

What makes this set exciting is the mystery. Will he bring out guests? New music? A full-band gospel explosion? Whatever it is, it’ll be something personal—and something the city shows up for.

See you in Chicago. Bring water. Leave the weak shoes at home.

Festivals

FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver – Kaytranada

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FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver - July 19

The FIFA Fan Festival™ at the PNE closed out another memorable week on Sunday with the biggest match in world football and a fitting musical finale. Fans packed the site well before kickoff, creating a sea of jerseys, flags, and face paint as they gathered to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina. Every big chance was met with gasps and cheers, and when Spain secured the victory, the celebrations spread across the festival grounds as supporters soaked in the final moments of a month-long tournament.

There was little time for the excitement to settle before the day’s entertainment shifted from football to live music. Montreal’s Kaytranada took over the Amphitheatre stage, giving fans one last reason to keep the energy going after the trophy presentation. Known for blending house, hip-hop, R&B, and electronic music into a sound that feels uniquely his own, Kaytranada delivered exactly the kind of set the festival needed to close the weekend.

With Spain crowned world champions and Kaytranada providing the soundtrack to the celebration, the FIFA Fan Festival wrapped up another successful day at the PNE. It was a reminder that throughout the tournament, football and music proved to be the perfect combination, bringing thousands of people together to celebrate on and off the pitch.

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

fsfs

All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer

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Festivals

FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver – The Dead South, Jesse Roper, Colin James

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FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver - July 18

The FIFA Fan Festival™ at the PNE Grounds delivered another full day of football and live music on Saturday, July 18, as fans packed the site to watch the FIFA World Cup third-place match before spending the afternoon discovering Canadian talent across the festival stages.

The day opened with one last piece of World Cup drama before the tournament finale. England defeated France in the third-place match, giving English supporters plenty to celebrate before the music began. Groups wearing England shirts could be spotted throughout the grounds after the final whistle, adding to the lively atmosphere that has become a daily feature of the Fan Festival.

Once the football wrapped up, the focus shifted to the Amphitheatre and Park Stage. Vancouver’s own Jesse Roper was among the first artists we caught, bringing his signature blues-rock sound to an enthusiastic crowd. His guitar work and easy stage presence made for a strong start to the afternoon, with plenty of fans gathering in front of the stage despite a full day of entertainment still ahead.

Over on the Park Stage, Canadian blues-rock legend Colin James reminded everyone why he has remained one of the country’s most respected performers for decades. His set mixed polished musicianship with plenty of groove, drawing listeners of all ages who appreciated every guitar solo and familiar chorus.

The Dead South closed out the day. The Saskatchewan quartet’s blend of bluegrass, folk and country proved to be a perfect fit for the outdoor setting. Fans sang along, clapped in time and danced throughout the performance.

With the World Cup final less than 24 hours away, there was already a sense that the tournament was nearing its conclusion. Even so, July 18 showed that the FIFA Fan Festival remained much more than a place to watch football. It continued to bring together sport, live music and community in a way that has made it one of Vancouver’s standout events of the summer.

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

THE DEAD SOUTH

JESSE ROPER

COLIN JAMES

FANS

All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer

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