Festivals
All Your Friends Fest 2025 – Day One Recap & Photos

Burl’s Creek, Ontario – Saturday, June 28
In its second year, All Your Friends Fest brought the nostalgia and rocked Burl’s Creek for two incredible days. The two-day festival kicked off with a cloudy sky, singalongs, and a crowd ready to relive the glory days of emo, punk, and alt-rock with a fresh 2025 twist.
The festival grounds were packed early, with fans sporting vintage band tees, eyeliner, and studded belts. Groups of friends took turns snapping photos in front of a giant guitar sculpture by Briony Douglas, an art piece that fans can catch again at Boots and Hearts later this summer. It was a clear crowd favourite and a backdrop for more than a few group selfies and DIY photo shoots.

Music kicked off on the Second Stage with Canada’s own Faber Drive, who brought early 2000s pop-rock charm with a tight, upbeat set. They hit all the nostalgic notes, getting the crowd moving and singing along.

The first Main Stage act was Winona Fighter, a relatively new band based in Nashville, TN. After finishing their pre-show rituals on stage, frontwoman Coco Kinnon brought the crowd to a frenzy with her screaming vocals and high energy. Think early Paramore energy, but messier and weirder, in a good way. They’ve been grinding the DIY circuit and are finally getting some bigger festival love.

Four Year Strong were next in the lineup, taking the Second Stage. The American pop-punk band wasted no time in involving the fans. There was no easing into their set. The pit opened up immediately, and the moshing never stopped. Crowd surfers came in waves, hoisted up by strangers with grins on their faces.

Canadian indie rockers, Moneen, would take the main stage at 4:15pm. High flying kicks, guitars swinging, Moneen put on a great show and had passionate fans yelling every word. They might not be a household name, but their following is loud for a reason.

The Starting Line kept the pace on the Second Stage, leaning into their classics and not letting a bass guitar strap mishap stop the fun. Frontman Kenny Vasoli laughed it off and kept the show running, never missing a beat.

Donning leather jackets, cigarettes and dark shades, Boys Like Girls entered the main stage to a roaring crowd. From newer music to their classics, including “The Great Escape” and “Love Drunk”, the fans loved it. It was a great pick for anyone who needs a little drama with their pop.

All the way from Down Under (Australia), The Veronicas took the stage as the sun was setting. The pop duo twins whipped out the guitar and got the crowd dancing. Their live set was a little chaotic, a little camp, and always very fun. Their top hits “Untouched” and “4ever” had everyone jumping, as expected.

The American rock band Underoath brought the intensity to the Main Stage. Lead singer Spencer Chamberlain encouraged crowd surfers to surf up to stage for a high five, which the crowd happily obliged. From moshing, crowd surfing to screaming vocals, their setlist had it all.

The finale for All Your Friends Fest Day One was hard rockers Rise Against. Formed in 1999, with nine albums and a tenth on the way, Rise Against played a wide variety of their discography. From “Prayer of the Refugee” to “Satellite,” fans were not disappointed. Lead singer Tim McIlrath took a moment during their set to express their love for their Canadian fans, as well as Canadian rock bands such as Billy Talent and Alexisonfire. One of the highlights was the band taking to the time halfway through their set to perform some acoustic songs such as “Swing Life Away” and “Hero of War.” They continued playing their hard rocking hits, with smoke and pyro going off the entire night. It was an incredible atmosphere and an incredible way to end off Day One of All Your Friends Fest.
Stay tuned for our review & photos of Day Two!
Check out our favourite photos of Day 1 below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
RISE AGAINST



UNDEROATH



THE VERONICAS




BOYS LIKE GIRLS




THE STARTING LINE



MONEEN



FOUR YEAR STRONG




WINONA FIGHTER



FABER DRIVE



CROWD




All Photo Credit: Kieran Delport
Festivals
FIFA Fan Festival™ Vancouver – Shakey Graves & Grayson Repp
On June 28, the FIFA Fan Festival™ in Vancouver wrapped up the day with an atmosphere that will be remembered for years. Just after Canada defeated South Africa in dramatic fashion, scoring a last-minute winner to book its place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 for the first time in the country’s history, supporters stayed at the festival ready to celebrate.
The amphitheatre was packed from the moment the music began, and the energy never faded. Fans dressed in red and waving Canadian flags carried the excitement of the match, turning every performance into part of the day’s celebration.
American folk-rock artist Shakey Graves delivered a captivating set that balanced laid-back storytelling with energetic moments. His blend of blues, folk, and Americana fit perfectly with the summer evening, and the crowd responded warmly throughout the performance.
On the Park Stage, Grayson Repp brought his own style to the festival with an engaging performance that drew a steady audience dancing to classics celebratory songs. Together, the two artists provided a fitting soundtrack to a day already filled with unforgettable memories.
Check our our favourite photos of the show below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
SHAKEY GRAVES







GRAYSON REPP




All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer
Festivals
The 8 Artists We’re Most Excited to See at OSHEAGA 2026
The wait is almost over, Osheaga 2026 is finally just around the corner! Every year, Montreal’s biggest music festival prides itself as one of North America’s most compelling festival lineups, blending together arena headliners, rising stars, nostalgia bands, international acts, and homegrown talent into a single weekend at Parc Jean-Drapeau. With previous year acts including Chappell Roan, Tame Impala, Billie Eilish, and Muse, to name a few, the 19th edition of the festival continues that tradition. The weekend will blend together pop, electronic music, indie-rock and more, all into a weekend you do NOT want to miss!
While this year’s 89 artists lineup is stacked with anticipated sets, there are a handful of artists that stand out as particularly intriguing. Some arrive with a “set in stone” reputation as incredible live performers, while others have the potential to emerge as the festival’s breakout discovery. Together, they represent the diversity that makes Osheaga such a thrilling experience, leaving you to truly never know when you’ll discover your next favourite artist!
So, with that being said, here are 8 artists we’re the most excited to see at Osheaga 2026:
1. WET LEG
In just a few years, Wet Leg has gone from an indie-rock breakout act to a reliably entertaining live band, capturing the attention of anyone who has an interest in “tongue in cheek” lyricism, and powerful stage presences. The English indie-rock band, with an astonishing 3.5M monthly listeners, has built a solid reputation with their witty lyrics and high-energy performance.
With festival staples such as “Wet Dream”, “CPR”, and “mangetout”, their Friday mid-day set is sure to be filled with a balance of infectious choruses and self-aware lyrics that their fanbase knows and loves. Having recently played Toronto’s All Things Go music festival, the band has
successfully shown their performance style is energetic and consistent, making their 4:40pm slot at the Bell River Stage a definite must-see.
2. EMPIRE OF THE SUN
Closing out the Scotia Forest Stage on Saturday at 9:40pm, Empire Of The Sun is one of the sets we’re most excited for this year. The Australian band have spent years perfecting a signature mix of electropop and psychedelic dance, leaving fans with the perfect soundtrack to their summer. They’ve worked with other well-known artists, including Mac Miller for “The Spins”, which uses samples from their own song “Half Mast”, and Wiz Khalifa on “The Thrill.” Their performances are known to be filled with elaborate costumes and a theatrical stage design, creating an immersive spectacle that is a perfect way to close your Saturday night.
Although, unfortunately, Empire Of The Sun is playing at the same time as pop icon and headliner Tate McRae, this feels like a worthy sacrifice to make! The band already creates entire worlds with their music, performances, and costumes, and seeing that transformation in a festival-sized crowd will be such a unique experience, and one you surely won’t forget.
3. LORDE
If you’re anywhere other than at the set of Day 3’s headliner, can you really say you went to Osheaga? We were so happy to hear that Osheaga 2026’s Sunday headliner is Lorde. Lorde is a sure feature on any indie or alternative lover’s playlist, with songs like “Buzzcut Season”, “Green Light”, and “What Was That.”
With quite a handful of headlining festival stops, Lorde’s distinct vocal style and live performance balances emotional intimacy with striking visuals, creating cinematic music that many find themselves relating to. She has an undeniable stage presence, and her festival setlist showcases the full range of her discography, playing many songs from “Pure Heroine”, “Melodrama”, and of course, her newest album, “Virgin.” So, we better be seeing you at the Bell River Stage at 9pm!
4. MICO
Among the many emerging artists on the lineup, few represent the next generation of Canadian alt-pop quite like MICO. The Toronto-based singer and songwriter has steadily built momentum through emotionally direct songwriting and a sound that blends contemporary pop with alternative influences. His music, with songs like “HOMESICK” and “TV”, explore themes of identity, anxiety, relationships, and self-discovery, connecting with a rapidly growing audience that sees their own experiences in his work. Osheaga will not be the first time MICO has played in Montreal.
With his first performance here at Bar Le Ritz in 2023, following a show at Petit Campus the same year, and two at Le Studio TD in 2025, MICO has already established a loyal fanbase in Montreal. I was lucky enough to have attended all of these past shows, and will absolutely not be missing his Osheaga debut! MICO’s set has the potential to be one of the weekend’s most significant breakout performances, don’t you want to say you saw him before he became famous?
5. ZARA LARSSON
By now, anyone up to date on pop-culture has seen the adorable videos of young fans doing the “Lush Life” dance all over TikTok, and now, Sunday Osheaga attendees have the chance to see it in person at Zara Larsson’s set from 6:40pm-7:40pm on the Bell River Stage. Although she’s been in the music game for awhile, the Swedish singer had quite a unique rise to fame.
Following her “summer-aesthetic” rebrand, her song “Symphony” was popularized by the dolphin jumping meme that seemingly everyone has seen, and has even been incorporated into her performance of the song. Her collaboration on “Stateside” by PinkPantheress went viral after figure skater Alysa Liu used it in her Olympics 2026 performance, and her 2025 release of the single “Midnight Sun” became an instant summer anthem. Her set will definitely be one of the most popular of the weekend, and is sure to be THE way to start your summer. Zara Larsson’s songs and stage presence is built for festivals, leaving her set as one we’re most looking forward to!
6. WOLF PARADE
Before the weekend is over, make sure you make time in your schedule for Montreal’s own Wolf Parade. Few bands have left such a lasting mark on the city’s indie rock legacy, and their live performances strongly represent Montreal’s music scene with pride. Wolf Parade is no stranger to the Osheaga stage, as they were on the lineup for Osheaga’s very first edition in 2006, and made a return in 2016. 10 years from then, you will surely want to celebrate both their hometown roots and their enduring influence on Canadian music with them.
Expect an indie-rock and post-punk set, delivered with the raw energy and emotional intensity that have defined the band for more than two decades. Whether you’re revisiting old favourites or discovering them for the first time, this is one performance that deserves a spot at the top of your festival schedule, so don’t miss them on the Bell River Stage on Saturday at 3:20pm
7. DJ TRIXIE MATTEL
Trixie Mattel has become a widely successful and influential figure within nightlife and queer culture, transforming DJ performances into events that blend music, humour, pop culture references, and an unmistakable sense of fun, making her a perfect slot on Osheaga’s Sunday lineup.
Trixie Mattel first rose to fame on season 7 of Rupaul’s Drag Race, and continued that growth during her return on Rupaul’s Drag Race: All Stars season 3 (where she won!), and through her YouTube show “UNHhhh”, with fellow Drag Race contestant, Katya. Her DJ sets are eccentric, cheeky, and full of laughs, making it one of the most unique sets you’ll see on the Osheaga stage this year, so we’re certainly not going to miss her set on the Coca-Cola Island Stage at 5:25pm.
8. TWENTY ONE PILOTS
Finally, THE set we are not missing this Osheaga is Friday’s headliner, Twenty One Pilots! The Columbus-based duo, now on their “Breach Tour” festival run, will have one of the most theatrical and high-energy performances of the weekend. They are another act that has graced the Osheaga stage before, with a performance back in 2015, when they first started to make a name for themselves. Seamlessly combining elements of alt-rock and pop, the band has formed a dedicated fanbase, and has established themselves as one of the biggest rock bands of the past decade. With a festival setlist filled with classics such as “Stressed Out” and their newest song to gain fame, “Drag Path”, to lesser-known gems such as “Tally” and “One Way”, their closing set on the Bell River Stage at 9:05pm is one of the most anticipated of the weekend.
One of the factors that makes their festival set so successful is their ability to involve the crowd, no matter how far back you are. From multiple crowd stands, to fan-chants and a lead singer who can’t help but run through the crowd, you’re sure to be engaged every second of their set, so don’t miss this one, because we certainly won’t!
With that being said, there is no doubt that the 19th edition of Osheaga has once again succeeded in cultivating a stellar lineup that satisfies any music taste. Whether it’s the arena-sized perfection of a Twenty One Pilots performance, the indie-rock precision of Wet Leg and Wolf Parade, the visual spectacle of Empire of the Sun, or the rising star behind MICO, these sets are certain to be highlights of the weekend, and defining factors of Osheaga 2026 as a whole. So, gather your friends and put together your schedule on the Osheaga app, and make sure these artists are there, you won’t want to miss them!
Head to Osheaga’s website for more information!
