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High Water Festival 2025 – Day 2 Recap & Photos

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Riverfront Park, North Charleston – April 27, 2025

Day Two of High Water Festival rolled in under clouds, but the rain stayed away and the vibe stayed strong. The festival settled into its rhythm, with smaller crowds than past years and a slightly more relaxed pace. That worked in its favor as there was space to roam, time to eat some BBQ, and plenty of great music from start to finish.

Throughout the weekend, the festival staff was very polite, helpful, and on top of things. The festival included VIP and VIP Platinum viewing areas and lounges, as well as regular GA pits, food trucks, and bars.

ETHAN TASCH

Ethan Tasch had a midday slot and a growing crowd. There’s a definite Mt. Joy-adjacent vibe. Tasch didn’t try to be flashy. Instead, he leaned into sincerity, clean guitar, and smart lyrics. It was an easy set to fall into if you were grabbing a beer and needed a soundtrack for your sunburn.

GIGI PEREZ

Gigi Perez is about to blow up (she already has to be honest). The energy at her set felt louder and a little more intense. Fans were there early, singing everything. Some were even in tears. Perez has the kind of voice that cuts right through, with no filter. This might be the smallest stage she ever plays again. People were taking notes!

THE WAR AND TREATY

As usual, Michael and Tanya Trotter were electric. The War and Treaty can flip a crowd from laid-back to shouting in under a minute. Michael didn’t stay seated at the keyboard for long, and Tanya’s voice could probably carry across the Cooper River unaided. “Hey Driver” got the biggest response (after all, everyone knows that one), but the new material landed strong too. Their chemistry onstage is undeniable and a pleasure to watch.

WILD RIVERS

Wild Rivers brought sunset vibes even when the sun wasn’t out. The Canadian trio was tight, polished, and charming. They’ve clearly been doing this for a while, and it shows. Harmonies hit right, and their JUNO cred felt fully deserved. They handled the big stage like pros, and the crowd was into it.

TRUMPLED BY TURTLES

A little bit of bluegrass chaos in the middle of a mostly-indie lineup can be a great thing. Trampled by Turtles came in hot and played like they were being chased. “Codeine” got the biggest reaction. They don’t slow down, and the crowd didn’t want them to. People were jumping like it was a punk show.

WAXAHATCHEE

Katie Crutchfield brought her full band and didn’t hold back. Compared to her recent duo sets, this one was louder and more playful. She was funny between songs, and the sound was sharp. It wasn’t a showstopper, but it was a solid, grounded set.

COUNTING CROWS

Counting Crows brought a little time travel to the Stono stage. Adam Duritz still sings like he’s building the song in real time. “Round Here” opened the set, and from there they hit plenty of old favorites. None of them sounded quite like the studio versions which is all due to Duritz’ talent. His voice wandered and improvised often, and it worked. The band behind him sounded great, adding to the experience.

FILPTURN

Flipturn is in its stride and they knows it. They’re playing like they’ve got something to prove. Dillon Basse spun around like he was plugged into the amps, while Mitch Fountain made the constant guitar-to-keys swaps look easy. The fan base is already hardcore, and this set probably added a few hundred more.

ARCADE FIRE

Canadian band Arcade Fire is a spectacle. They had nine people on stage, all bouncing between instruments, trading vocals, and building sound. “The Suburbs” and “Ready to Start” got loud singalongs, but “Pink Elephant” and “Rebellion (Lies)” were the real stunners. Régine Chassagne was all over the stage on violin, keys, drums, and vocals. Her duet with Win Butler (who dipped into the crowd at some point) during “Pink Elephant” was both intimate and sweet. It was an absolutely packed closer to the festival. The crowd didn’t move an inch until the last note rang out.

The vibe of High Water Festival may have slightly changed, but the bones are still good. There are more national sponsors, fewer local booths, but the music is still the anchor. Day Two was a little less rowdy and a little more reflective than Day One, and it was still 100% worth showing up for. We can’t wait for High Water Festival 2026!

Head to our Facebook page for the full Day Two gallery!

All Photo Credit: Lane Bickett

Festivals

FIFA Fan Festival™ Vancouver – Shakey Graves & Grayson Repp

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FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver - June 28

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

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Festivals

The 8 Artists We’re Most Excited to See at OSHEAGA 2026

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osheaga 2026 banner

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!

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