Festivals
Montréal Jazz Festival 2025 – Ayra Starr
On Tuesday night, Nigerian singer-songwriter Ayra Starr delivered a masterclass on how to celebrate Canada Day in Montreal for the 2025 edition of Jazz Fest. The 23-year-old singer showed the people of Montreal that she’s ready for major headliner shows, before heading out to support Coldplay’s big stadium tour later this month.
More than two hours before her set started, people were already flocking to the TD Stage, undeterred by the pouring rain that had fallen an hour earlier. A sea of umbrellas, people of all ages, began to cram together as tightly as possible, just to catch a closer glimpse of the Nigerian star. A couple of minutes before she jumped onstage, the rain stopped. It truly felt like a timely sign from above, as the clouds cleared, the sun went down, and the stars appeared – the most important one of the night being Ayra herself.
“Ladies and gentlemen… I present to you… the great Ayra Starr!” a member of the crew shouted, as a giant pink star was projected onto the backdrop and a pool of blue light flooded the stage. Emerging through smoke, she rocked a black pinstripe suit with a cropped blazer and a statement necklace covered in charms. Her stage presence was undeniable, commanding her dancers around the stage while she hit every note with her R&B-forward vocals.
Throughout the set, she played some of the hits that cemented her stardom across the pond and in America, like “Bloody Samaritan” and “Control.” A highlight of the set was a cover of David Guetta’s “Titanium,” where she flawlessly hit every note originally sung by Sia, with every single one of the 20,000 people attending singing along with her.
It was a night filled with dancing, Afrobeats, and good vibes after a rainy Canada Day. It is no small feat that she is now performing a closing set on the main stage at Jazz Fest, joining a list of legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder, Esperanza Spalding, and Leonard Cohen who have also graced the biggest stages of this legendary festival. Ayra Starr is an artist in total command of her craft. Her star keeps rising and doesn’t seem close to stopping.
Visit the festival’s website for schedule and ticket information.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
AYRA STARR
All Photo Credit: Andres Amaya
Festivals
All Things Go 2026 Reveal Hayley Williams and Mitski Leading D.C. Lineup
All Things Go is rolling back out across multiple cities in 2026, and the Washington, D.C.–area edition is starting to take shape with two major names already locked in: Hayley Williams and Mitski.
The festival returns to Merriweather Post Pavilion from September 25 to 27, expanding into a three-day event with more than 40 artists expected across multiple stages. This year continues the festival’s steady growth from a D.C.-based event into a multi-city run, with stops in New York and Toronto happening.
So far, the early headliner reveal already sets a clear tone: big voices, emotionally heavy songwriting, and artists with cult-like fanbases.
For Mitski, the appearance stands out. She’s been selective about touring around her recent album The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, and previously said she wasn’t planning a traditional, full-scale tour cycle. That makes a festival slot like All Things Go feel intentional.
Hayley Williams, meanwhile, is deep into what fans have been calling “The Hayley Williams Show” era. The Paramore frontwoman has been staging a series of special headline performances in 2026, pulling from her solo catalog (Petals for Armor, Flowers for Vases / descansos, and beyond) with a loose, unpredictable format that leaves room for deep cuts and one-off moments. Her All Things Go set will be one of a handful of these appearances, which have leaned more intimate and artist-driven than a standard tour run.
The pairing makes sense for All Things Go. The festival has built a reputation around female-forward and artist-first lineups, often spotlighting acts that thrive on storytelling and strong fan connection.
The rest of the D.C. lineup is expected to drop May 4, with a presale starting May 6. A New York lineup announcement is set to follow around the same time, keeping the festival’s multi-city rollout tightly synced. Head to All Things Go’s website for more information
If the first two names are any hint, this year’s edition is leaning into artists that pull people in and keep them there.
Festivals
Governors Ball 2026 Release Daily Schedules
The set times are in. Governors Ball Music Festival just dropped its daily schedules for June 5–7, and the usual game begins: mapping your day, picking your battles, and accepting you can’t see everything.
Friday, June 5
Day one leans indie-pop into rap by night. Lorde closes the main stage at 8:30, opposite the tail end of Baby Keem(7:30–8:30). That’s your first big call: polished pop spectacle or Keem’s high-energy set.
Earlier, things get messy in a good way. KATSEYE (6:35–7:30) overlaps with Pierce the Veil (5:30–6:30) bleed, and The Beths (6:00–7:00) sit right in between. Indie fans will feel that pinch.
Midday conflicts are lighter, but The Dare (4:00–4:45) vs. Arcy Drive (3:30–4:15) creates a small fork in the road.
If you’re pacing yourself, the cleanest run is late afternoon into Mariah the Scientist (4:45–5:30), then pick your lane.
Saturday, June 6
Saturday is the most chaotic on paper. Stray Kids headline at 8:30, directly after Kali Uchis (7:30–8:30). That transition is smooth if you stay put.
The real trouble hits earlier. Major Lazer (6:30–7:30) collides with Blood Orange (5:30–6:30) and the start of Amyl and the Sniffers (7:30–8:30). Dancehall vs. alt-R&B vs. punk. Pick a mood and commit.
Mid-card is stacked with clashes: Ravyn Lenae (4:00–4:45) overlaps with Jane Remover (3:30–4:15), and Snow Strippers (4:45–5:30) runs right into Wet Leg (4:45–5:30). That last one is a true coin flip, two buzzy acts at the exact same time.
Sunday, June 7
Sunday might be the strongest day top to bottom. A$AP Rocky closes at 8:45, opposite the end of JENNIE (7:45–8:45) and Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist (7:45–8:45). That’s the toughest final hour of the weekend.
The lead-up is just as tight. Dominic Fike (6:45–7:45) overlaps with Clipse (5:45–6:45) and Hot Mulligan (6:15–7:15). Three different crowds, same window.
Earlier, Japanese Breakfast (4:00–4:45) and Holly Humberstone (3:15–4:00) form a nice back-to-back if you stay mobile, but Between Friends (2:30–3:15) cuts into that flow.
The takeaway
Friday is manageable. Saturday is conflict-heavy. Sunday is stacked late.
If you hate missing songs, plan short splits. If you want full sets, accept you’ll miss something big. That’s part of the deal, and honestly, half the fun.