On Day 3 of Osheaga 2022, I decided to go all in and purchase a Platinum ticket. Spoiler alert: it was worth every dollar. From bottomless mimosas to watching Dua Lipa from the front pit, here’s what it was like living the Osheaga high life

The Platinum Life

Let’s start with what made this experience next-level. Early entry meant we breezed through security around 11am, and even caught a surprise: Dua Lipa doing soundcheck. Talk about a strong start.

Until about 2pm, the Garage/Platinum lounge served bottomless mimosas and handed out cute little brunch boxes. The food wasn’t Michelin-starred, but it hit the spot. I absolutely leaned into the mimosas and then hydrated like a champ afterward because that Montreal heat does not play.

Throughout the day, you could help yourself to ice cream, churros, espresso drinks, and snacks at the lounge until around 7 p.m. Add in upgraded toilets with actual plumbing and air conditioning, makeup touch-ups, RMT chair massages, lockers, and shaded lounges with comfy seating, and suddenly Osheaga felt more like a boutique resort with bangers playing in the background.

One of the most unexpected highlights of the weekend was getting to go backstage at the Scene de la Riviere. We tagged along with one of the festival directors for a quick behind-the-scenes tour, and it was fascinating to see the controlled chaos that makes an event of this scale run smoothly. From gear setups to staff buzzing around on golf carts, it was great to get a peek behind the curtain. We even snuck in a few selfies on stage (empty at the time, of course). It was definitely a bucket-list moment.

The real game-changer were the Platinum golf cart shuttle that whisked us between stages. No more crowd weaving and shuffling feet in the dirt. And when it was time to watch our faves, we had access to the front-of-stage viewing area. That meant showing up 30 minutes before a headliner and still scoring prime real estate. Not having to camp out in the sun was the highlight of our day.

The Artists

On to the music, here’s who we saw that day!

SAM FENDER

Armed with his Telecaster and North Shields swagger, Sam Fender brought British indie rock energy to the Scene de la Riviere. His vocals were powerful and raw, especially during his last song “Seventeen Going Under,” which had the crowd singing along . Fender’s set was passionate and punchy.

CHELSEA CUTLER

Chelsea’s set was the audio equivalent of your favourite coming-of-age film. She managed to keep things intimate even on a big stage. “Your Shirt” hit particularly hard and was amazing to watch live.

GRACIE ABRAMS

Gracie’s afternoon set was a perfect balance of delicate and devastating. Her lyrics drew everyone in, and you could see people swaying with their eyes closed as she played “21” and “Feels Like.” She may be soft-spoken, but her ability to command a crowd was undeniable. It felt like discovering someone mid-bloom. Keep an eye on her!

ROYAL BLOOD

Royal Blood turned the Scene de la Rivière stage into a chaos zone. For a two-piece, their sound felt huge and gritty. They engaged the crowd all the time and didn’t hesitate to make fun of us in the front-viewing pit for pretending to be VIPs. The last two tracks “Out of the Black” and “Figure It Out” almost had mini mosh pits forming in the afternoon sun. Watching them up close from the front pit was incredible.

GLASS ANIMALS

Easily one of the most fun sets of the weekend. Glass Animals brought a neon-tinted, psychedelic energy (and pineapples) that had everyone dancing. As expected, “Heat Waves” was a hit and had everyone singing in unison. Frontman Dave Bayley did not stop moving one instant and brought us along for the ride.

DUA LIPA

The queen herself. Dua closed out the festival with a flawless, high-glam set complete with synchronized dancers, laser lights, confetti, fireworks and glittery outfits. From “Levitating” to “Don’t Start Now,” she showed how she evolved into a full-blown performer. Being just 20 feet from the stage, dancing with other Platinum attendees-turned-friends was the best way to end Osheaga 2022.

This was my first Platinum-tier festival experience, and as a millennial surrounded by other like-minded folks (mostly also avoiding porta-potties and lineups), I can confidently say that it was worth it. Every perk, from the mimosas to the front-pit access, enhanced the weekend without distracting from the music.

I would absolutely go Platinum again, but next time, I’m going all-in for the full three days!

Click here our recap of Day 2 here.

All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer