Festivals
Who We’re Excited to See at Shaky Knees Festival 2025
Shaky Knees 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most fun and unhinged weekends of the year. From pop-punk royalty and garage rock icons to viral up-and-comers and once-in-a-lifetime reunions, this lineup covers a ridiculous amount of ground. Whether you’re into sweaty mosh pits, singalongs with 10,000 people, or finding your next favorite artist in the middle of the afternoon, there’s something here for you.
Here’s who we’ve got circled on our schedule.
Cage The Elephant
It’s been six long years since Social Cues, and they finally dropped Neon Pill last year. It’s weird, groovy, and as unhinged as you’d expect. Frontman Matt Shultz is back after a rough patch, and you can feel that rawness in their latest work.
Their live sets are electric. If their set at Boston Calling is any indication, expect shirtless chaos, guitars getting chucked, and the whole band running on some beautiful mix of anxiety and adrenaline. This is the kind of show you stumble into and walk out a fan. Don’t sleep on them.
Lucy Dacus
Lucy Dacus is the type of artist who can break your heart in three lines and make you laugh in the fourth. A member of indie supergroup boygenius and a brilliant solo songwriter in her own right, she’s coming off two huge years. Boygenius swept through 2023 with a Grammy win and arena tours, but Dacus has been carving out time for solo activities again. She released her album Forever Is a Feeling on March 2025 and is in the middle of her headlining tour.
Her Shaky Knees set is a perfect chance to catch her in that in-between moment where she’s reflecting on the whirlwind and figuring out what’s next. Her live shows are stripped back and emotionally raw, but there’s always a grounded warmth to them. Bring a tissue. You’ll probably need it.
The Marías
Chill, dreamy, and a little seductive, The Marías bring a mood. Their 2024 release, Submarine, took their psych-pop roots and gave them a pulse. They’ve added more movement to their sound without losing the hazy magic that made them stand out in the first place.
If you’ve seen them opening for Billie Eilish on her lastest tour, you know their set will be a palette cleanser. Grab a drink, sway a little, and let frontwoman María Zardoya’s voice wash over you. Pure sunset-core.
IDLES
IDLES doesn’t do mellow. Their shows are sweat-soaked chaos with a side of catharsis. The Bristol punks dropped TANGK in early 2024, a record that leaned into more melody without losing the brute force that made them festival favorites. Frontman Joe Talbot might be the only person alive who can scream about self-love while looking like he’s ready to fight the sun.
Expect their set to be an emotional workout: loud, joyful, and a little unhinged. You will probably get shoved, but it’s worth it.
Mdou Moctar
If you haven’t seen Mdou Moctar live, fix that. The Tuareg guitarist from Niger plays with the kind of intensity that makes you forget where you are. His 2024 album Funeral for Justice is bold and politically charged, blending traditional desert blues with blistering psych rock.
At Shaky Knees, he’ll probably be one of the only artists shredding like Hendrix while singing in Tamasheq. That alone should be enough to drag you away from the main stage for an hour. Go and be mesmerized.
The Beaches
Toronto’s The Beaches have been on a killer run. Their latest record Blame My Ex was full of punchy hooks and big feelings, they’ve been packing venues across Canada, and just won a JUNO Award for Group of the Year!
They’re funny, relatable, and play like a band that’s been touring for year, which they have. If you want crunchy guitars, catchy choruses, and real “let’s scream this together” energy, this is your stop.
Public Enemy
You don’t get many chances to see Public Enemy in 2025. But Chuck D and Flavor Flav are still at it, still speaking truth, and still knowing exactly how to get a crowd moving. Even if you weren’t around when It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back came out, you know the influence.
Public Enemy redefined hip-hop and are still bringing hard-hitting beats and socially charged anthems to the stage. Seeing “Fight The Power” performed live is a history lesson and a movement all in one.
Scowl
Hardcore is alive and well, and Scowl is one of the bands leading the charge. The Santa Cruz outfit is loud, fast, and feral in the best way. Their latest album Are We All Angels brings in elements of alt-rock and even a bit of pop melody, but don’t worry, the live show still hits like a steel-toed boot.
Singer Kat Moss is a force, stomping across the stage with snarling charisma. If you’re craving chaos, or just need to punch the air for a while, this is your set.
4 Non Blondes
Yes, those 4 Non Blondes. They’re back. Linda Perry and crew are reuniting for one of their only major shows this year. It’s been over three decades since Bigger, Better, Faster, More! dropped, and you already know how the set will end. “What’s Up?” is going to be screamed by thousands.
But there’s more to this reunion than just that one hit. Linda Perry has been writing for everyone from Pink to Christina Aguilera over the years, and there’s a curiosity in seeing what this version of the band looks like in 2025.
Deftones
Deftones walk the line between nu-metal nostalgia and full-blown art rock. Their last record, Ohms, was one of their strongest in years, and tthe band is currently on their 2025 North American Tour, their first headline run since 2022.
Their live show is moody, aggressive, and immersive. You’re just as likely to headbang as you are to drift off mid-song in a haze of feedback and fog. It’s a trip. Don’t forget to bring earplugs!
This year’s Shaky Knees lineup is packed to the brim, yet we barely scratched the surface here. There’s a hundred more reasons to go. But if you’re looking to build out your schedule, these are some of the acts that are going to make the weekend unforgettable. See you in the pit!
For more info, head to Shaky Knees’ website.
