With so much talent packed into two days, îLESONIQ 2025 is a logistical challenge for any dance music fan. Do you post up at NEON all day? Hop stages for the biggest names? Or chase the undercard gems? However you navigate the weekend, these are the seven sets we think deserve a spot on your must-see list.
1. Mau P: Fresh off breakout sets at both Osheaga and îLESONIQ last year, Mau P returns with even more momentum. Expect groovy, high-energy house with just the right amount of dark and dirty—this one’s for the dancers.
2. Sara Landry: A techno disruptor if there ever was one. Landry brings a relentless, industrial edge to her sets that’s earned her a cult following. Catch her on the Coca-Cola NEON stage—ideally after sunset.
3. Sofi Tukker: This duo’s playful, percussion-heavy brand of dancepop always hits live. Their performance is as much a visual treat as it is a sonic one. Bring your friends, your festival fits, and your best mood.
4. Oliver Heldens: A mainstage mainstay with an ear for crossover hits and deep house drops alike, Heldens knows how to work a big crowd. If you’re looking for peak festival energy, this set will deliver.
5. LP Giobbi: Part DJ, part pianist, part music educator—Giobbi brings a uniquely musical approach to her sets, blending house with funk, soul, and pure joy. Don’t sleep on her NEON appearance.
6. Max Styler: A rising name in the bass-house scene, Max Styler’s sound is both gritty and polished. His club-ready set should hit especially hard on a proper festival rig—consider this a sleeper pick.
7. John Summit: Yes, it’s obvious—but for good reason. Summit’s headlining return follows a sold-out Olympic Stadium show, and he’s coming in hot. It’s his party, we’re just dancing in it.
BONUS: Don’t Skip the Afterparties
îLESONIQ’s official afters have become the festival’s best-kept not-so-secret, and this year’s picks are solid. Odd Mob known for infectious bassline house and leftfield edits, is playing one of the late-night slots. Meanwhile, Chase & Status bring their UK drum & bass swagger to a club setting—something you don’t get to see every day in Montréal.
Whatever your schedule looks like, make time for the sets that move you. And stay tuned to Nexus Radio throughout the weekend—we’ll be on-site with interviews, backstage coverage, and plenty more dance music moments from îLESONIQ 2025.
