OSHEAGA, Canada’s eminent music festival, has been lighting up Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau for one unforgettable August weekend each year since the mid-aughts. Now having wrapped its 18th edition this past Sunday, it’s clear that Osheaga continues to evolve, expand, and grow its reach with ever-impressive lineups and the promise of a truly memorable experience.
With pop, indie, and rock programming that consistently outshines the rest of the Canadian festival circuit—this year alone brought us Olivia Rodrigo (in the final performance of her 100-stop GUTS Tour), The Dare, Tyler The Creator, Doechii (in her first-ever performance on Canadian soil), Chet Faker, and many more—OSHEAGA has also shown a growing knack for drawing in dance music heavyweights.
This year’s lineup of dance and dance-adjacent artists was top-notch—The Chainsmokers, Funk Tribu, Nico Moreno, Barry Can’t Swim, bbno$, Sultan + Shepard, Sammy Virji, BigXthaPlug, Jamie xx, and more—but here are Nexus Radio’s top picks from Osheaga 2025:
1. INJI: Hailing from Turkey, INJI is evidently the kind of performer who likes to leave an audience sweaty—at least, that was our impression after catching her 45-minute set on the Island Stage at the tail-end of Day 3. Blurring the lines between live and DJ sets, the singer-songwriter demanded energy from the audience, leaping from the decks to the pit for an impromptu story time before launching into an Estelle cover. Did someone say versatility?
2. The Chainsmokers: Known for their ability to deliver big festival moments, The Chainsmokers met all expectations for an unforgettable show—and while one might argue that it was the fireworks and pyrotechnics that did it, we’ll make the case that sometimes it’s the simplicity of chart-topping choruses and well-paced setlists that add up to a favorite set of the festival.
3. bbno$: Vancouver’s bbno$ might be unserious, but he’s unserious in an endearing and authentic way that only serves to round out an ever-growing discography of excellent, dance-floor-ready hits. So, when he takes Osheaga’s Scotia Forest stage in a ringmaster costume, bringing on various contortionists and interrupting his set with brainrot compilations featuring that Billie Eilish cover, it all absurdly amalgamates into an undeniably good time.
4. Amaarae: Existing somewhere between R&B and dance, Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter Amaarae’s Afro-fusion sound is the kind of music you can’t help but move to. In an energetic Day 3 set, Amaarae delivered a performance that fused style, heritage, and charisma, teasing new music and calling back to her Ghanaian heritage in what amounted to an hour-long celebration of her artistry.
5. Sammy Virji: For those craving pure, unfiltered musicality, Sammy Virji delivered. A collaborator of Chris Lake’s and a leading voice in the burgeoning UK garage scene, Sammy’s performance brought a packed Osheaga crowd excellent mixes, new music teasers, and a no-frills, high-octane musical experience.
Next up, Nexus Radio heads to ILESONIQ 2025 to keep the Montréal festival energy alive. Stay tuned for full coverage, exclusive interviews, and everything you won’t want to miss.
