ILESONIQ, Montreal’s crown jewel of electronic music, returned to Parc Jean-Drapeau this past weekend for another high-octane celebration. Blowing the candles out on a magical 10th anniversary edition, this festival continues to cement its reputation as a North American heavyweight on the dance scene. From euphoric mainstage singalongs—we see you, KASKADE—to the unrelenting pulse of late-night techno—this year’s lineup made good on ILESONIQ’s promise to deliver a truly immersive dance music experience.
So, without further ado, here are Nexus Radio’s top picks from the weekend:
1. ILLENIUM: Let’s start at the end, with a euphoric, weekend-closing set from the legendary ILLENIUM. With anticipation building all week, the sweet release of this American DJ’s captivating, pyro-laden performance made all that waiting worth it. Blending emotional, melodic bass with explosive, fiery drops, ILLENIUM filled ILESONIQ’s monster of a mainstage with enough energy and vibration to power a city. But it was during the slower moments—playing through touching fan favorites like “Feel Something” and “Sad Songs”—that the set stood out the most. You couldn’t help but feel the connection of the crowd as it sang every word.
2. Ray Volpe B2B Kai Wachi: When it comes to dubstep, we can’t think of a better combo than Ray Volpe B2B Kai Wachi—two artists who are not only at the top of their game but also good friends, which always makes for an interesting set. High-voltage, energetic, chaotic—the show was everything you might expect from this duo and more. Stay tuned for an exclusive interview with Ray Volpe on our socials!
3. Sara Landry: Can anyone remember the NEON Stage ever being so packed? This weekend thousands gathered to catch a closing set from the self-styled “High Priestess of the Underground,” Sara Landry. Bringing her brooding, hypnotic basslines to ILESONIQ for an unforgettable party, Landry kept the crowd locked in for a set that was as punishing as it was transcendent.
4. Sofi Tukker: Here at Nexus Radio, we can never get enough of Sofi Tukker—and this weekend was a reminder of why the American duo behind hits like “Throw Some Ass” and “Jacaré” are the epitome of a good time. With sensual, tongue-in-cheek house tunes, high-octane choreography, and enough stage presence to fill the Colosseum, Sofi Tukker transformed the stage into a technicolor playground. Make sure to check out our interview with them at Deep Tropics 2024!
5. Black Tiger Sex Machine: For Montrealers, seeing BTSM on home turf is always special—but this set felt like a victory lap. Headlining the city’s biggest dance festival, the group brought their signature out-of-this-world visuals and cyberpunk theatrics to ILESONIQ, transforming the grounds into their own post-apocalyptic rave.
ILESONIQ 2025 proved once again that Montreal is a world-class destination for dance music lovers. The 10th anniversary edition of what has quickly become the dance music event of the year delivered a weekend of unforgettable performances and electric energy.
Make sure to check back in to Nexus Radio for more exclusive coverage of dance music’s best festivals.
