There’s nothing better than a music festival to discover new talent. This year, Osheaga is supporting a whopping 87 acts over three days (August 1-3). The iconic Montreal event is the biggest music festival in Canada and will be celebrating its 18th iteration this summer. An unmissable weekend of live music spanning across genres, Osheaga is a place where anyone is welcome and a wide range of music fans can connect with their favourite artists or maybe… their new favourite artists?
Beyond this year’s headliners (including Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams, Doechii, and The Beaches), there are some truly amazing emerging creators making their mark on the Osheaga stage for the first time. We know from firsthand experience that there’s nothing better than adding a bop to your Spotify before the artist blows up, and these artists are sure as hell about to blow up. Here are our top picks for emerging women and gender diverse artists to catch this year at the festival. Start listening now with our Spotify playlist!
Mint Simon, Photo by Mathieu Samson
Mint Simon is a queer Canadian pop artist who fuses bold theatricality with infectious pop hooks and radical vulnerability. Their new EP Chimera is an edgy and poetic pop album with electronic elements pulled straight from the 80s club scene. Honest, fun, and thoughtful, this artist speaks authentically on the sensation of falling somewhere in between.
You may recognize some of their music from Grey’s Anatomy or Orange Is the New Black, but their first solo slot at Osheaga will showcase the power of their music beyond the small screen. They recently took home the third-place prize in Canada’s Walk of Fame Emerging Musicians Program — this artist is one you wanna add immediately to all your playlists.
Tinzo & Jojo
Siblings Tinzo and Jojo are the DJs behind the New York based party Book Club Radio and are bringing the BEATS to the Osheaga Afterparty this year!
With a passion for music rooted in the LGBTQIA+ experience, Tinzo promises to bring the heat with beats that draw inspiration from indie dance, house, and soul, while Jojo brings their expertise as a music documentarian to light up the dance floor. Unapologetically joyful and cool, these two are an unmissable act at the Osheaga Afterparty.
Jade LeMac, Photo by Sahil Kumar
Jade LeMac has the indie pop sound we’re all craving these days. From her viral hit Constellations to her 2024 album Confessions — it’s all magic. This Vancouver-based artist is a thoughtful lyricist and certified cool girl, with a plethora of must-add bops in her canon of work. We will not be missing our opportunity to see Jade live on the Osheaga stage.
Alemeda
Obsessed is an understatement. If Alemeda isn’t on your radar yet, fix it immediately. This Ethiopian-Sudanese singer is genre-blending her way to pop-rock royalty. Mixing retro textures with futuristic edge, and serving vocals that do not miss, her tracks travel from the 70s to the 2040s. She’s opening for Halsey this year (!!!), so consider this your chance to see her up close before the venues get massive.
Bktherula
Don’t sleep on Bktherula. This rapper is smashing norms and bringing an electric, almost otherworldly energy to Osheaga this year. With a sound that swerves between rage-fuelled punk and dreamy, Bktherula is part of a new vanguard of artists reshaping what rap looks and sounds like. Her sets are pure catharsis—raw with emotion and talent to match. Whether you’re a longtime fan or hearing her for the first time, expect to leave transformed.
If you’re into crying on the dance floor (in a good way), run, don’t walk, to Gigi Perez’s set. The Cuban-American artist/producer/vocal powerhouse is bringing her raw, poetic sound to Osheaga on August 3, and trust: it’s gonna hit. Her self-produced debut album At the Beach, In Every Life is packed with emotional gut punches and acoustic textures that feel like reading your own diary out loud (but with better vocals).
With viral hits like Sailor Song racking up over a billion streams and earning spots on Rolling Stone’s “Pop Acts to Watch” and Billboard’s “Artists to Watch” lists this year, Gigi is clearly on the rise, but her music still feels intimate, almost secret. Catch her now, in between her summer tour stops with Hozier!
To catch more of our Osheaga content, follow along on our Instagram. If you are heading to the festival — check out the Osheaga 2025 APP and find all these amazing acts and artists!
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