Osheaga Music Festival review: Jam-packed lineup finds way to surprise

Competition season is in full swing.

To have a good time, we headed to Montreal, Quebec for the annual Osheaga Music and Arts Competition on Aug. 4-6 to hitch the lots for 3 days of continuous music with over 50 artists performing over the lengthy weekend.

Listed here are just some of our greatest takeaways from the multi-day extravaganza.

The Music

Our favourite second was simply Billie Eilish’s Saturday evening headlining set that got here with fairly the shock.

Mid-show, the 21-year-old pop star paused to ask followers in the event that they knew of a sure music…one which went one thing like, “Glock tucked, massive t-shirt, Billie Eilish?”

Enter Armani White.

The rapper behind the mega single, “Billie Eilish,” joined Billie on stage to sing the enduring music collectively.

Followers started screaming as soon as White appeared out of seemingly skinny air. After the duet, Eilish famous that it was the primary time they’d ever met.

Different mega stars on the invoice lit up Montreal all weekend lengthy.

Rüfüs Du Sol and Kendrick Lamar headlined the opposite two nights entertaining over 75,000 festival-goers within the course of.

For our cash, the perfect units got here from Lil Yachty, Carly Rae Jepsen, The Flaming Lips, The Nationwide and Kim Petras.

Osheaga clearly doesn’t play by the principles on the subject of style — they solely care about bringing nice music they usually delivered all weekend lengthy.

Vibe examine

By our estimation, the competition ambiance was excessive, to say the least. All over the place you regarded, there have been fixed interactive alternatives. A few of our favorites included the spectacular Coca-Cola rooftop and the trippy dwell work close to the performers.

All six music phases had been consistently in movement, too. Followers weaved out and in, buzzing from one performer to the subsequent. This was a fest in fixed flux.

Many got here dressed of their competition greatest. Let’s simply say, we noticed fairly a little bit of glitter and rhinestones. “Much less is extra” was additionally a preferred choose.

As for delicacies, poutine was the gang pleaser (to no shock).

The decision

Total, Osheaga was a enjoyable and busy weekend with unimaginable headliners and even higher vibes.

When you’re searching for a smaller Coachella each in dimension and price ticket (!) this can be a nice choice.

Big music festivals in 2023

When you didn’t make it out to Osheaga this 12 months, there are a ton of different choices for you these subsequent few months.

Personally, we suggest holding an eye fixed out on these 5 fests with lineups so bomb you’ll be kicking your self for lacking them dwell.

The largest 2023 festivals
Catbird Music Competition Aug. 19-20 on the Bethel Woods Heart For The Arts The Lumineers, Tyler Childers, Trey Anastasio Band, The Warfare On Medication, Band Of Horses
Bourbon and Past Music Competition Sept. 14-17 on the Kentucky Exposition Heart in Louisville, KY Bruno Mars, The Killers, Brandi Carlile, The Black Keys, Duran Duran
Life Is Lovely Competition Sept. 22-24 on the Life Is Lovely Grounds in Las Vegas, NV Kendrick Lamar, The Killers, Odesza, The 1975, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Power Trip Oct. 6-8 on the Empire Polo Area in Indio, CA AC/DC, Metallica, Weapons N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, Instrument
One Musicfest Oct. 28-29 at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, GA Kendrick Lamar, Janet Jackson, Brent Faiyaz, Megan Thee Stallion, Nelly

On the lookout for much more multi-day jams? Try our guide to 2023’s hottest festivals here.