Festivals That Left Us Wanting More (and the Ones We’re Watching Closely)

Photo credit: Cassia Hardy - crowd at Do Make Say Think / Pop Montreal

Bob Sled

Calgary, AB - January 21-25

Kicking off this Wednesday at the Palomino, Bob Sled feels like a necessary winter ritual — a reminder that Calgary’s music ecosystem doesn’t hibernate. Running through Sunday, the festival bridges the quiet stretch between the holidays and the chaos of summer, offering a tightly packed roster of local and touring artists that feels both intentional and celebratory.

This year’s lineup includes Ribbon Skirt, FAZE, Cassia Hardy, The Shivas, Motherhood, and more, with local bands rounding out a bill that highlights the strength and range of the scene. There’s something grounding about gathering in the dead of winter, boots still dusted with snow, to be reminded that live music remains one of the most reliable ways to feel connected.

Cold Bones Festival

Drumheller, AB - February 6-7

There’s something special about leaving the city behind for live music and Cold Bones makes the journey part of the experience. Taking place in Drumheller, the festival draws audiences into the badlands for a weekend of thoughtful programming that blends folk, indie, and roots-driven sounds with a strong sense of place.

This year’s lineup features Charlotte Cornfield, Tea Fannie, Cat Clyde, K-Riz, Iron Tusk, Rae Spoon, and more. After hearing rave reviews for years — especially about the intimate shows hosted at Heller Good Sandwiches — this will be our first time attending, and we’re already anticipating a festival that celebrates us coming together for a few nights of exceptional programming.

Taverne Tour

Montréal, QC - February 12 - 14

Meanwhile in Montréal, Mothland’s Taverne Tour continues to be one of the most reliable indicators of what’s bubbling up next in underground music. Known for impeccable curation, the multi-venue showcase spans synthwave, punk, experimental, and art rock without ever feeling scattered.

This year’s bill includes Protomartyr, Kap Bambino, Camilla Sparksss, TVOD, Hot Garbage, Alix Fernz, and more — a lineup that balances established heavy-hitters with artists on the brink of wider recognition. It’s a reminder that good programming isn’t about chasing trends, but about trusting taste — and we put our trust in Mothland for good reason.

Igloofest

Edmonton, AB - March 12-13 / Montreal, QC - January 15 - February 7

Long beloved in Montréal, Igloofest makes its Edmonton debut this year, bringing its signature blend of winter endurance and high-energy dance music westward. The lineup spans global electronic heavyweights and club favourites, including Alison Wonderland, Disclosure, TDJ, and Deadmau5.

More than just a festival, Igloofest is a lesson in how to throw a party with intention. For Alberta audiences, it offers a rare chance to experience a piece of Montréal’s nightlife culture without leaving the province — and if the energy translates the way we expect, it won’t be the last time.

Treefort Music Festival

Boise, ID - March 25-29

Treefort continues to be a standout for its breadth and its commitment to discovery — and this year’s Canadian representation is reason enough to pay attention. Taking place in March, the festival will feature Heaven For Real, Béton Armé, SAMWOY, fanclubwallet, PISS, jopassed, and our latest cover stars Still Depths, with more announcements still to come.

Sharing stages with artists like Magdalena Bay, Geese, and Father John Misty, these Canadian acts are positioned not as side notes, but as part of the festival’s core. Treefort remains one of the best environments to see emerging artists hold their own among heavyweight peers.

Sled Island

Calgary, AB - June 17-21

With clipping. already announced as guest curator, we are anticipating Sled Island’s first wave announcement. The Calgary festival has long thrived on its curator-led programming, and following a standout 2025 edition guided by Otoboke Beaver — which introduced audiences to boundary-pushing acts from Japan alongside local talent and festival staples — expectations are understandably high.

Known for their genre-defying approach that fuses experimental hip-hop, noise, and conceptual storytelling, clipping.’s involvement suggests a year that could lean darker, stranger, and more confrontational in the best possible way. If past curations are any indication, Sled Island 2026 will reward curiosity.

Photo credit: Shannon Johnston - SLASH NEED at Sled Island

Lawnya Vawnya

St. John’s, NL - June

Lawnya Vawnya continues to stand out as one of the most thoughtfully programmed festivals in the country, grounded in inclusivity, collaboration, and genuine community engagement. As a non-profit arts organization, its mandate extends far beyond a single weekend — supporting the artistic excellence of emerging performers year-round while fostering meaningful professional connections between local and visiting artists.

Each spring, the multi-day festival transforms downtown St. John’s into a hub for new independent music and multidisciplinary art, presenting performances alongside local voices that reflect the depth of Newfoundland and Labrador’s creative (and stunning) ecosystem.

Music Waste

Vancouver, BC - June 5-8

Music Waste remains one of Canada’s most enduring DIY festivals — not because of scale, but because of its commitment to independence, experimentation, and collective care. Held annually in early June , the four-day festival is entirely volunteer-run and non-profit. With hundreds of submissions each year and a lineup typically featuring 70–80 artists across nearly every genre imaginable, Music Waste prioritizes discovery over hierarchy.

Terminus Festival

Calgary, AB - July 23-26

Even without a lineup announcement, Terminus is already circled on our calendar for July. The festival has become a crucial gateway to international darkwave, industrial, and post-punk scenes — bringing artists to Calgary that we might never otherwise encounter.

Thanks to the vision and genre knowledge of Dickens and booker Chris Hewitt, Terminus consistently delivers programming that feels both rare and deliberate. If you missed last year’s performances from Leather Jacuzzi, Mvtte Blvck, Nuxx Vomica, Sleek Teeth, GRZZ CLL, and more, consider this your warning: don’t make the same mistake twice.

Eastern Slopes Music Festival

Calgary, Alberta - August 23

For one day in August, Eastern Slopes invites audiences into a carefully curated celebration of sound rooted in place. The festival spans folk, rock, and country, offering something for a wide range of listeners while staying grounded in the prairie traditions Alberta is known for.

Rather than chasing trends, Eastern Slopes feels like a snapshot of what’s happening here — a reminder that some of the most compelling music is already being made close to home.

Purple City Festival

Edmonton, AB - September 11-13

Purple City remains one of the most vital youth-driven festivals in the country, spotlighting the newest sounds from the global underground through a multi-day, multi-venue, all-ages format. With everything concentrated along a single downtown strip, the festival encourages movement, exploration, and discovery.

Last year saw us jumping between venues to witness the industrial force of SLASH NEED, dance late into the night with Marie Davidson, and rage alongside D.O.A. It’s a festival that thrives on refined tastes and platforms different corners of the music scene — and one that continues to prove Edmonton’s place on the international underground map.

Photo credit: Cassia Hardy - Every Lux / Pop Montreal

POP Montréal

Montréal, QC - September 23-27

Part festival, part conference, POP Montréal operates as a cultural meeting point for artists and industry professionals alike. Beyond the showcases — where we caught sets from Pompey, Yoo Doo Right, La Force, Chanel Beads, and With Victim — the real magic happens in the conversations between sets.

Whether you’re building a career or simply expanding your musical worldview, POP has a way of connecting dots you didn’t even realise were related. It’s less about catching every show and more about momentum — the kind that carries forward long after the festival.

Project Nowhere

Various locations - October 1-3

Known for immersive projected visuals that collide with an outburst of sound, Project Nowhere operates somewhere between concert series, art happening, and community gathering. It’s said to be a sensory experience where noise, light, and movement fold into one another.

If you’re curious, an upcoming show featuring Hot Garbage, Bonnie Trash, and Yoo Doo Right offers a perfect entry point. Project Nowhere attracts everyone from diehard gig hoppers to first-time show goers, fostering an environment that’s welcoming without ever being predictable. We’ll be attending the festival iteration for the first time this year, and if their past presentations are any indication, it’s one to surrender to fully.

Photo credit: Daman Singh - Crowd at BB Bomb - Sled Island