Olivia Rodrigo’s Bittersweet Finale, Cage the Elephant, and more, on the Final Day of OSHEAGA
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Olivia Rodrigo
The final day of OSHEAGA 2025 was equal parts high heat and high emotion, glittering pop and gritty indie chaos, legacy acts and breakout sensations. Sunday wrapped the festival with a bang, leaving Parc Jean-Drapeau full of both sweat and tears—literally, as we screamed the final note of Olivia Rodrigo’s “get him back!”
First up was The Dare, whose cult-following came dressed for the occasion. Dozens in the audience showed up in matching white shirt and ties despite the 30-degree heat, trying to mirror the artist’s signature look. “I like that you wore ties but no blazers—but you’re not committed,” he joked early on. Though he also tried to stick it out, even The Dare eventually shed his own blazer mid-set as the sun blazed down on the Coke Stage.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - The Dare
Surrounded by towers of Marshall amps (we still don’t know if they were plugged in…but they were probably just for the aesthetic), The Dare kicked things off with “Open Up,” all LCD Soundsystem-style yelps and chaotic indie sleaze energy. The performance teetered between calculated production and sleazy, a perfect embodiment of The Dare’s world. A standout moment came during “Bloodwork,” which featured a seamless blend of the Charli XCX sample “Send it to The Dare / Yeah I think he’s with it,” from the track “Guess,” which he co-produced. He soon led into “All Night” with reverberated sing-alongs from the crowd as he yelled "“LA to New York, New York to LA. All the other states, we could stay up late
or all night” — a song fitting for the after hours of a club. He declared, “I know it’s the afternoon, but I hope you’ve all started partying already.” It’s a reminder that The Dare is enjoyed best in a club environment, but is deserving of an OSHEAGA level crowd. And for the finale? The hilariously crude but undeniably catchy “Girls,” complete with the lyrics displayed in massive block font behind him. It was part performance art, part frat party, and somehow, it always works for The Dare. Before leaving the stage, he told the crowd that all his favourite artists are from Montreal—we’d gladly welcome him if he decided to stay a little longer.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - The Dare
From there, we bolted to the main stage for Cage the Elephant, who came out swinging with “Broken Boy.” If there were ever any doubts about this band’s legacy, they were shut down by the sheer number of hits that followed. “Trouble,” “Back Against the Wall,” “Shake Me Down,” “Cigarette Daydreams,” and “Come a Little Closer” all hit one after another, and it was clear we were watching a group that helped shape 2010s indie-rock radio—and are still going strong. Frontman Matt Shultz left it all onstage, repeatedly throwing himself across the stage, gripping his mic like it was the last time, and giving a performance that felt as unhinged as it was heartfelt.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Cage The Elephant
In a move we’ve rarely seen at OSHEAGA, Schultz made a run across both main stages (for context: OSHEAGA has two massive side-by-side stages to keep the music flowing without long set breaks). Even with Olivia Rodrigo’s crew setting up just feet away, Shultz ran the length of both stages, walking the runway like a deranged rock ‘n’ roll model before leaping high into the air. He told the crowd that Montreal had been their favourite stop on tour, and it showed.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Cage The Elephant
But the moment everyone was waiting for came as the sun began to dip and the familiar synths of The Go-Go’s “We Got the Beat” cued Olivia Rodrigo’s arrival. It was a perfect opener: punky, poppy, fun, and a nod to Olivia’s mixing of aesthetics. She emerged in a glistening silver corset dress, waving sweetly to every section of the park before launching into “Obsessed.”
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Olivia Rodrigo
The set spanned SOUR and GUTS, offering heartbreak anthems that had the entire crowd screaming, crying, or both. From “Traitor” to “Drivers License,” “Deja Vu,” and “Vampire,” the audience’s emotional connection to her music was palpable—highlighted by the many fan cams catching people openly sobbing mid-song. Rodrigo’s lyrics have clearly soundtracked countless breakups and messy feelings, and for many, this was a full-circle moment.
Mid-set, she paused to soak it all in. The camera zoomed in close as tears sparkled in her eyes and she shared, “This is the last stop of the Guts tour.” The crowd erupted. It felt like the end of a chapter, a once-in-a-tour moment that only Osheaga got to witness. She took time to thank her band and crew, many of whom appeared visibly moved. “We might have just saved the best show for last,” she said, smiling wide as she looked out over the sea of fans.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Olivia Rodrigo
She surprised the crowd with a performance of “All I Want,” a track that brought fans back to where it all began for Rodrigo featured on High School Musical: The Musical Series, bringing it back live specifically for this summer festival season, followed by “Enough for You,” which she introduced as “my favourite song I’ve ever written.” It was a rare moment of quiet vulnerability on a stage usually reserved for larger-than-life energy—and it made the set even more impactful.
As fireworks popped above the stage and Rodrigo bowed one final time, day three of OSHEAGA closed with an emotional exhale. From indie chaos to a pop star’s teary farewell, it reminded us how special OSHEAGA is for fans and artists alike who are riding the emotional waves of long tours and numerous festival performances, with OSHEAGA being the grand finale.
