Last week, I made the trip back to Montreal to take in the first night of Pop Montreal 2025.
This year’s lineup leaned heavily toward Montreal and Canadian artists, with only a handful of international acts, but that’s always part of the charm—getting to discover and reconnect with what the local and national scenes have to offer.
Things kicked off at the opening party, where Nora Kelly Band and Kinji00 took the stage, and The Berta Boys kept the energy flowing on the decks.
It was the perfect chance to ease into the festival, catch up with familiar faces, and get a feel for what was ahead.
From there, I headed to Théâtre Fairmount to catch most of Laurie Torres’ set.
Performing material from Après coup, their performance was a striking blend of experimental textures and emotional intensity that held the room in a hush.
The rest of my night was spent at P’tit Ours for the Next Door Records showcase, which packed plenty of variety into one space.
Casper Skulls delivered a tight, loud 30-minute set, reminding everyone of their knack for raw, driving rock.
SAM WOY, representing Montreal, brought a mix of art-rock, pop, and post-punk energy, while Wild Black closed things out with a shimmering set of indie electro-pop that had the crowd moving.
A strong start to Pop Montreal 2025.
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