- Tory Lanez (Toronto)
- Toronto-based rappers must have it hard living in Drake’s shadow, but Tory Lanez doesn’t seem to mind. He’s equally talented as a singer and as a rapper, helping him straddle the line between R&B and hip-hop.
- July Talk (Toronto)
- Lead singer Peter Dreimanis’ timeless raspy voice is just one of many things to like about this throwback blues band. Their tight instrumentals, high energy, and easy chemistry should make for a fun live experience.
- Jazz Cartier (Toronto)
- Jazz Cartier’s ghostly sound and deep baritone will fit in perfectly with Osheaga’s hype mood. It’ll be interesting to hear if his more subtle beats can compete against the other acts, or if he’ll simply resort to pumping up the bass to get the crowd going.
- Dragonette (Toronto)
- What Dragonette lacks in lyrical acuity, it makes up for in attitude. All of this electronica band’s songs are instantly catchy, giving an easy point of access to fans and newcomers alike.
- Keys N Krates (Toronto)
- This electronic band will likely only appeal to hardcore fans of trap music, but those who do decide to check them out will be pleasantly surprised. The group’s perfectly-timed beatbreaks and drops show an innate knowledge of timing, and how to subvert it to great effect.
- The Strumbellas (Toronto)
- Indie folk bands have lost their novelty long ago with the over-saturation of Mumford and Sons, and The Strumbellas are no exception. Despite the band’s generic nature, its energy is high enough for it to be an entertaining festival diversion.
- Dilly Dally (Toronto)
- Having released their first album Sore last year, Dilly Dally will be revitalizing the altrock wave that has recently been relegated to Warped Tour, acting as a head-banging oasis in a sea of folktronica and hip hop artists.
- Jahkoy (Toronto)
- Jahkoy barely made this list, as he fled to Hollywood from Toronto earlier this year. But his music is so infectious and interesting that we’re willing to forgive his transgression in hopes that he comes back to Ontario once he finds himself abroad.
- Coleman Hell (Thunder Bay, Ontario)
- All you need to know about this folktronica artist: He’s Ontario-based but not from Toronto, though he did win the Juno Award for Best Breakthrough Artist, and is now signed with Columbia Records.
Ontario
- Half Moon Run (Montreal)
- Indie rockers Half Moon Run struck it big this year with a third row mention on the Osheaga lineup poster. The band’s biggest performance challenge will be proving that they are not Walk The Moon.
- Grimes (Montreal)
- Ex-McGill student Claire Boucher is returning to the Osheaga stage high off the success of Art Angels, which topped more than a couple Best of 2015 lists. Expect electro-pop and a signature, endearing lisp from the artist to whom Pitchfork refers as “a human zeitgeist.”
- Coeur de Pirate (Montreal)
- The francophone favourite, Coeur de Pirate, is sure to woo crowds with her soothing lyrics. More than that, if she plays her 2008 classic “comme des Enfants,” she’ll steal the throwback show.
- Wolf Parade (Montreal)
- After a five-year hiatus, this indie band returns to Osheaga for the first time since 2006. Since their edgier sound has largely fallen out of style in the indie scene, their return is much welcomed.
- Kaytranada (Montreal)
- The Haitian-Canadian DJ brings a welcome twist to the hip-hop electronic genre. Given that he’s 23 years old and already working with Rick Rubin, he’s a must-see for all recent college grads contemplating life choices and the student loan debt that comes with them.
- The Barr Brothers (Montreal)
- In a way, The Barr Brothers are the ideal mid-day festival band—laid back enough to give tired festival-goers a bit of a break, but never too laid back. Their acoustic arrangements are simple and elegant, and always build up to something beautiful.
- Charlotte Cardin (Montreal)
- Newcomer Charlotte Cardin played her first show outside of Canada just this week. She will bring a classic franco-jazz sound to her performance at Osheaga, something everyone can sway along with.
- Caveboy (Montreal)
- It wouldn’t be Osheaga without a smattering of indie-dream-pop. Thankfully, Caveboy’s version of this elusive genre is actually emotive, joyous, and fun to dance to.
- HAUTE (Montreal)
- HAUTE has a small fan base, but boy are they passionate. The neo-soul duo has come out with some great remixes and has a chance to gain tons of new fans at their Osheaga debut.
- Le Matos (Montreal)
- Coming straight out of the oversaturated yet somehow underrepresented genre of French Canadian electronic, Le Matos may manage to distinguish themselves through their film-inspired tracks (think TRON but at a cool club).
- Busty and the Bass (Montreal)
- These McGill alums take the next logical step forward for any Montreal-based band by taking the Osheaga stage in July. It’s not hard to see why—their sound evokes the ‘collective’ vibe that Arcade Fire gives off, but with a greater sense of fun.
- Elephant Stone (Montreal)
- One of the cooler acts to watch out for, Elephant Stone makes psychedelic rock with sitars, tablas, and dilrubas for a unique and memorable sound.
- The Damn Truth (Montreal)
- This band is classic rock: No twists, no frills, no surprises. They aren’t reinventing the wheel, they’re rolling it right, and it works.
- Foreign Diplomats (Laurentians, Quebec)
- One of the only Canadian bands that doesn’t hail from the Toronto/Montreal/Vancouver trifecta, Foreign Diplomats has a unique sound, with vocals that manage to be joyful yet despairing.
Quebec
- White Lung (Vancouver)
- Downbeat punk bands are a rarity at outdoor festivals like Osheaga, making this band’s appearance a welcome splash of musical diversity, even if it will inevitably turn off festival-goers looking for a more mellow sound.
- SonReal (Vancouver)
- Rapper and videographer SonReal will be gracing the Osheaga stage for the first time. Given his video skills, fans can hope for a visually enticing performance to accompany his set.
- Tennyson (Vancouver)
- Electronic bands are usually a dime a dozen, but there’s a sense of creativity in Tennyson that sets them apart. Songs like “All Yours” exemplify this, lulling the listener with lush synths before abruptly shifting to a much poppier realm.
- Dear Rouge (Vancouver)
- The husband-and-wife electro-pop team provides familiar and easy-to-consume tracks that will blend well into the early crowds at Osheaga.