FME 2025: Who You Should See and What to Expect at the Festival De Musique Émergente
Image Credit: Festival de Musique Émergente
We’re going to Rouyn-Noranda!!! Don’t know where that is? Well, I didn’t either until a few weeks ago...
After our recent coverage of NXNE 2025, we were reached out to cover another premier emerging Canadian music festival: FME (Festival De Musique Émergente en Abitibi-Témiscamingue)
Ahead of our big trip, here’s a breakdown on FME: a brief history, what makes the festival unique, and the acts we’re most excited to catch this year.
What is FME?
Festival De Musique Émergente en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (FME), presented by SiriusXM, is returning for its 23rd edition from August 28–31, 2025, in the heart of Rouyn-Noranda, Québec.
Known for its boundary-pushing programming and intimate atmosphere, FME brings together over 80 performances across the city’s concert halls, clubs, and unconventional venues. The lineup is carefully curated to highlight emerging talent, local icons, and global innovators, making the festival a playground for music discovery.
This year’s theme explores the blurring of lines between fiction and reality, rumour and revelation. The organizers promise a “joyfully orchestrated chaos” where experimental artists, bold sounds, and eclectic genres collide—transforming the city into a living, breathing music laboratory.
A Brief History of FME
Founded in 2003, FME has become a launchpad for new voices in music while also celebrating Québec’s rich cultural scene. Over two decades, the festival has built a reputation for spotlighting tomorrow’s stars before they break big, while also keeping a finger on the pulse of underground movements across Canada and beyond.
Now in its 23rd year, FME continues to expand its influence—attracting fans, journalists, and industry players who make the trek north for a truly singular festival experience.
When & Where
Dates: August 28–31, 2025
Location: Rouyn-Noranda, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Québec
The city becomes the festival’s stage, with events spread across main streets, theatres, basements, and pop-up venues.
Which Artists Should You See?
With such a stacked lineup, it’s impossible to see everything—but here are some standout performances we’ll be prioritizing:
Elle Barbara
(Electronic / Glam)
August 31, 8pm – Le Paramount (15 rue Gamble Ouest)
Fresh off their June 2025 release, Word on the Street, Elle Barbara is a one-of-a-kind performer blending glam, electronic textures, and theatrical energy. They also notably appeared as a “Vogue” judge alongside Madonna in Montreal, a testament to their bold artistry.
Mike Shabb
(Rap / East Coast)
August 30, 10pm – Cabaret de la Dernière Chance (146 8e Rue)
Tipped as the “future of Canadian hip-hop” (VICE), Mike Shabb is carving out a place in East Coast rap with sharp bars and magnetic stage presence. We’re expecting a high-energy set from the rapper to close out the night.
Les Trois Accords
(Pop-Rock / Chansons)
August 30, 10pm – Main Stage (7e Rue)
These Québec legends with infectious energy and tongue-in-cheek lyrics are set to light up the main stage with a classic dose of homegrown pop-rock.
Handsome Tiger
(Bass / EDM)
August 29, 11:30pm – Fizz Stage (7e Rue)
An Anishinaabe Métis and North African producer/DJ, Handsome Tiger fuses Indigenous sounds with bass-heavy electronic music. With festival credits like Bass Coast and Shambhala, he’s sure to turn FME into a late-night dance ritual.
Magi Merlin
(Alt-R&B / Neo-Soul)
August 30, 9pm – Cabaret de la Dernière Chance (146 8e Rue)
Known for smoky vocals and groove-driven neo-soul, Magi Merlin’s set promises sultry vibes and genre-bending experimentation.
Moonshine
(Afro / Deep House Collective)
August 30, 11:30pm – Petit Théâtre du Vieux Noranda (112 7e Rue)
What started as secret post-full-moon parties in Montreal has since become a global phenomenon. Moonshine blends Afro and deep house, ritual, and community in immersive performances. With a new release (SMS for Location Vol. 6, May 2025) and a European tour underway, their FME set is unmissable.
Teke::Teke
(Psych / Fusion)
August 31, 10pm – Le Paramount (15 rue Gamble Ouest)
A seven-piece band drawing on Japanese psych, surf rock, and experimental fusion, Teke::Teke delivers cinematic, high-octane shows unlike anything else on the lineup.
BéLi
(Hyperpop)
August 28, 8pm – Main Stage (7e Rue)
A rising hyperpop artist bringing glitchy, futuristic beats to FME’s opening night. We def don’t wanna miss out on seeing Béli.
Mary Shelley
(Post-Punk / Dance-Punk)
August 28, 1:30am – Petit Théâtre du Vieux Noranda Basement (112 7e Rue)
This Brooklyn’s genre-defying punk band thrives on chaos, mixing disco, shoegaze, hip-hop, and raw post-punk energy. After touring with Gogol Bordello and releasing tracks on Casa Gogol Records, they’ve earned a reputation for live shows that feel like controlled explosions.
Baby Beserk
(Synthpop / Darkwave)
August 28, 11:30pm – Petit Théâtre du Vieux Noranda Basement (112 7e Rue)
For fans of moody synths and dark, danceable grooves, Baby Beserk is one to watch.
Why We’re Excited
FME isn’t just another festival—it’s a community-driven celebration of experimentation, risk-taking, and discovery. From basement punk chaos to outdoor headline spectacles, the festival thrives on contrasts. Whether you’re looking to find your next favourite artist or just want to soak in Rouyn-Noranda’s transformed atmosphere, FME delivers a uniquely immersive experience.
We’ll be on the ground covering highlights, so stay tuned for our full festival report!
Ticket Information
FME offers several pass options depending on how deep you want to dive:
7e Rue Outdoor Pass – $75
Access to all outdoor shows on 7th Street (Thursday–Saturday).
7e Rue Outdoor VIP Pass – $180
Includes outdoor shows plus entry to the VIP terrace with bar and private restrooms.
Best Life Pass – $279.99
The full experience: all venues, all stages, all four days. Note: Arrive early—popular shows fill up quickly.
Single tickets for outdoor shows (Aug 28–30) are also available for $35 per night.
For full ticketing details, visit fmeat.org.