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Festival de musique émergente en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (FME) and SiriusXM, its official presenter, invite you to the 23rd edition of the unique event offering the standout new music in the heart of Rouyn-Noranda. From August 28th to 31st, FME offers a carefully-curated program showcasing artists that combine innovative approaches and unique sounds, presenting both local headliners and up-and-coming musical talent, alongside a standout international selection that includes a plethora of exclusive concerts.
“SiriusXM is proud to renew its role as the official presenter of the Festival de musique émergente en Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Every year, FME highlights emerging artists, which aligns perfectly with our mission to showcase local music. At SiriusXM, our goal is to propel Francophone talent, whether through our North American broadcast platform or by supporting leading cultural events. We are therefore delighted to continue this long-standing partnership with FME,” explains Matilde Bourgeois, Francophone DCC, Sponsorships, and Events Manager at SiriusXM.
FME unveils the artists taking on the festival’s main stage as part of the SiriusXM Concert Series
Young artist Bille du Page is kicking things off on the traditional 7th Street outdoor stage, launching the SiriusXM Concert Series with her heartfelt anthems of freedom, building off opening sets for Cœur de Pirate and Aliocha Schneider. Hyper-pop singer BéLi follows with her vibrant yet torn, corporeal yet heady creations. Marie-Pierre Arthur then presents her meticulously crafted Album bleu, an opus that employs the energy of rock in constructing orchestral R&B pieces. For the finale, we have singer-songwriter Jay Scott, sharing his skillful musical bricolage meddling with rap verses, melodic choruses, guitar, and beatmaking through a set flush with catchy tunes.
On Friday evening, the festival has a highly stylistic amalgamation in store for us, combining psychedelia, divergent Francophone music, and cryptic poetry. First up, brainy trio Population II defend their subversive yet haunting full-length album Maintenant Jamais—which earned them a spot on the 2025 Polaris Music Prize Long List. Ariane Roy follows with songs from her excellent Dogue, “a restless second album, driven by shackle-breaking anger and inspired by sisterhood” (La Presse). The lineup concludes with Klô Pelgag and her powerful, soul-searching manifesto, Abracadabra (recipient of the Francophone Album of the Year at the 2025 Junos), and its accompanying show that defies all categorization in light of its unique blend of music, wit, colors, and movement.
Saturday at 8pm, we are blessed by Empanadas Ilegales, a seven-piece, Vancouver-based psychedelic Cumbia & Salsa band powered by experimental synthesizer sounds, slinky dub grooves, and feverish percussion excursions. Renowned magazine PopMatters describes the sound of the Toronto band The OBGMs as “a brutal, sensual, frantic, and hungry mix.” The group, known for their wild performances that converge rock, punk, and hip-hop influences, present their latest album: Sorry, It’s Over. Closing out the SiriusXM Concert Series, we treat ourselves to the catchy, sarcasm-tinged tunes of legendary Québec band, Les Trois Accords, as they draw from seven albums, offering a barrage of hits that include: “Hawaiienne”, “Saskatchewan”, and “Grand Champion”.
In addition to the Main Stage, the curators present a moonlit concert series on the Fizz Stage—also located on 7th Street—starting Thursday with hyper-pop-touching-on-R&B artist, Virginie B. Friday features Anishinaabe Métis DJ of North African descent, Handsome Tiger (Vancouver, BC), and his electro tracks informed by traditional music. On Saturday, Poolgirl offer their Riot Grrrl movement-inspired blend of garage and grunge.
“Fizz is thrilled to co-present the Festival de musique émergente for the second year in a row. We feel privileged to be at the heart of the festivities and to allow festival-goers to experience memorable moments thanks to the artists who will perform on the Fizz Stage. By supporting the discovery of new musical talent and fostering genuine connections, we are proud to contribute to enriching the cultural life of our communities,” stated Martin Gendron, General Manager of Fizz.
For over twenty years, Festival de musique émergente en Abitibi-Témiscamingue has established itself as a fertile ground for emerging talent and innovative artistic practice. True to its unbridled spirit, the festival returns in 2025 with an edition aiming to blur the lines between fiction and reality, rumor and revelation. Amidst a joyfully-orchestrated chaos, music remains the compass, the curators proposing a rich, surprising, and vibrant program, where novel sounds, leftfield artists, and bold propositions coexist. Once again, FME vows to transform the city into a living and breathing laboratory.
Festival passes and concert tickets
This year, FME offers three types of festival passes:
The Passeport site extérieur 7e Rue (7e Rue Outdoors Festival Pass), costing $75, grants access to all outdoor shows presented on 7th Street, from Thursday to Saturday.
The Passeport VIP site extérieur 7e Rue (7e Rue Outdoors VIP Festival Pass), priced at $180, offers access to the same shows, plus entry to the VIP terrace, which includes a bar and private restrooms.
In addition to outdoor concerts, both of these festival passes give you a 20% discount on up to 4 tickets for paying shows in the official program. A promotional code will be sent via email to passholders.
The Passeport Best Life (Best Life Festival Pass), for ultimate music lovers, costs $279,99 and grants access to all venues, including both outdoor stages, for all four days of the festival. You can also move from venue to venue at any time. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: even with this ultimate festival pass, we suggest that you arrive early for popular shows, guaranteeing you a spot. If a venue is already at full capacity upon your arrival, you’ll have to wait for a space to open up before you can enter.
Single tickets for August 28-30, 2025, are also available for purchase at a cost of $35 per evening.
Sales for all three festival passes as well as tickets for the outdoor events begin today, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 11:00am EDT.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and download the FME app to stay updated on future announcements!
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Media Relations & Media Inquiries
Regional and Northeastern Ontario | Geneviève Décarie : 819 763-0753 / [email protected]
National | Sonia Cesaratto: 514-206-4886 / [email protected]
International | Danny Payne : [email protected]
Europe | Clara Dhilly / [email protected]
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