îLESONIQ wrapped up its 11th edition earlier this month, and somehow it continues to raise the bar. Day 1 gave us an early weather scare! But as any seasoned festival-goer knows, a little rain was never going to stop 40,000 passionate dance music fans from showing up. It makes August and epic midway mark to summer.
Before we get into the music, I want to take a step back.
îLESONIQ has had my heart since my first edition in 2022. Every summer, Parc Jean-Drapeau transforms into a playground for dance music lovers from across Canada and beyond. There’s something special about stepping onto the island and immediately feeling that energy. Friends reconnect. Strangers become family. For two days, the outside world fades away and the only thing that matters is the music.
This year’s edition felt especially meaningful. I was successfully able to enjoy this experience not just with EDMTunes but also 17 of my friends all traveling from Toronto. As Canada’s largest EDM festival, îLESONIQ continues to bring some of the biggest names in electronic music to Montréal while creating an experience that feels uniquely its own. The massive Bell OASIS stage once again stood at the center of it all. Drawing thousands of fans together from sunset through the final fireworks.
My weekend actually started before the festival gates officially opened. On Thursday, we were invited to Parc Jean-Drapeau for the unveiling of a new art installation called Le Projet Canopée. It ended up becoming one of my favourite parts of the entire weekend.
The Lily Pads That Became Everyone’s Meeting Spot
Designed by Margot Lacoste and Fernando Maya, the installations took nearly two years to bring to life. During the day, their oversized leaves provided much-needed shade from the August heat. After sunset, they transformed into glowing works of art that completely changed the atmosphere of the site.
The artists envisioned the space as both a gathering point and a place to slow down, reconnect, and experience the festival in a different way. By the end of the weekend, it had become exactly that. Everywhere you looked, people were meeting friends, or simply sitting beneath the illuminated canopies and taking in the moment.
For my group, the lily pads became our home base. Since we spent most of Day 1 at the Mirage stage, the installation turned into the perfect meeting point whenever we got separated in the crowd. What started as an art installation quickly became one of the most functional additions to the festival grounds. Also blending art, community, and practicality in a way that felt very Montréal and very îLESONIQ.
Day 1: Rain Delays, Epic B2Bs, and a Boris Brejcha Masterclass
Day 1 couldn’t come soon enough, especially after getting a glimpse of an uncrowded Parc Jean-Drapeau on Thursday. The excitement was building all week, and we arrived as Matt Sassari was throwing down and then in time for SIDEPIECE.
Getting our crew organized across the festival ended up being surprisingly easy thanks to a few landmark meeting spots. There was the iconic Monster sponsored structure overlooking the Bell OASIS stage, the bright pink stairs at the Coca-Cola NEON stage, and the lily pads at the Mirage stage. Those lily pads, became exactly what they were intended to be: a place for friends to reconnect, regroup, and find each other in the middle of the festival chaos.
We settled in quickly as SIDEPIECE whipped the crowd into a frenzy. The energy was high, and everyone was hoping the weather would hold. Unfortunately, as their set wrapped up and anticipation started building for Sub Focus, festival-goers were hit with a weather warning. Rain, thunder, and lightning sent crowds scrambling for shelter.
For a while, everyone stood packed under stages and covered areas, watching the skies and silently making deals with the weather gods. Rain was one thing. Lightning was another.
Thankfully, the storm passed just enough for the music to continue. Then, from somewhere in the crowd, someone yelled, “Sub Focus is on!” The reaction was instant. People smiled, grabbed their friends, and sprinted back toward the stage. Just like that, the festival was alive again.
The rest of the day unfolded beautifully, especially at the Mirage stage, where I spent most of my evening. One of the most anticipated sets was Yotto b2b Cassian. After social media jokes and playful back-and-forth between the two melodic house heavyweights, fans finally got to see the partnership come to life on stage. The “Kermaveljet Brothers in Cream” duo delivered exactly what everyone hoped for. From blending their biggest tracks to deep melodic cuts and keeping the crowd locked in from start to finish.
As they wrapped up, Tiga took the stage. The only problem was that everyone was expecting Boyz Noize.
For the first few tracks, there was a collective sense of confusion. The music was fantastic, but people kept looking around wondering if Boyz Noize had missed his flight, his set, or maybe the entire festival. Eventually, everyone settled in and enjoyed the ride.
Then Boyz Noize appeared. The energy instantly shifted.
What had already been a great set suddenly went into another gear. The chemistry between the two was undeniable, and the b2b turned into one of the standout performances of the entire evening. It had that rare quality where no video could really capture what it felt like in the moment. You simply had to be there.
It was the perfect lead-in for Boris Brejcha. I had been waiting since Tomorrowland 2024 to see Boris, and somehow he still exceeded every expectation. His signature blend of high-tech minimal, relentless grooves, and flawless pacing transformed the Mirage stage into his own world. Every transition felt purposeful. Every drop landed. By the end of the set, it felt less like a performance and more like a journey.
It was the perfect way to close out Day 1.
Of course, Mirage wasn’t the only place drawing our attention. Throughout the evening, parts of our group made the trek over to OASIS and NEON to catch Deadmau5 and birthday boy Chris Lake. Lake’s celebration came with a few special guests, including Chris Lorenzo, Odd Mob, and MPH, turning his set into an unforgettable birthday party. Between the surprise appearances, massive crowd reactions, and nonstop energy, it felt like the ideal way for him to mark another trip around the sun.
For a day that began with a weather delay and plenty of uncertainty, Day 1 ended up delivering everything that makes ÎLESONIQ special: great friends, unforgettable sets, and those unexpected moments that no lineup poster can ever promise.
Day 2
After an eventful Day 1, the excitement heading into Saturday was somehow even higher. The weather had everyone nervous after the previous night’s delay, but the sun showed up and stayed, setting up a perfect festival day.
Hayla was one of the early highlights. Known as the voice behind some of dance music’s biggest records, including ‘Where You Are,’ she brought something different to the festival. Surrounded by DJs all weekend, her live performance felt raw and emotional, and her vocals carried across the grounds effortlessly.
Over on the main stage, AYYBO and Chris Lorenzo kept the energy high under clear skies, while Novah was absolutely owning the Coca-Cola NEON stage. She had everyone moving. From people grabbing drinks at the bars to festival-goers sitting on the iconic pink stairs and even those walking by on their way to another stage, everyone seemed to stop and get pulled into her set. It was impossible not to groove along.
Meanwhile, Dabin was taking Mirage stage fans on an emotional bass-fueled journey before many of us made our way back to the main stage for Gryffin.
Gryffin knew exactly what the crowd wanted, weaving together tracks everyone knew with his signature melodic production and uplifting remixes. It was equal parts nostalgia and euphoria, with thousands of people singing every word from start to finish.
That feeling carried perfectly into Above & Beyond.
If you’ve ever been to a festival with me, you already know exactly where I was. Above & Beyond is always a can’t-miss set, and this one was no different. The trio, or rather Jono and Paavo for the evening, blended new music with familiar favourites while taking a moment to send their love to Zoë Johnston and share excitement for the upcoming ABGT700 milestone. Tony was missed, but the magic was still there.
As the sun began to set, the atmosphere somehow became even more special. Then came the famous button push. No Above & Beyond show feels complete without it. Watching fans step onto the stage to press the button, creating memories they’ll talk about forever, never gets old. Across the dancefloor, strangers became friends as everyone sang along to the songs that have brought this community together for years.
As Above & Beyond wrapped up and the sun disappeared behind the city skyline, the crowd shifted gears for Dom Dolla.
For me, it was a full-circle moment. I still remember watching him on the Coca-Cola NEON stage back in 2022. Fast forward a few years, and he was closing out one of Canada’s biggest electronic music festivals. Dom packed the set with some of his most anticipated unreleased tracks and collaborations, while massive pyro, lasers, and stunning visuals transformed the main stage into a spectacle.
One of the most memorable moments came when giant illuminated jellyfish floated through the crowd as Dom dropped the unreleased Solomun and Skepta collaboration, ‘Danger.’ The energy was unreal and the perfect way to bring another incredible day at ÎLESONIQ to a close.
very year, ÎLESONIQ finds a way to create moments that stay with you long after the music stops. After another incredible weekend in Montreal, one thing is certain: this is a festival that deserves a spot on every dance music fan’s calendar. Get ready for the 2027 return to Parc Jean Drapeau from August 7-8, keep a lookout on their official website for details.
