Looking Forward to Osheaga 2022

Osheaga 2022 festival is set to take place at Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal later this month from July 29th to the 31st
Sam Franzini previews Osheaga 2022

Osheaga’s 15th anniversary festival is set to take place at Parc Jean-Drapeau, in Montreal later this month from July 29th to the 31st. Featuring headliners like Arcade Fire, Future, and Dua Lipa, the festival is set to impress. Here’s 13 acts we’re most looking forward to.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Indie rock band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are set to make their return in September with their new album Cool It Down, their first since 2013’s Mosquito. Their comeback will be supplemented with a tour around North America and Australia, including Chicago’s Riot Fest and Mexico’s Festival Corona Capital.

Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire returned earlier this year with WE — their first album in five years. The record garnered more praise and attention than 2017’s Everything Now, and continued with their line of experimentation within the indie rock genre. After a string of hugely successful and lauded albums in the 2000’s, they continue to dominate and stay relevant within music’s ever-changing landscape.

Men I Trust

Indie pop band Men I Trust go back on their promise they set with Untourable Album, their 2021 record. This year, they’re traveling across Northern America and Europe, with Osheaga slotted in the middle. Their ambient, bedroom pop aesthetic, revamped with recent single “Hard to Let Go” will be an event to see at the upcoming festival.

Charli xcx

Pop provocateur Charli xcx’s 2022 album CRASH made headlines — she had largely done away with her hyperpop sound she had been experimenting with for four years and opted for pure pop, whether influenced by Janet Jackson, or her self-titled “evil era.” Supplemented with collaborators like Rina Sawayama and Caroline Polachek, the album was filled with mostly successful songs. On her following tour for the album, she’s been electrifying audiences.

Future

The prolific rapper Future will return to the stage on the heels of his 2022 album, I NEVER LIKED YOU. Largely a collaborative worker who has released albums with Drake, Yung Thug, Juice WRLD and Gucci Mane, his latest album was a return to form.

Caribou

Caribou’s 2020 Suddenly made waves, and not just the ones depicted on the album cover. His first album in six years discussed family and grief while wrapped in a house sheen, fitting in with a string of critically successful albums. Unable to tour during 2020, this year he’s returning with a tour spanning North America and Europe.

Tove Lo

Tove Lo is one of the most consistently excellent pop stars of our time — her first four studio albums contain dark, moody hits that only she is able to pull off. The Swedish songstress’ fifth album, Dirt Femme, arrives in October, and if it’s anything like pre-release singles “No One Dies From Love” or “True Romance,” it might be her best and most honest work yet.

Wet Leg

Indie British duo Wet Leg is one of this year’s hottest up-and-coming artists, and their much buzzed about debut album proved why. From their debut single “Chaise Lounge” the album was filled with well-crafted jams that will work well on the festival stage.

beabadoobee

beabadoobee’s recent escapist album Beatopia was a hit amongst critics, who praised her ability to build a fantasy world with creative writing. She’s put out a steady stream of music — five EPs preceded her 2020 debut album, Fake It Flowers, but her newest release suggest she’s coming into her own like never before.

Lucy Dacus

Indie pop singer Lucy Dacus’ 2021 Home Video was universally praised by critics and fans alike, noting her improved sound and confessional writing. Hailed as 2021’s Punisher, Dacus’ writing comes across easy and affable, especially on standout single “Hot & Heavy.” Her summer tour kicked off early July with support from Courtney Barnett, The National, and Samia, and includes a performance at Chicago’s Pitchfork Festival.

Dua Lipa

Superstar Dua Lipa’s 2020 Future Nostalgia Tour was postponed due to the pandemic, but possibly for the better. It was originally going to only be two months, but after two years of more music and proving her stardom, she has only grown more. The tour began this February, and is ending in November, with special guests like Tove Lo, Meghan Thee Stallion, and Angèle, spanning North America, Europe, and Oceania. Her performances have been hugely successful so far, likely to continue through Osheaga and others.

Bleachers

Jack Antonoff, the man behind Bleachers, usually sticks to making a name for himself through production. He’s been assisting Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Clairo, Lorde, and Carly Rae Jepsen throughout the past three years, but in 2021, he returned with Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night, his first record in four years as Bleachers. It was a return to form as he infused his 80’s sound with joyful writing, truly living up to the album’s name. Solo or paired, Antonoff is a musical force to be reckoned with.

Tinashe

Tinashe is one of the hardest-working people in all of music — shortly after her excellent 2021 album 333, she revealed in an interview that her next album is slated for release late this year, following the deluxe version of 333. Even signed independently, her affinity for catchy songs and entertaining music videos (“X”, “Bouncin’”, and “Pasadena”) all prove her power. Shown to be a star with incredible stage presence during concerts, Osheaga will be another successful showing.

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