DAY ONE FESTIVAL GOERS ENJOY THE LAUNCH OF A STACKED CITYFOLK WEEKEND
It’s here! Ottawa’s CityFolk Festival is back and bigger than ever.
From Sept. 10 to Sept. 14 at Lansdowne Park, this year’s lineup brings together rising stars and household names for a five-day celebration of music, connection, and pure festival magic.
Day One set the vibes with an electric mix of Ottawa’s favourite pop, RnB, and soul artists.
Kicking the evening off with Montreal’s very own Hanorah, She lit up the Fasken stage with her soulful voice and magnetic presence. Each song was accompanied by a heartfelt anecdote, transforming the performance into a personal journey. Tracks like “Saturn Return,” “Heavenly One,” and “Matty” revealed the depth of her artistry and drew the audience in with every lyric. Hanorah connected every song with a story.
The energy shifted to the TD stage, where Tafari Anthony took over with an explosive performance. His set, filled with heavy guitar riffs and vibrant pop hooks, included hits like “Falling Back,” “Doesn’t Have to Be So Hard,” and an electrifying cover of Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated”. If this genre of pop and RnB intrigues you, his 2023 album When I Met Your Girlfriend is a must-listen.
Over at the Fasken stage, Ottawa’s pride was on full display as Mia Kelly, hailing from the Ottawa-Gatineau region, made her CityFolk debut. Her storytelling shone through as she poured her heart and soul into songs like “Bonefish Boys” and “Remedy River.” With fans singing along and wearing original merchandise, the set felt like a family gathering around a campfire; intimate, raw, and unforgettable.
As night fell, the crowd continued to grow. Paul Russell brought his chart-topping record, “Lil Boo Thang,” followed by Tyler Shaw, whose performance of “Wicked” raised the crowd’s energy to new heights.
And then, it was time for the main event: Alex Warren.
Once the social media star and Billboard-charting artist Alex Warren hit the stage, the atmosphere’s energy grew.
“It’s going to be so exciting finally seeing him,” said long-time followers Chloe Reid and Maya Hamel, “we’re such big fans, he’s going to do great!”
And great doesn’t even begin to cover it.
He opened with the emotional anthem “Catch my breath,” followed by the fiery “Burning Down.” The audience was screaming every word. His unforgettable performance brought his online persona to life in full colour. It was raw and real.
Between songs, he shared jokes, got vulnerable, and made the crowd feel like they were hanging out in his living room. Alex Warren didn’t just headline the night; he owned it.
If Day One is any indication of what’s to come, CityFolk 2025 is already one for the books. And with Alex Warren’s breakout performance, the bar for festival moments has officially been raised.
