Winterruption 2025 Guide

How to get the most out of Edmonton’s winter music festival.

All 12 music, comedy and drag Winterruption venues are within walking distance so you can literally walk from venue to venue, taking in different genres at each downtown hotspot. Obviously, you need to be prepared to take in this much world-class music. Let us help with daily recommendations and festival must-haves:

Get a wristband

Even at the highest price tier, Winterruption wristbands are only a hundred bucks. With it, you can go to different venues each night. This is the cheapest and best way to experience the festival.

Imagine walking from a rock show at the Starlite, to a folk show at McDougall United, to a funk show at 9910 and then rounding up the night at a hip-hop show at Double Dragon. Not to mention the comedy shows at the Community League and the drag shows at Evolution.

Plan your shows

This may sound like a no-brainer, but really. There are so many incredible acts that some of them are bound to be playing at the same time. Look at the schedule, decide what are must-sees and what are want-to-sees. Winterruption even built a Spotify playlist to help you make your picks.

To get all your picks in, you might be able to walk or it might be worth it to grab a cab to maximize your concert time.

Keep your energy up

Look at the venues ahead of time to see where you can buy food and make sure to satisfy your hunger while you’re there. All venues have beverages, but not all have food. Cask & Barrel is offering 15% food for all Winterruption wristband holders.

Winterruption 2025 highlights

Now that you know how to party wisely, it’s time to explore the multiple musical genres available at WInterruption. Here are some crib notes to help you get an A+ in Festival Style 2025.

Wednesday, January 22

Rocky Mountain Icehouse, 10PM – The only venue open on Wednesday is Rocky Mountain Icehouse so at least this makes planning easy. Make sure to see the headliner, Nap Eyes. They’re a lo-fi indie band out of Halifax with a smooth sound and intriguing lyrics.

Thursday, January 23

Still not a full slate of venues, but things are heating up on the Winterruption stages.

Starlite Room (Temple), 9PM – First hot pick is Fold Paper out of Winnipeg. This post-punk band is the latest project from Nigerian-born, Michigan native Chell Osuntade and it’s cleverly pushing the genre toward a more inclusive future. Jittery rhythms and slashing guitar licks make their sound addictive.

9910, 11PM – Five-piece femme-powered hip hop/R&B group Naduh is flowing downstairs at 9910. They are quickly rising as artists introducing the new era of girl groups – they write, engineer, and produce all of their music.

The Dive Bar, midnight – Listening to Pkew Pkew Pkew at Dive Bar will make you relive moments playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. This Toronto pop-punk band’s licks are catchy and will have you singing along.

Friday, January 24

DECL (Downtown Edmonton Community League), 7:30 & 10 PM – Two chances to catch this Instagram comedy sensation. CANADA.GOV.CA covers all the unknown and hugely popular Canada-isms in a way that makes you chorkle as you learn the customs of communities across our nation.

Starlite Room, 7:40PM – Portland experimental band Foot Ox will be powering through chords with their sound reminiscent of playful indie of the 2000s with a mix of candy grunge from the 90s. They are opening for Orlando shoegaze band Teen Suicide for an all-ages concert.

McDougall United Church, 8:30PM – Originally from Alabama, Matthew Houck performs under the stage name Phosphorescent. His ethereal Americana sound will be the perfect fit for the acoustically sound venue sanctuary.

Rocky Mountain Icehouse, 11PM – Experimental pop/rockers Ghostkeeper combine multicultural genres like country, African pop, indie rock and traditional pow wow music. The Calgary band has earned industry nods and worldwide fans for their expansive sound.

9910, 11:30PM – Euro-pop sibling duo BIG SIS will be your new obsession. They’ve got style, grooves and they really really really really really good dance-pop music. Don’t worry about anything else.

BIG SIS

Saturday, January 25

Cask & Barrel, 4PM – The early all-ages show has two easy-listening local artists. This is a good opportunity to get a solid base layer down, in many senses of the phrase.

McDougall United Church, 8:30PM – Formerly using the stage name Final Fantasy, Owen Pallett’s live shows are something to behold. One man, a loop pedal, a violin, a keyboard and some of the wildest musical rides you have ever heard.

Evolution Wonderlounge, 9-11PM – It’s time to slay! The Winterruption drag show features local stars like Stretcher H and international RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar Uttica Queen. Bring cash to tip these beauties!

Double Dragon, 11:30PM – Toronto Non-binary hip hop artist Dijah SB will be throwing that back at Double Dragon. This rising hip hop star is one to watch. PLUS, they are opening for the Black Elvis himself, Kool Keith. He’s been on the Canadian hip hop scene since the 90s. Fans of the genre don’t want to miss this one.

Starlite Room, 12:15PM – This is truly a hard one. You’ve got Kool Keith at Double Dragon and Reignwolf at Starlite Room. Reignwolf’s searingly tight guitar riffs and electric stage presence amplify their catchy blues riffs. It might be worth flipping a coin for who to pick on Saturday.

Sunday, January 26

And then there was one. Back to one venue to make picking easier. But wait! There’s more! This one includes brunch.

Rocky Mountain Icehouse, 12-5PM – All-ages Roots Rock Brunch includes five bands and the opportunity to grab bevvies or food. Or both. We’re not here to tell you what to do.

Rocky Mountain Icehouse, 10PM – The Winterruption wrap-up party begins at 8PM and we are THRILLED for the closing act. Badge Époque Ensemble’s airy, light, funky grooves are just what you’ll need to wrap up a weekend of epic concerts.