FME ANNOUNCES LINE UP FOR 24TH EDITION: SUUNS, LA SÉCURITÉ, IGUANA DEATH CULT, RIZOMAGIC, AFTERNOON BIKE RIDE, AYSANABEE & MORE | SEPT 3 – 6
The Festival de musique émergente en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (FME), proudly presented by SiriusXM, invites you to its 24th edition. From September 3rd to 6th, 2026, Rouyn-Noranda hosts a plethora of headliners, emerging talent, and international exclusives offering music that combines unique sounds and an innovative approach. The event offers more than 80 concerts in a variety of unique locations, guaranteeing festival-goers a multitude of musical discoveries.
“SiriusXM is pleased to renew its partnership with the Festival de musique émergente en Abitibi-Témiscamingue as official presenter. For several years, we have shared with the FME a common passion for discovering and promoting emerging local talent. This collaboration is a natural extension of our commitment to amplifying francophone music and supporting major cultural events,” explains Matilde Bourgeois, Francophone DCC, Sponsorships, and Events Manager at SiriusXM.
A carefully curated program blending post-punk, electro, modern folk, metal, and experimental music within the confines of Petit Théâtre du Vieux-Noranda, Sous-Sol du Petit Théâtre, Paramount, Pazzo, Agora des Arts, as well as Sous-Sol de l’Agora…
Irreverent and explosive, Choses Sauvages present us with tracks on the fringes of post-punk, new wave, and krautrock on Thursday at Petit Théâtre du Vieux Noranda. The lineup begins with the self-taught multi-instrumentalist and synesthete, Max Baby (Montmagny, FR), who offers polished indie rock, followed by Camilla Sparksss (a Canadian relocated in Switzerland), who just released a second album blending electronic music and noise: ICU RUN. On Friday, the venue hosts Mek’Dr’Dr, a Brussels duo versed in groovy, minimalist punk; Corridor, a band known for its gnarly guitars, mechanical rhythms, and vibrant melodies; then La Sécurité and their recent album, Bingo!, “a zany DIY record that bakes egg punk, francophone pop, proto-punk, and no wave, and 80s goth rock into a quick and propulsive 30-minute run” (The Needle Drop). On Saturday evening, the theatre hosts the Soirée électro, presented in collaboration with SAT (Société des arts technologiques), which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Taking the stage are: Hologramme, an electronic artist inspired by house, UK garage, and ambient music; Martyn Bootyspoon (Fractal Fantasy), who stands out with his club music infused with house and ghettotech; and TDJ (formerly Ryan Playground), known for her immersive audiovisual performances where trance, techno, and eurodance intermingle. Sunday is reserved for the metal onslaught of brutal Rouyn-Noranda acts Colony Omicron (death metal) and The Black Empire (black metal), who are followed by Outre-Tombe, a francophone band offering uncompromising OSDM (old school death metal), then A Canorous Quintet, a Swedish band formed in 1991 known for its melodic metal.
At the Paramount on Friday, Étienne Coppée presents Un album hommage à Joe Dassin, offering highly personal reinterpretations that highlight the pure emotions of a legendary repertoire. Opening the show is the alternative pop of Carla Chanelle, which drifts into dreamy waters where a quiet strength flows, followed by the universe of Goodbye Karelle, blending spoken word and alternative pop. Saturday begins with Charlotte Cornfield (Toronto, ON), whose “witty, stumbling rhyme schemes feel kindred with the best of country radio” (Pitchfork), and continues with Philippe B, who recently presented his seventh album, Cigale in March, which reveals the artist at his rawest and most personal. On Friday, the Agora des Arts hosts the eclectic indie trio Afternoon Bike Ride, and their cross between ambient, folk, and pop, as well as the luminous melodies and refined arrangements of singer-songwriter Arielle Soucy. It continues on Saturday with the music of Mykalle, which fuses liturgical sounds, a timeless voice, and neoclassical textures, and the striking songs of Oji-Cree artist Aysanabee—at once hypnotic and melodic, solemn and soaring, a swirling mix of indie, soul, and electronic soundscapes.
The festival also presents late concerts at the Pazzo. The noise-tinged hardcore band Mulch, as well as the flamboyant francophone hypnagogic pop artist Alix Fernz, kick off the festivities Thursday night and into the early hours of Friday. Hailing from the Quebec capital, Enfants Sauvages unleash plenty of irreverent decibels the following day as the opening act for Dutch outfit Iguana Death Cult, known for a psychedelic garage rock sound which hints at jazz, no wave, and disco. Saturday starting 11:30 pm, experimental rock pioneers Suuns take the stage with drums, guitars, synthesizers, and MIDI instruments, all anchored by a horde of loops and samples as heard on their latest record The Breaks. A second performance by Camilla Sparksss follows. Even later into the night, festival-goers can catch a slew of beautiful weirdos at the Sous-Sol du Petit Théâtre. The Japanese group VMO a.k.a. Violent Magic Orchestra (Thursday) presents their mosh pit-inducing audiovisual live performance; the New York ensemble Balaclava (Friday) spits out their trash punk while masked in (you guessed it…) balaclavas, then Haha Laughing (Saturday) make the journey from Austin, Texas, to spit screeching rhymes combining rap and noise. Zach Zoya & High Klassified bring Misstape 2, a new collaborative work spanning rap, R&B, and soul, to Sous-Sol de l’Agora on Friday starting at 11:30pm. The next day, it’s time for the female-fronted, zero-tolerance, loud guitar-laden punk of Thee Soreheads, followed by the nonchalant and impetuous noise rock of Dogo Suicide.
Ingenious pop, reimagined songs, and performing arts during happy hour…
Throughout the festival, musical discoveries can be made free of charge during the Apéros Air Canada concert series. First, the QG hosts a plethora of artists to liven up the happy hours. On Friday, Hélène Barbier (5 pm) plays aggressively anti-complicated avant-pop melodies from Panorama, followed by Julie Rains (6 pm), a Belgian singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist who navigates between jazz, soul, and electronic music. On Saturday, the space transforms into a laboratory for the bold sonic exploration—textures, conceptualization, sound design, maximalism, and emotional exhibitionism—of Xela Edna (5 pm) and the sensual, grating, and cathartic pop of Le Belladone (6 pm), a project born on screen now brought to the stage. Sunday at 6 pm, Vincent Khouni unveils tracks from his most recent EP, Accident, a minimalist work combining garage, electro, and singer-songwriter styles. L’Abstracto hosts Maya Kamaty (5 pm) on Friday, a Reunionese singer giving Creole the stature of a universal language in order to affirm her musical expression. The venue also serves as the backdrop for the return of the multi-stylistic singer-songwriter Mantisse (LaF), who presents a new folk chapter titled Les fleurs préférées de ma mère on Saturday at 5 pm. On Sunday, you can see multidisciplinary artist Erika Hagen (5 pm), an intimate and fiery project belonging to the great indie-rock-folk-garage family.
Starting at 5:30 pm at the chic Les Mooses, you can catch Pastel Blank (Friday), a protean project mixing post-punk accents, pop hooks, and quirky grooves, followed by Marie Céleste (Saturday) whose music falls somewhere “between arrogance and conscience, between rock, jazz, and even samba” (Le Devoir), as well as Écarlate (Sunday), a trio from Moncton that seduces with music that is simultaneously luminous, poetic, and impactful. Friday at 5:30 pm at 55 Dallaire (Chevaliers de Colomb), it is possible to catch the winner of the 2025 Francouvertes, Muhoza, who presents his hip-hop and jazz cocktail. Following on that same stage on Saturday are Barre à clou (5:30 pm), a Rouyn-Noranda band that plays sludge, stoner, and doom, as well as Truck Violence (6:30 pm), described by Consequence as a mix of “chromatic riffage, gnarly shrieks, filthy ass tones, and affecting moments of reprieve.” On Sunday, we are treated to Moiré (5:30 pm), an indie-grunge quintet from Malartic flirting with slowcore, post-rock, and shoegaze, then Worry (6:30 pm), a noisy but dreamy group that mixes high decibels and nostalgic melodies. The Saturday and Sunday lineups at 55 Dallaire are presented in collaboration with KeepHope Productions.
From R&B to hip-hop, passing through psychedelic rock and chanson (singer-songwriter style), you can find a bit of everything on the main outdoor stage as part of the SiriusXM Events…
Following his secret performance at FME last year, singer-songwriter Vincent Roberge, a.k.a. Les Louanges, headlines the Thursday lineup. Building on the success of his third album Alouette!, he brings his modern blend of funk and soul, wrapped in refined pop production, to the Événements SiriusXM concert series. He is preceded by Bon Enfant, whose record Demande spéciale won Rock Album of the Year at the last ADISQ Gala, and whose concerts feature a groovy pop ranging from glam and disco to folk and psychedelia. The evening also features Malaimé Soleil and their soundtrack to memorable nights, quiet journeys, simple joys, and heavy hearts, right after Birds of Prrrey, a Riot Grrrl-inspired indie rock trio, kicks off the festivities on the traditional 7e Rue stage.
Friday evening is dedicated to rhythmic verses, with the festival presenting Koriass, a true pillar of Quebec rap who has been accumulating accolades for two decades now. He shares tracks from Sept ans de malheur, his seventh studio album, which includes the hit singles: “Basse couture”, “Détour (feat. St-Prince)”, and “Vingt-quatre heures”. Opening for him is Kamilou, whose music skilfully fuses a multitude of genres, from rap to trap, including jazz, pop, and soul, with lyrics that address resilience, love, and social struggles. Next is Aswell’s new live concert titled Berger, where he blends rap, pop, trap, drill, and folk, a formula that should “cement the guitar-playing rapper in the local hip-hop landscape.” (La Presse)
Saturday’s lineup kicks off at 7 p.m. with the Nouvelles Ondes SiriusXM finale, featuring three artists deemed to best represent the next generation of francophone singer-songwriter. Hawa B, an artist who defies labels, opens the evening with a performance that creates a space where you can twerk or headbang, laugh or cry all in the same breath. She is followed by N Nao, a regular on the Polaris Music Prize Long List with the likes of L’eau et les rêves (2024) and Nouveau Langage (2025)—who embraces an ecofeminist approach, drawing on dreams and rituals to shape her experimental pop. The night then shifts into a rock-driven direction with Grand Eugène, delivering an indie sound with a dreamlike quality, carried by hushed vocals and soft, textured arrangements. The winner will receive a $25,000 grant and the opportunity to perform at MaMA Music & Convention in Paris. Closing the night, we have Lou-Adriane Cassidy, “an essential voice, a modern storyteller who invites her audience to dream bigger” (Radio-Canada), as evidenced by her most recent works: Journal d’un Loup-garou, already considered by many as a modern classic, as well as Triste Animal, an album she wilfully released without notice just a few months later.
As a bonus, the FME presents a series of concerts under the stars taking place at Scène Fizz (also located on 7e Rue). From Thursday to Sunday, we are treated to: new Arbutus signing Public Appeal, who recently showcased more of their avant-garde pop on the new full-length hello my name is public appeal; Jashim, a key figure in Montreal’s underground Latin scene, with Cult MTL describing their music as “2000s sun-soaked rhythms [that] meets hyper-pop”; as well as Aizysse Baga, an artist from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community whose electro-pop and alternative universe combines stage performance, flamboyant aesthetics, and socially conscious lyrics. On Saturday at noon, the stage also welcomes Odie Harr, a folk-rock collective mixing brass, accordion, saloon-style piano, and a rhythm section inspired by garage rock, followed by the Winston Band, a Quebec group that draws from the rich Louisianan cultural heritage to create communal songs inspired by zydeco.
“The FME is exactly the spirit that Fizz embodies: curious, vibrant, and unifying. Staying deeply engaged at the heart of the festival in Rouyn-Noranda for a third consecutive year by offering festival-goers a series of concerts, including several under the stars at the Scène Fizz, is a concrete way for us to help foster music’s role in bringing our community together and building lasting relationships.” – Martin Gendron, General Manager at Fizz.
The Après-midi Télé-Québec—a matinee that takes place on the peninsula on Saturday at 1 pm—features Passion_Partage, a transdisciplinary collective blending installation, video art, and disc jockeying, and Rizomagic, a duo from Bogotá fusing cumbia and Afro-Colombian rhythms with IDM and ambient music. For those who want to relax with “pedal steel licks, melodies that unbuckle the knees, and lyrics imbued with true, unadorned poetry,” head to the À fleur d’eau botanical park, where Spaghatt performs on Sunday starting at 1 pm, offering a set meshing country and Americana.
Ticketing
The FME offers two types of passports for music lovers. The “Best Life” passport, costing $220, gives access to all shows. The “Outdoor” passport, costing $65, gives access to the three evenings—Thursday, Friday, and Saturday—on 7th Street. Individual tickets for the various concerts of the festival are now also available for sale.
Festival Links
