Live shows are the heartbeat of the Canadian music scene, and over here at Cups N Cakes, we’re always a little bit sad that we don’t get to do as much coverage of live events as we’d like to. We’ve decided to change that: for the first time, we’re including a “Best Live Show” category in our year-end coverage. We asked our volunteers to pick their top 1-3 live shows of the year, and tell us what made it great. Here are their picks:

Jeff MacCallum

EarthBall at McDougal United Church, Purple City Festival (Edmonton)

I had never heard of EarthBall before seeing their headlining set at this year’s Purple City. This Nanaimo band maximized the potential of this venue by utilizing every corner of the church. It made for an impressive, full surround-sound experience as they delivered their unique free-jazz approach to noise-rock and were the best thing I saw at the fest.

Family Man at Legion #1, Sled Island (Calgary)

Upstairs at the Legion is not for the faint of heart. It’s excruciatingly hot and as a rule, I typically only watch a couple songs up there. I had to break that rule when Family Man brought their insane energy to this tiny space. They rocked so friggin’ hard and were so tight that I stayed and drenched my shirt in sweat.

Ritchot Textiles at The Aviary (Edmonton)

The demise of Blessed was very sad but 3/4 of the members becoming Ritchot Textiles is dulling the pain. Taking a slightly more electronic approach to what Blessed was doing, the crew in RT haven’t forgotten what made that band so great. They treat their live show as an event with custom lighting to each track and an ethos of perfect musicianship.

Penelope Stevens

TEKE::TEKE at Minotaure (Gatineau, QC)

This Japanese-Quebecois group is one of the best live bands in Canada, and though all of their shows are incredible, they nearly blew the roof off of Gatineau’s Minotaure this past February. You don’t need to understand Japanese to enjoy their high-octane blend of traditional eleki with American surf and avant-garde.

The Boojums at Gobblefest (Sydney, NS)

Gobblefest is one of Canada’s oldest DIY festivals, bringing the East Coast’s best new bands to Cape Breton each Fall. The Boojums closed out the festival’s Sunday night, and they absolutely shredded. Funny, playful, but wild and intense, the trio is blowing up right now, and it’s easy to see why.

Cousins at Sappyfest (Sackville, NB)

The long-awaited reunion show of one of Nova Scotia’s most beloved bands of the late aughts, Cousins did not disappoint. Although subdued and sheepish, they couldn’t possibly dull the excitement of the audience as we sing-screamed along in nostalgic bliss. Double the drummers, double the cool!

Simone Atenea Medina Polo

Ribbon Skirt at The Ship and Anchor, Sled Island (Calgary) & The Buckingham (Edmonton)

Ribbon Skirt knows how to put a show. During their Western Canada tour, I was blessed by the opportunity to watch this act twice. Tashiina Buswa has a unique capacity of captivating the audience over the awe-inspiring instrumental work by Billy Riley and the backing band.

Emma Goldman at Loophole Coffee Bar, Sled Island (Calgary)

Aside from being incredibly nice and enthusiastic, Emma Goldman really livens up a room with its explosive and dynamic sound. Their use of the electronic tracks in between songs made this show feel like one absolute unit of a hardcore show that I want to watch over and over again.

The Blue at The Aviary (Edmonton)

The Blue creates a sense of community and mutual encouragement into a vibrant live experience. Every performer in that show was a part of living up to The Blue’s latest album as a project of collective uplifting which culminates into energetic features and performances during The Blue’s set.

Craig Martell

Jimmie Kilpatrick at The Aviary (Edmonton)

I got to see Jimmie play for seemingly the thousandth time. There is nothing quite like a Jimmie Kilpatrick show. Guitar nerds hanging around the stage, peeking at his set-up. People dancing, singing along and laughing. Every show is a different experience, and each feels warm and familiar. I hope to see a thousand more.

Motherhood at The Buckingham (Edmonton)

Motherhood have been doing their thing for years, and I somehow missed all of it until this year. Huge regrets. Their live show is charming, unique and mesmerizing. They are effortlessly cool and original, and this is what every band should be going for.

Ducks Ltd. at Rocky Mountain Ice House, Winterruption YEG (Edmonton)

Ducks Ltd. single handedly made me fall in love with music again. I felt warm and special. I felt I was watching Let’s Active in 1983. I felt like something very precious was a little secret amongst me and the people in that room. The songs are sound like nothing I’ve ever heard and still felt comfortable and familiar.

Chris Lammiman

PYPY at Palomino, Sled Island (Calgary)

Top of my Sled 2025 picks, and indeed top of my year overall, PYPY’s set was an absolute clinic in stage presence as front-person Annie-Claude Deschêne had the crowd eating out of the palm of her hand while the rest of the Montreal psych-punk outfit had the basement crowd whipped into a dancing frenzy.

BADBADNOTGOOD at Calgary Folk Fest (Calgary)

In terms of sheer musicianship, BADBADNOTGOOD by far topped the list this year, and indeed might be close to my top ever for that category. But beyond just stellar technical playing, the show was vibrant, electric, and incredibly funky - warming our hearts despite the soggy weather of this year’s festival.

Spank Williams at Pacific Hut, East Town Get Down (Calgary)

I’ll admit that there were a few moments where I thought this show might go off the rails (frontman Max Eurchuck was hitting the sauce just a wee bit), but it stayed just on the line enough to be a delightful ride through wry punk country rippers and ballads. The fact that it took place in a hole-in-the-wall Filipino restaurant just added to the weird charm.

Em Moore

PUP at History (Toronto)

July 19 was the final night of PUP’s epic Megacity Madness run of shows and was easily the sweatiest night of my life. The energy built throughout incredible sets by Chastity and NOBRO before reaching a fever pitch when PUP took to the stage. The setlist was a perfect mix of old and new songs, including the live debut of “Shut Up”. Everyone was singing along to each word and dancing, jumping, and moshing like their lives depended on it.

Thunder Queens at Velvet Underground (Toronto)

Thunder Queens more than live up to their name, especially when you see them live. The London, Ontario-based trio brought their blend of punk, grunge, and doom to thunderous life on March 13 with drums you can feel in your chest and infectious vocal harmonies that you can’t help but sing along with. For this show, they were joined by Chinese Medicine and Family Man, all three bands putting on fantastic sets and complementing each other perfectly.

The Dirty Nil at The Venue (Peterborough)

The Dirty Nil are one of the best live bands out there and their show on September 18 was an explosion of cathartic energy. The band kicked out an incredible career-spanning setlist (which included the live debut of “Hero Narrative”) and I almost lost my voice screaming along. Spite House and Heart Attack Man also played excellent sets that night. Hail, hail rock ’n’ roll.

Louise Jaunet

Angine de Poitrine at Ausgang Plaza, M for Montréal (Montreal)

Beyond their absurd costumes and Neandertal personas, the microtonal noise rock music of Klek and Khn de Poitrine is impressive in itself. It's hard to tell whether we’re at a children's puppet show or at a jazz improvisation, maybe both, but their dexterity proves that this is serious business.

Tempête Solaire at Théâtre Fairmount (Montreal)

Opening for the innovative contemporary Tuareg musician Mdou Moctar, Tempête Solaire made quite an impression with their apocalyptic psychedelic space jazz sound. The trio combines improvisation with nonchalant drone rock, catchy dance rhythms, free jazz, post-rock darkness, and colourful grooves. Their music is thought-provoking, yet also hypnotic and catchy.

Annie Claude Deschênes, photo credit : Camille Gladu-Drouin

Annie-Claude Deschênes at Foufounes Electriques, M for Montréal (Montreal)

With VJ Anthony Piazza acting as a bodyguard camera on her side, Annie-Claude Deschênes surprised the audience with her strange jelly food, chocolate rocks and whipped cream on top of electronic beats. It's a performance art celebrating the absurd but it was impossible not to dance along. Would you like video surveillance for dessert ?

Ned Kroczynski

Ribbon Skirt at The Buckingham (Edmonton)

When I saw Ribbon Skirt play in Edmonton, their stage presence was menacing. Vocalist Tashiina Buswa dominated the stage and the floor beyond, using her bandmates and the audience as props. Guitarist Billy Riley, like a tree about to fall, teetered back and forth at the stage’s edge. I was nervous, and I couldn’t look away: there’s no better feeling.

Cassia Hardy at The Aviary (Edmonton)

The way Cassia Hardy acts on stage is enthralling. Every twitch, every jerk of the guitar, every movement feels so genuine in a way that I can’t describe. Though I haven’t been around Edmonton’s music scene for long, Hardy has quickly become my favorite performer through the sheer vividness and authenticity of her act.

Smokey at Bent Stick, Bleak Party (Edmonton)

I have never seen so many people gleefully yell “I’m ready to die” as I did for Smokey’s performance at Bent Stick Brewery. The backdrop seemed infinite: a party that had been going on for hours and a sun that had been setting for God knows how long, and all anyone was doing was cheering for their end. It was a special moment I’ll remember for a long time.

Tea Fannie

SHY FRiEND at Loophole Coffee (Calgary)

SHY FRiEND is anything but shy lately. I hit their release party thanks to a Reverie contest win, and they delivered!! Drag performers lit up nearly every track on the six-song album, and the late-night DJ, with pizza for the real ones, kept the room vibing into the night.

Oranje at Blox Art Center, SoundOff Summit (Calgary)

Oranje is the punk band your girlfriend loves and your mom might like. Their shows are pure mosh pit energy, boosted by collabs with local vocalists. It’s the jumps in unison, the bleeding sound into the next song, and the nonstop creativity for me. Keeps me on my toes so I’m ready to return to the mosh pit at any time.

Mauvey at Commonwealth, Sled Island

Mauvey, (or BAWAH), are both must-see performers in your lifetime. His rise has been swift, thanks to hard hitting music and explosive, magnetic energy onstage. He pulls you in, holds you on every word, and yes, he really works two mics at once. If his name’s on a bill, grab a ticket immediately.

JD Ormond

Cindy Lee at Rialto Theatre (Montreal)

Out of the bowels of the grand old Rialto theatre, Cindy Lee emerged, a half metamorphosized moth wrapped in a cocoon of glitz, to deliver the swagger and sass of a tormented punk, a rejected Ronnette, a lovelorn lounge lizard, a castaway cursed by unrequited love, shredding guitar, snapping her fingers and chewing gum the whole way through. The coolest show I’ve seen in a long time.

Best of 2025 - Live Shows

Jeff MacCallum

EarthBall at McDougal United Church, Purple City Festival (Edmonton)

Family Man at Legion #1, Sled Island (Calgary)

Ritchot Textiles at The Aviary (Edmonton)