2025 Grey Cup Festival

Hidden Beats

We Are Story Tellers

The Grey Cup Festival has always been about more than football. It’s a gathering of fans, friends, and families who come together for a uniquely Canadian celebration that blends sports culture with music, community, and the unmistakable energy of November excitement. In 2025, Winnipeg embraced that spirit wholeheartedly, transforming the RBC Convention Centre into a vibrant hub of live performances, dancing crowds, and musical diversity for three packed nights—November 13th, 14th, and 15th. With a lineup featuring The Reklaws, Alan Doyle, The Watchmen, Catie St. Germain, the Dirty Catfish Brass Band, Les Barn Boys, and Brandi Vezina, the festival delivered an unforgettable soundtrack to Grey Cup week.

Walking into the RBC Convention Centre each evening felt like stepping into a citywide party condensed into one massive space. Fans wearing their team colours mingled freely, groups of friends grabbed drinks between sets, and out-of-province visitors soaked in Winnipeg’s welcoming spirit. The festival layout kept everything flowing smoothly—large staging areas, pockets of open space for dancing, and well-organized crowd control that avoided the bottlenecks that can plague indoor events. Lighting rigs, sound systems, and staging all reflected a high level of planning, giving each performer the chance to shine without distraction.

The festival wasn’t just a showcase of recognizable names; it was a celebration of Canadian diversity, both in genre and performance style. Each night featured distinct musical flavours, and together they painted a picture of a festival that understands how to bring people together.

Starting things off the with great upcoming artists

Brandi Vezina opened one of the festival’s early evenings with a set filled with heart, confidence, and clear joy at performing for a hometown crowd. Her blend of country, roots, and soulful pop created an atmosphere that felt honest and grounded. Throughout her performance, she connected easily with the audience, sharing stories and offering those warm, personable touches that make live shows feel intimate even in a massive convention space.

If Brandi Vezina set the tone with sincerity and grounded musicality, Les Barn Boys followed by kicking the energy level up considerably. Known for their charismatic performances and lively approach to country-influenced party music, they drew people toward the stage almost immediately. It didn’t take long for the dance floor to fill with festivalgoers swaying, stomping, and smiling through every moment. Their chemistry as a group was unmistakable—playful banter, vibrant instrumental interplay, and an ability to read the room perfectly. Whether attendees arrived specifically to see them or stumbled into their set while exploring the festival, the result was the same: people got moving. Les Barn Boys brought the kind of high-spirited momentum that helps define multi-day events, giving festivalgoers an early highlight and a memory to revisit later in the weekend.

Few bands can light up a room the way the Dirty Catfish Brass Band can, and their appearance at the Grey Cup Festival continued that tradition. As soon as they hit the stage, the space transformed. Their brassy, rhythmic, New Orleans-inspired sound carried through the venue with an irresistible pulse. Horns soared, percussion cracked like lightning, and the crowd responded with unrestrained enthusiasm. What makes this group such a standout act is their absolute commitment to lifting the energy of the room. Each member plays with joyful intensity, and their movement across the stage makes their shows feel almost kinetic. It’s impossible not to be swept up in the experience. Their set was a clear favourite among festivalgoers who wanted something bold, vibrant, and wildly fun. The band’s performance reminded everyone just how powerful live brass can be in transforming a space into a full-blown celebration.

Winnipeg brings the heat

Catie St. Germain has quickly become one of Manitoba’s strongest rising artists, and her set at the Grey Cup Festival only reinforced that momentum. Her voice—rich, controlled, and full of character—commanded attention from the moment she stepped under the lights. Backed by a polished and well-balanced band, she delivered a performance that blended country, pop, and melodic storytelling in a way that felt both contemporary and timeless. Catie’s confidence on stage has grown noticeably in recent years, and her connection with the audience felt effortless. Fans gathered close to the front, drawn in not just by her vocal talent but also by her genuine warmth. The festival environment suited her perfectly; her sound expanded beautifully in the large room, and her ability to maintain emotional intimacy even in a bustling convention centre was impressive. For many in the crowd, Catie’s performance became a key highlight of the weekend.

When The Watchmen took the stage, the energy shifted once again—this time toward nostalgia, intensity, and the kind of rock-driven atmosphere that sparks memories of Canadian alt-rock’s most iconic era. Hailing from Winnipeg, the band played to a hometown crowd that instantly reconnected with them. Cheers rose before the first notes were played, and the anticipation gave their set an added edge.

The group performed with the confidence and camaraderie of musicians who have spent a lifetime on stage together. The guitar work was powerful and dynamic, the rhythm section locked in with thunderous precision, and the vocals carried the emotional weight that longtime fans have always appreciated. The Watchmen delivered one of the most electrifying sets of the festival, reminding everyone why they remain such an important part of Canada’s rock history.

The party was hot

Few performers can command a festival stage like Alan Doyle, and his appearance at the Grey Cup Festival proved once again why he remains one of Canada’s most beloved entertainers. Backed by a band of seasoned musicians who matched his energy note for note, Doyle brought a mixture of Celtic-influenced folk, rock, and East Coast warmth that immediately captivated the crowd.

What sets Doyle apart is his storytelling—his ability to make a massive room feel like a kitchen party in St. John’s. His charm, humour, and instinctive sense of when to ramp up the energy kept the entire crowd engaged from start to finish. People danced, sang along, clapped through entire sections, and embraced the communal feeling that Doyle’s shows naturally inspire. His performance was one of the weekend’s defining moments and left many festivalgoers buzzing long after the set ended.

As one of Canada’s biggest country acts, The Reklaws were a natural headliner for a festival tied so closely to Canadian sports culture. Their style—upbeat, celebratory, and built around audience involvement—was perfectly suited for a Grey Cup crowd. Their set launched with an energetic burst and held that momentum throughout, giving fans a high-powered finale that felt like a true closing celebration.

Their polished vocals, charismatic interactions, and dynamic stage presence made the room feel electric. The Reklaws thrive in environments like this, where the crowd is eager, engaged, and ready for a party. By the time they wrapped up their set, the RBC Convention Centre was vibrating with applause and cheers, the room filled with the unmistakable sense that festivalgoers had just experienced something special.

Across all three nights, the Grey Cup Festival in Winnipeg showcased exactly what makes Canada’s music scene so diverse and engaging. The lineup itself was a brilliant blend of genres: country, folk, rock, brass, pop, and everything in between. Each artist brought something distinct, creating a festival experience that felt complete without ever feeling repetitive. Whether attendees spent all three nights immersed in the music or dropped in for a single evening, they experienced performances that lived up to the excitement surrounding Grey Cup week.

In the end, the 2025 Grey Cup Festival wasn’t just a series of concerts—it was a celebration of community, Canadian talent, and the shared energy that comes from gathering together for something bigger than any one moment. Winnipeg showed, once again, that when it comes to hosting events that blend music and sports, it knows how to rise to the occasion. The festival left fans energized, connected, and ready for the big game, proving that the spirit of the Grey Cup extends far beyond the football field.

Send us a message here