FME 2025 Friday | Hidden Beats

Hidden Beats

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FME Friday Night – August 29th, 2025

Rouyn-Noranda doesn’t always feel like a town—it feels like a stage in itself, a small mining city that, during FME, opens a secret portal to a world brimming with sound. You start to wonder if these pockets of living music are always here, hidden beneath the surface, or if they sprout into existence only for this festival, only for those who find the entrances. Friday night was one of those nights where reality blurred, and music wasn’t just heard—it was inhaled.

Moses Jones

Mozez Jones brought a soulful spark to FME 2025 with a performance that blended smooth R&B grooves and a full-band energy that kept the crowd moving from start to finish. Backed by a tight rhythm section, his set showcased not only his vocal range but also the chemistry of musicians who knew how to elevate every song. Between tracks, Jones made the audience feel right at home, taking moments to share how warmly he’d been welcomed by the people of Rouyn-Noranda.

His appreciation for the community felt genuine and added an extra layer of connection to the evening. What really stood out, however, was his comedic banter—quick-witted and playful, Jones had fans laughing almost as much as they were dancing. It was a performance that balanced heart, humor, and undeniable talent, leaving festival-goers with one of the most memorable sets of the weekend.

Meggie Lennon @ Les Mooses

Montreal dream-pop artist Meggie Lennon turned Les Mooses into a fever dream wrapped in sequins. Her song “Running Away” felt like a thesis statement for the set: her smooth, dry voice blanketing the crowd like the sound you only hear right before you wake up.

The band flowed between songs without a single bump, like a recorded album somehow sprung to life on stage. Smoke machines and glittery lighting swirled around pillowy synths, while the drummer, precise as a metronome, made the illusion even harder to disprove—was this live, or were we collectively dreaming? Lennon nailed the trick: she doesn’t just play songs, she suspends time.

Population II @ Sirius Stage

Then came Population II, Pointe Calumet’s kings of psychedelic prog, and the spell took on a whole new form. These guys don’t play songs—they cast grooves like incantations. With eternally groovy bass and rhythms that favor 2/3 time signatures, they kept the crowd suspended between confusion and bliss. Each piece unraveled unpredictably, stitched with more textures than you could possibly count, yet somehow locked into cohesion, like a hive mind operating on one brain. Their guitarist hopped between synths, noise machines, and his guitar like a wizard in ultimate power mode, lightning bolts practically flying from his headstock.

Meanwhile, the drummer’s grin as he tracked every move was pure joy—the kind of trust only bands with total psychic connection achieve. They even shouted out the sound guy, Rami, for dialing in the madness, proof that they know their power rests on both stage and booth. Seeing them for the second time in a single day? Not overkill. You could watch them every day and still feel like you’ve barely cracked their spellbook.

Friday is just the beginning.

By the end of Friday, the town felt like it had folded in on itself, a hidden dimension of shimmering voices and relentless grooves. Whether or not Rouyn lives like this year-round doesn’t matter—FME makes you believe it does. And maybe that’s the trick: if you don’t know where to find the doorways, you’ll never know it was here.

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