Toronto's New Friends DIY collective is taking over the city's Lithuanian House from August 1 to 3 for the sixth edition of New Friends Fest. With a focus on punk, emo, metal and hardcore, the event will feature a lineup of 36 exhilarating Canadian and international acts. When festivalgoers aren't two-stepping in the pit, they can check out the community-focused festival's series of social events, including a pre-fest party at Collective Arts, Emo Trivia, Hot Breath Karaoke and a DIY Punk Merch Swap.
The weekend-long celebration is an extension of NFDIY's aim "to showcase the many inspiring people we've met through this incredible global community and to continue the rich history of grassroots DIY in Toronto."
Weekend passes are available here. Check out Exclaim!'s must-see bands from New Friends Festival 2025 below.
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The solo project from Halifax-based musician Jessie Everill is spearheading the Canadian East Coast's emerging "pier emo" scene. After the cathartic bit-pop/skramz track "Bunny Goes 2 Business School" off Everill's 2023 debut gained traction last year, Everill is continuing her hot streak in 2025 with March's sophomore release, Mourning Glow.
Respire
Last year saw the release of the Toronto dark metal band's fifth album, Hiraeth, which offers up a dynamic contrast between soaring orchestral arrangements and the harshness of the multi-vocalists' piercing screams. Don't miss them play an electrifying hometown set at NFF.
Rolo Tomassi
One of the bigger names hitting the NFF stage, the English mathcore band has been honing their sound for exactly two decades now. They will be sure to get the crowd moving with their aggressive vocals, heavily distorted guitars, and rolling drums.
Snowing
The Midwest emo band from Pennsylvania technically broke up in 2011, but they have since reunited four times, with 2025 becoming a notable year for the band. This year's spring tour opening for Bear vs. Shark was the band's first tour since 2019, and their appearance at NFF marks their first-ever Canadian show.
Your Arms Are My Cocoon
The lo-fi emo project headed by Chicago-based musician Tyler Odom started out in 2020 with the promising release of his self-titled debut EP. Last year, Odom dropped his first full-length work, Death of a Rabbit, further cementing himself as an up-and-coming act who should be kept on the radar of anyone interested in where emo is headed next.