Fono Festival: Charlie Puth, Charlotte Cardin and Galantis to Headline

Rosalie Malo | annexe
Jun 10
6 min read

Fono Festival: Charlie Puth, Charlotte Cardin and Galantis

to Headline

Presented by Beneva in collaboration with RBC

Quebec City, June 10, 2025 – From September 11 to 13, the Fono Festival returns to Quebec City for a second edition, presented by Beneva in collaboration with RBC. This major public event offers a final burst of summer before the fall, with a lineup led by Charlie Puth, Charlotte Cardin and Galantis, supported by over fifty local and international artists across four stages, including rising star Alex Warren. For three days, Fono will transform Université Laval's campus into a vibrant cultural hub open to everyone. One thing is clear: on September 11, 12, and 13, summer won’t be over just yet!

“In just two editions, Fono is establishing itself as a key cultural event in Quebec City. We envisioned it as a festival that brings people together, and we’re proud to see it growing and expanding. This year, it gains even more momentum with an added day, an enhanced conference series, and new offerings,” says Nicolas Racine, President and CEO of BLEUFEU.

“We’re proud to feature over 50 artists and introduce new experiences, such as the Forêt électro, an immersive space dedicated to electronic music. The redesign of the Boisé Coors Light and Laboratoire Kepler Gin stages, now side by side, will elevate the experience with enhanced production and high-caliber performances away from the Beneva Main Stage. For that stage, we focused on strong names: Quebec's favorite Charlotte Cardin, global pop star Charlie Puth, and the Swedish duo Galantis, who will launch Fono’s very first electro night,” says Louis Bellavance, Vice President of Content and Artistic Direction at BLEUFEU.

“The Fono Festival reflects our commitment to being a university open to the community and strengthens the vibrant cultural and social life on our campus. It also provides an opportunity to conduct an innovative research project using immersive audio technology with our dummy head, Fritz, placed among the crowd, alongside a series of conferences that will showcase our creativity and expertise. We're thrilled to collaborate with BLEUFEU and its partners to promote culture at the heart of a dynamic campus,” says Sophie D’Amours, Rector of Université Laval.

Programming

Spread over four stages, a variety of shows will energize the three days of Fono 2025. In addition to the musical lineup: two days of conferences at Pavillon Desjardins, an immersive research project on binaural sound, and of course, plenty of fun. Here's a preview of what this second edition has in store.

Scène principale Beneva

From September 11 to 13, the Beneva Main Stage will pulse with headliners and three distinct evening atmospheres.

Thursday, September 11 kicks off with a night dedicated to hip-hop and electro. The celebration begins with Shreez, a Laval native who quickly rose to prominence in Quebec’s hip-hop scene following his debut in 2020. This marks his first show in Quebec City, where he'll present his new album released in April. Next is Qualité Motel, one of the most energetic acts in the province, promising a high-energy show with surprise guests. Then, the stage is set for Swedish duo Galantis, known for their electrifying live sets and their global hit "Runaway (U&I)."

Friday, September 12 opens with American sensation Alex Warren. Riding the massive success of his global hit Ordinary, he’s been topping the charts for months—even before the release of his debut album, expected in July. The evening builds toward Quebec darling Charlotte Cardin. With a year marked by major success from the U.S. to Europe, she'll perform her signature songs with the elegance and intensity that have made her one of today’s most acclaimed pop voices.

Saturday, September 13 celebrates pop in all its forms, starting with the fiery Lu Kala, the Congolese-Canadian singer known for her infectious hit Hotter Now. Then comes one of the festival’s biggest gets: Charlie Puth. A global phenomenon who emerged from reality TV to become a respected songwriter, Puth makes his first-ever appearance in Quebec City. The mastermind behind countless chart-toppers like We Don’t Talk Anymore, Attention, See You Again, One Call Away, and Left and Right — together, these five tracks alone have surpassed 8.5 billion streams on a single platform.

Double Stage: Boisé Coors Light | Laboratoire Kepler Gin

Two side-by-side stages will alternate performances seamlessly for a non-stop experience.

Thursday, September 11 is all about pop and indie pop. The hypnotic Fleur de Peau opens the night, followed by Frais Dispo’s groove, Mint Simon, and Bønanza with his signature indie pop style. Toronto’s Alex Porat brings her catchy sound before Alice Merton, who made waves in 2019 with No Roots, closes the night. This show marks a strong return for the German-Canadian singer whose striking indie sound will wrap the evening beautifully.

Friday, September 12 offers a rich mix of folk, indie pop, rock, and chanson. Montreal’s rising artist Laraw opens, followed by Quebec singer-songwriter Metò. Irish trio Amble, topping the streaming charts in Canada and the UK, is already one of the global folk scene's standout new acts. Sunsetto takes the stage next, followed by Foxwarren, led by acclaimed Canadian artist Andy Shauf, returning with a superb second album. Then, New York’s Been Stellar brings their razor-sharp rock to Quebec in a rare stop during a summer filled with major festival appearances. The evening ends with Quebec City’s own Ariane Roy and her modern, vibrant Francophone pop.

Saturday, September 13 begins with Beau Nectar’s bright folk-pop, followed by Irène and Vendôme’s polished indie rock. Kaya Hoax brings bold pop energy, Roselle follows with captivating electro-pop, and Spill Tab — the indie electro-pop project of Franco-American Claire Chicha from Los Angeles — is set to be one of the festival's breakout discoveries. Also on the bill: rising Canadian alt-pop artist Renforshort with her raw, emotionally-charged writing, and the American art-punk band Gustaf for a night full of discoveries.

Forêt électro

Tucked into a wooded area turned open-air dancefloor, the Forêt électro will pulse with electronic sounds for three nights in a setting that’s both immersive and organic. For its debut edition, Fono welcomes American DJ Saxsquatch as artist-in-residence. In costume and armed with a saxophone, he blends live groove and electro in festive, offbeat performances. He’ll close out each night in the forest after the Beneva Main Stage headliners.

On Thursday, September 11, Horizon opens with immersive electronic textures, followed by Tomas Grey’s dreamy forest set. Local talent DJ Mika then takes over, before Saxsquatch closes the night.

On Friday, September 12, Vexskin opens with rich ambient landscapes, followed by Honeydrip and Cece the Red, offering contrasting styles from downtempo grooves to more percussive rhythms—before Saxsquatch ends the night.

Saturday, September 13 features DJ M8, Stormies, Monsieur PY, Tartine, and Tallandskiinny for one last night of forest beats, culminating in a final appearance by Saxsquatch. Three nights, one timeless setting, and one rule: let the rhythm carry you.

Extras Fono

Because the party doesn’t end after the concerts, the Extras Fono late-night events take over from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Pub universitaire. Each night, guest DJs will extend the Fono experience in a festive, relaxed atmosphere. More music, more dancing, and more fun for those who don’t want the night to end.

Tickets

Passes go on sale June 11 at noon at festivalfono.com. The 3-day pass is available for $99 for students and $119 at the regular price ($129 after July 15). Access to the Zone OR is $239 for three days or $169 per day.

+ conferences: Creative Connection, Collective Inspiration, Festive Atmosphere

On September 11 and 12, Université Laval’s Pavillon Desjardins becomes the heart of + conferences, an immersive experience blending creativity and reflection. Designed as an intensive camp, it features talks by speakers from diverse backgrounds to foster exchange, professional development, and networking. The experience includes festival access, meals, cocktails, and happy hours. Full lineup and ticket info to come.

Research Project

Fono 2025 partners with psychology professor Sébastien Tremblay, director of Université Laval’s Co-DOT lab, to explore the immersive power of binaural sound in an innovative research project. Live performances will be recorded using a dummy head with built-in microphones and a GoPro, then recreated in the lab for headphone listening. By comparing immersive 3D sound with traditional stereo, the team will study the impact on presence, emotion, and engagement. The findings could lead to new applications in digital culture, telemedicine, and remote presence, while making cultural experiences more accessible.

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