For all the fall lovers, it’s the start of the most wonderful time of the year. As always, there’s no better way to mark the end of festival season than with a big finale, and CityFolk should deliver just that.
Cool nights (and cooler beverages), and great performances from a wide range of artists end up creating a magical mix, as long as mother nature cooperates. Plus, with crowd sizes much more manageable than Bluesfest, you won’t need to worry about getting swamped by a Green Day crowd here.
Just like CityFolk consistently delivers great nights, Apt613 will be consistently delivering all your festival coverage with daily previews so you know what to expect, and photos from the night before so you know what you missed.
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025
Easing fans into the festival mood gently, the lineup kicks off with some smooth R&B, folk and pop that should loosen up the crowd for the rest of the weekend.
TD Stage:
6:00 pm – Tafari Anthony
7:20 pm – Paul Russell
8:50 pm – Alex Warren
As the first of two R&B artists to kick off the main stage lineup, Toronto’s Tafari Anthony has been garnering attention right from his debut EP in 2016, with singles “Maybe When I Get Older” and “Know Better” getting radio play. Since then, he’s earned a Juno nomination while also producing for other artists in addition to his own material. His growth is on full display on his 2023 album When I Met Your Girlfriend which moves beyond strict R&B and incorporates influences from genres as diverse as rock (on “5:20am”) and club beats (on the very next track, “Falling Back”), with the common thread being his soulful vocals, showcased masterfully on the more stripped back gospel/soul track “Evermore.” That variety will surely make for an interesting set that will keep the early birds intrigued.
Continuing the trend of eclectic mixes of influences, Paul Russell dials it up even more. After debuting in Christian hiphop in 2018, his mainstream breakthrough came with the release of “Lil Boo Thang” which went viral on TikTok and led to a major label record deal. As the single went double platinum, his subsequent EP Again Sometime? builds on the old-school feel of his mega hit including the collaboration with Meghan Trainor on Slippin’ and the party anthem “Say Cheese.” The ’70s and ’80s influences give way to early ’90s with “That Girl” that has Bel Biv DeVoe vibes. No matter the era the throwbacks harken back to, the end result still sounds fresh, and most of all, fun.
Speaking of TikTok fame, headliner Alex Warren can attest to how that can change someone’s trajectory. Starting out as an influencer, his internet fame helped him springboard into music, with singles dropping in 2021, leading to his debut album You’ll Be Alright, Kid in 2024. Since then, his singles have dominated the charts and have been steadily streamed across the globe, placing him in the top 40 streamed artists at the moment. With a style mostly centred on singer-songwriter and folk-pop, his collaborations with artists as disparate as Joe Jonas and Jelly Roll showcase his personal (and personable) songwriting and emotive voice, which will be on display in Ottawa for the very first time.
FASKEN Stage:
5:30 pm – Hanorah
6:30 pm – Mia Kelly
7:45 pm – Tyler Shaw
If you’ve been to CityFolk in the last few years, you’ll know what a hidden gem the side stage can be. Tucked away around the corner from the main stage, Day 1 features a trio of vocalists that all bring their own soulful sounds to the forefront.
Hailing from Montreal, Hanorah kicks off the festival as a whole, so make sure to get there early and grab a seat in the tent. With an experimental approach to soul and R&B, her latest release, this May’s EP Closer Than Hell adds to her growing catalog of introspective reflections, while maintaining a familiar yet modern sound. “Barbed Wire” might sound seeped in tradition, but subsequent “Heavenly One” heads into a much more contemporary, atmospheric direction that almost borders on shoegaze and ambient at times.
Next is well-known local songstress Mia Kelly. Whether singing in English or French, her bluesy soulful voice reaches out and connects to anyone within earshot. Case in point, “Bonefish Boys,” the lead track on last year’s stellar album To Be Clear earned Kelly the Capital Music Award for Single of the Year, while another single from the album, “Si j’étais franche” won for Video of the Year. Yet the most enthralling song on the album may not even be either of those. My vote would go for “Meaning Well,” but a case can be made for any of the ten cuts. For diehard fans, her newest single “Sea to the Moon” was just released today!
Closing out the side stage is BC’s Tyler Shaw, adding a touch of pop to the night. Ever since his debut single “Kiss Goodnight” immediately shot onto the charts in 2012, the pop star has been a mainstay on Canadian airwaves and streams with a string of gold and platinum singles and albums. His first full length, Yesterday celebrated its tenth anniversary this month, and to commemorate the occasion, Shaw released a deluxe expanded version with new acoustic renditions of some of his most popular songs, which showcase just how strong his vocals truly are.
CityFolk takes place on the Great Lawn at Lansdowne Park Sept. 10 to 14. Keep an eye on apt613.ca for daily coverage and photos!
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