For Museums, Saturday afternoon’s performance at Osheaga was much more than just a concert: it was a pivotal moment in their young career. Set up under the half-dome of the SiriusXM stage, facing one of the festival’s many chill-out zones, the Montreal quartet turned what is often a challenging time slot into a true showcase of their potential. From the very first notes of “In Waves,” Ali Kouri captures the audience’s attention with her warm, natural stage presence. What’s most impressive is the confidence with which Museums commands a stage of this magnitude despite their short career.
Smiling, guitar in hand, the singer leads the band, whose cohesion is immediately apparent. From the very first minutes, the audience sways, dances, and joins in with the band with growing enthusiasm. Carried by a slightly euphoric energy, the song unfolds with catchy melodies, while the chorus “It comes, it comes / in waves” continues to echo long after it ends.
“Ur Best” then highlights the band’s more emotional side, while “This Can Be It,” taken from the EP of the same name released last June, showcases their talent for powerful riffs and catchy choruses. On stage, the chemistry between the musicians is evident. It’s impossible to tell whether the bassist is playing his bass or if the bass is playing him, as each of his movements naturally flows with the rhythm of the songs. As for the lead guitarist, he constantly enriches the songs with his harmonies
As the concert progresses, more and more festivalgoers are drawn toward the stage, swept away by this blend of indie rock, dream pop, and alternative rock. The band takes the opportunity to unveil a new composition—darker and more contemplative than their previous ones—whose explosive finale stands as one of the performance’s highlights. The drummer finally lets go of the restraint that had characterized his playing up to that point, unleashing the song’s full energy. In 30 minutes, Museums confidently succeeded in their Osheaga debut and left the impression of a band already ready to aim for even bigger stages.
