Find Your New Favourite Musician at Oshawa Music Week 2025

As this weather teases us with hopes of sunshine and a light breeze, there is so much to look forward to during spring in Oshawa. One of my favourite things about Oshawa is the local talent and the venues close to home that offer a cool vibe, a stylish ambiance, and some genuinely memorable good times. This April, I look forward to Oshawa Music Week. 

Spanning April 1 to 5, Durham College’s Music Business Management students put on a multi-venue week of programming. Live music from across cultures has a way of showing pride, making people feel alive, and bringing folks together. Now is the season to get into a new groove, dance to music from around the world, and hopefully pick up some cool stuff from the vendors who come to support these students and their hard work. 

The Oshawa Music Week 2025 Line-up.

Head to the TWOTWOTWO on Wednesday, April 2, for “Genre Swap,” where artists try their hand at playing songs unrelated to their comfort zone. I am personally looking forward to this event as it gets everyone ready for the Cowboy Carter tour. I’m not the biggest Beyonce fan, but seeing her win a Grammy for Best Country Album made artist versatility a mainstream topic of conversation. It’s always fun to watch musicians put their talents on display and capture new audiences. 

Thursday, April 3, is country night at The Atria. This event reminds me of when Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats performed alongside City and Colour and Ruby Waters at the Tribute Community Centre in February 2024. For me, country music has such tight roots to Blues, Gospel and Folk music, and those low notes make each sound hit differently. What a fantastic experience it must be to belt your heart out and get that same feeling as some of the biggest names in music. Country is truly a genre that spans some of the deepest storytelling or some of the catchiest toe-tapping. I’m excited to see what Oshawa Music Week brings to the stage!

Thursday, April 3 is Indie Rock night back at The TWOTWOTWO. When I was a student at McMaster University, homegrown bands like The Arkells and The Dirty Nil got a lot of respect from the other students who supported their rise to fame. There is something organic about getting in on the ground floor of a band you went to school with or a group you have supported since day one. I know the same is true for the older people in my life who went to high school with Rush. Come out for Indie Rock Night to see emerging artists cut their teeth and gain a loyal fandom. It really is an incredible feeling to rage on alongside an artist from your own city and see them soar. 

A sold-out show at The TwoTwoTwo in Oshawa.

Thursday, April 3, also boasts Rap Renaissance at the Diezel Room (59 King Street East, Second Floor). This event pairs perfectly with the Art Gallery of Ontario’s exhibition, The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century. With the AGO show closing soon, come out to Oshawa to see some of the local artists contributing to the Canadian rap scene. Michie Mee, Kardinal Offishall, Maestro Fresh Wes, Choclair, NAV, Roy Woods, and so many more have significantly impacted hip hop coming out of Canada. I know that DVSN and Jully Black are more R&B, but the hip-hop sounds and styles that come out of blending rhythm and rhyming genuinely excite me. Let’s see what the mix is like when we support the artists giving us tongue-twisters and plural entendres this Oshawa Music Week. 

The Biltmore Theatre hosts a Desi Party that same night. As a lover of amapiano, we have seen music from around the world break global records in recent years. Desi music and culture are no different. Celebrating the sounds and styles of South Asia, this is sure to be a high-energy party with some of the most skillful dance moves. This event will surely be full of passion, expression, and colours as Desi artists from around Durham Region show off what they can do. I’ve said it before, but the diversity of Oshawa and its neighbouring cities is what keeps me engaged in local events. Toronto might have Salsa on St. Clair, but this music has such melody and freedom that I always have to dance, smile, and just people-watch as I learn more about the culture. Come see how Oshawa does it. 

Oshawa Music Week brings a Desi Party to The Biltmore Theatre. This is a don't-miss event!

On Friday, April 4, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery (RMG) will host the Emerging Artists Showcase from 7 to 10 p.m. I have been to The RMG for several of its parties in The Backyard and First Fridays events. Some of the artists getting their start in Oshawa are amazing, and I cannot wait to cheer them on. 

Saturday, April 5, offers students the opportunity to meet with industry professionals. It sounds like an exciting week of working hard and playing harder. Oshawa Music Week is a thrilling time to kick off spring in the city. It is a great way to gear up for Convergence Music & Art Festival 2025, Oshawa’s biggest outdoor street festival that happens every September. Oshawa is definitely a key destination for music lovers. 

Hope to see you out and about this week!