A complete guide to LASSO Montreal 2025: How to cowboy up in the city

Saddle up—Montreal’s gone country for LASSO.

The Main

15 août 2025- Read time: 7 min

What started as a surprising experiment by evenko has quickly become one of the city’s fastest-growing festivals. | Photograph: Benoit Rousseau

LASSO Montreal returns August 15–16, 2025, bringing tens of thousands of plaid-shirted, boot-stomping fans to Parc Jean-Drapeau for a weekend of country music, Southern-inspired eats, and sunset singalongs. What started as a surprising experiment by evenko has quickly become one of the city’s fastest-growing festivals—helped along by the cowboy-core fashion wave, a few viral songs, and Quebec’s not-so-secret love of country.

Whether you’re a first-timer still figuring out what LASSO even is, or a seasoned cowpoke with a festival chair already strapped to your back, this guide has you covered—from bag policies to the best boots to wear, how to get there, what to eat, and why Montrealers are suddenly obsessed with all things Nashville.

Festival dates & times

When it's packed, it's packed. | Photograph: Benoit Rousseau

LASSO in the City: Thursday, August 14, 2025
Main Festival: Friday & Saturday, August 15–16, 2025
Festival Hours: 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily

Venue: Parc Jean-Drapeau, on Saint Helen’s Island (Yellow Line métro → Jean-Drapeau station)

2025 headliners & lineup highlights

Clockwise from top left: Bailey Zimerman, Shaboozey, Jelly Roll, and Sheryl Crow. | Photograph: Supplied / Daniel Prakopcyk / Supplied / Eric Ryan Anderson

This year’s headliners? Bailey Zimmerman, Sheryl Crow and Jelly Roll. One’s a rising star, the other’s a tattooed powerhouse with a cult following. In between, expect a stacked roster of acts from across North America, with a few Quebecois names bringing local twang to the mix.

The top of the bill is backed up by rising stars like Shaboozey (riding high off his crossover hits), Appalachian heartbreaker Charles Wesley Godwin, and viral breakout Wyatt Flores. Quebec’s homegrown talent is also in full force, with Cindy Bédard, Francis Degrandpré, and Chloé Leclerc holding it down for the local scene.

Saturday brings out the boots and the banjos. Riley Green and The Dead South bring high-octane Southern energy, while the genre-hopping duo VAVO keeps things unpredictable. Dasha, Tucker Wetmore, and Cameron Whitcomb represent the new school, while acts like Guillaume Lafond, Hauterive, and Québec Redneck Bluegrass Project make sure the Québécois flavour runs deep.

Across both days, there’s a throughline: raw talent, big choruses, and stories that stick. Whether you’re there for the radio hits or the next big thing, LASSO’s 2025 edition is proof that Montreal’s cowboy era isn’t a phase—it’s a full-blown movement.

Ticketing info

LASSO is an all-ages festival. Kids 10 and under get in free with a ticketed adult, but everyone needs a valid ticket for premium zones (Gold, Front Stage, Sky Saloon, etc.)

There’s no re-entry, so plan your day right—once you leave the site, you’re out for good.

Montreal’s cowboy core moment

Country music and cowboy core, long a rural staple in Quebec, have made urban inroads into Montreal—and they aren't going anywhere. | Photograph: Frédérique Ménard-Aubin

Let’s get one thing straight: LASSO isn’t Montreal pretending to be Nashville. It’s Montreal being Montreal—but with a little more denim and a lot more twang.

Country music has been part of Quebec’s identity for decades, from Saint-Tite’s massive Western festival to longstanding institutions like the Wheel Club. But lately, the city itself has leaned in hard: bars like Spaghetti Western, Bottes et Whiskey, and June Saloon are packed every weekend. People are line-dancing in the Plateau and blasting Luke Combs at park picnics. Cowboy hats are trending in thrift stores. LASSO is the result of all that energy hitting a boiling point.

By now, it's way more culture than cosplay, and it's here to stay.

What to bring (and what to leave home)

Bring your best cowboy gear with you. | Photograph: Supplied

Permitted:

Clear bags (max 16” x 12” x 6”)
Small fanny packs & pouches
Empty reusable water bottles (no glass)
Camping chairs (designated area only)
Sunscreen (non-aerosol, under 100ml)
SQDC-sealed cannabis (max 30g; no edibles)
Baby strollers
Non-professional cameras (no detachable lenses)
Naloxone kits
Prescription meds (labelled, for the day only)

Forbidden:

Coolers, umbrellas, tents, or shades
Alcohol, outside food
Backpacks larger than size limit
Pets (except certified service animals)
Selfie sticks, tripods, drones
Professional cameras or audio gear
Edible cannabis products
Anything sharp, throwable, or explosive

Pro tip: If you wouldn’t bring it on a plane, maybe don’t bring it here either.

Never a dull moment. | Photograph: Susan Moss

🤠 Dress code (optional, but encouraged)

Denim-on-denim? Go for it. Cowboy boots? Absolutely. Fringe, bandanas, bolo ties? You’re among friends.

But if you’re new to cowboy-core, don’t overthink it—just dress for comfort and weather. This is a daytime-to-nighttime festival, and August heat in Montreal hits hard. Bring a poncho just in case it rains (it probably will), and don’t wear shoes you care too much about.

Hydration, food, and booze

One of the prime picnic spots. | Photograph: Benoit Rousseau

Water: Free refill stations all over the site—bring a bottle.
Food: Expect the usual festival fare plus a good variety of food trucks. There’s something for everyone: poutine, tacos, BBQ, vegan options.
Drinks: Beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages are available on site. Legal drinking age is 18. Two IDs might be requested.

No outside alcohol allowed, and yes, they’ll check.

LASSO is pushing to meet BNQ level 2 standards for eco-responsibility. That means more recycling, less waste (goal: 155g per person), and a push for reusable materials. Bring your own bottle, pack light, and dispose responsibly.

Where to eat before the show

Safety, harm reduction, accessibility

Medical tents: Look for the green crosses on the map.
GRIP truck: A harm-reduction team on-site can answer questions about drug use, safety, or bad trips—no judgement.
Security presence: You’ll see it. Bag checks are standard, and searches can happen at any time.

Need help? Don’t wait—flag someone down.

Have fun, be safe. | Photograph (clockwise from top left): Tim Snow / Frédérique Ménard-Aubin / Productions Novak / Benoit Rousseau

As for accessibility:

Platforms for people with reduced mobility at all major stages
Reserved parking and accessible restrooms
Customer Experience Kiosk and dedicated concierge service
STM Adapted Transport drops off at Jean-Drapeau station

Note: There are no elevators at the Jean-Drapeau métro station. Plan accordingly.

Getting there

You can't miss it. | Photograph: Productions NOvak

Métro: Easiest option by far. Yellow Line → Jean-Drapeau.

Bike: There’s a designated parking zone for locking up.

Car: Not recommended, but there’s paid parking nearby.

Transit Tip: Buy a return fare before arriving to skip the post-show crush.

Tips from the LASSO faithful

Get there early if you’re aiming for the front row. People camp out at the barricade all afternoon.
Plan your outfit the night before. You will forget something if you don’t.
Don’t underestimate the sun. Sunscreen, hat, water. Seriously.
Download the app or screenshot the schedule. Reception is spotty at best.
Chairs are great, but you can’t move them around. Pick a spot and commit.

Final word?

LASSO isn’t trying to be Coachella. It’s not glamping, it’s not fashion week, and it’s not too cool to have a good time. It’s beer, boots, and belting out lyrics with 30,000 other people who get it. If you’re in, you’re in.

And if you’re still figuring it out? There’s no better place to start.