Festival Co-Founder, Greg Chomut, with a student at the 2025 Wake the Giant Music Festival, lineup launch - (CJ Goater/Acadia Broadcasting)
Wake the Giant Music Festival in Thunder Bay has announced its lineup, which is being headlined by the Black Eyed Peas.
The event is taking place on September 6 at Marina Park.
The rest of the lineup includes Prozzäk, Neon Dreams, Crystal Shawanda, The Poets, Wyatt C. Louis, G DUBZ and Walking Bear.
“This has always been the dream,” said Co-founder and Organizer Sean Spenrath. “The chart-topping, hit-making legends The Black Eyed Peas— are bringing their signature energy to Wake the Giant, and for the first time in our festival history, an Indigenous artist is leading the charge as a headliner.”
Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas is known for his advocacy for Indigenous rights.
The rapper likes to honour and highlight his Shoshone heritage.
He’s authored a children’s book inspired by his own journey of embracing his heritage and makes it his mission to bring Indigenous artists into the mainstream.
“Taboo has been using his platform to amplify Indigenous voices for years, and having him headline the festival with the Black Eyed Peas is beyond epic,” added Spenrath. “We hope this will bring even more awareness to the movement and what it’s all about.”
Tickets for the 2025 Wake the Giant Music Festival are on sale and can be found here.
Kids 12 and under are free but still need a ticket to attend via the ticket site.
Wake the Giant Music Festival isn’t just about the music.
The festival welcomes Indigenous students who leave their homes in remote northern communities to attend high school in Thunder Bay.
“Wake the Giant Music Festival is a celebration of Indigenous culture and a welcoming event for Indigenous youth and their families,” explained Chomut. “Students leave behind everything they know to pursue an education here, it’s a huge transition. Wake the Giant wants them to feel welcome and celebrated.”
Wake the Giant provides one of the largest student orientation events in Canada, which concludes at the Wake the Giant Music Festival.
Each year, a poster is made for the festival, and this year’s poster brings together a group of student artists.
In 2024, Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School (DFC) students participated in a two-day workshop with Blake Angeconeb, Christian Chapman and Michah Dowbak (aka Mad Dog Jones).
During the session, each student created their own piece of art inspired by Wake the Giant.
Those pieces were combined to design this year’s festival banners, which will be on display on the Wake the Giant stage.
In addition to music, the event will also include a Kids Zone, community art activities, Indigenous Craft Market, and food.
Wake the Giant supports kids at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, which is a part of the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council.
Thunder Bay’s Economic Development Commission has supplied $50,000 to support the event.
