While Panic Manual’s attention at this time of year is mostly focused on looking ahead to SXSW, we are occasionally reminded that there’s also plenty of cool stuff going on a lot closer to home than Austin, Texas.
Case in point – Le Phoque OFF, the Quebec City-based festival with a focus on up-and-coming artists from Quebec and beyond, now entering its 12th year. And though Panic Manual won’t be able to make it out for this one, we did have a peek at the lineup, taking note of some of the more interesting names on the bill. So without any further ado, here they are:
Wizaard
Not to be confused with English rockers Wizzard or the German power metal outfit Wizard, the Montreal duo of Marie-Hélène Coutu and Jean-Nicolas Doss spell their name with two As and offer up a warm and inviting brand of mellow psychedelic pop.
Fleur de Peau
Keeping with the theme of Quebecois musical duos, we turn next to Fleur de Peau (aka Louis Fernandez and Élie Dubois-Sénéchal) and their latest single, “Les oiseaux.”
N NAO
The project of Montreal’s Naomie de Lorimier, N NAO mixes experimental electronica with an undercurrent of poppier sounds. Check out the video below for her latest single, the dreamy, ethereal “Château d’eau.”
Beau Nectar
Yet another duo, the Saskatchewan-based Beau Nectar is a bilingual collaboration between singer-songwriters Marie-Clo and éemi who describe their sound as falling somewhere between synthpop and folk. They’re set to release their new album Dandy in the winter of 2026.
Fragile
Not just for Canadian acts, Le Phoque OFF also offers up a few international artists in its lineup, including hardcore 5-piece Fragile, who make the trip across the ocean from Angers, France to promote their latest album Big Big Smile and quite possibly to inspire a mosh pit or two.
Le Phoque OFF takes place from February 13-21, 2026.
