A Night of Raw Energy and Unapologetic Artistry

March 1st, 2025 – Last week, I had the incredible privilege of covering the opening night at Bitchfest 2025. Now in its fourth year, the annual DIY festival has blossomed from its roots as a COVID-era fundraiser—born to support struggling venues and artists—into a vibrant, full-scale celebration of radical creativity, resilience, and community, centring the voices of women and queer artists/musicians.

I arrived at Parkdale Hall after a long day at my day job, feeling the weight of exhaustion. Thankfully, a quick bite with Jojo at Gus Taco’s and the buzzing energy of the crowd outside the venue quickly revived me. By the time I stepped inside, I was ready to soak in the night’s performances.

Sunlust

The night kicked off with Sunlust, a grunge-punk band that immediately set the tone with their geeky, noisy energy. Lead singer Stephanie commanded the stage with a powerful, at times raspy, voice that felt like a punch to the chest in the best way possible. Their physical presence was magnetic. They knew exactly when to stand still and let the music speak for itself, and when to explode into emotive gestures that pulled the audience in.

Monstrosa

Next up was Monstrosa, a gothic metal band that brought a brooding, sinister edge to the Bitchfest stage. Their aesthetic was a perfect blend of neon and dragon wings, giving off a sword-and-sorcery vibe. It was a style which felt both fantastical and deeply rooted in their queer and feminist ethos.

The trio’s set was a thunderous journey of chugging riffs, thundering bass, breakdowns, and thematic visuals displayed on the TVs at the front of the stage. They didn’t shy away from politics, weaving powerful messages about misogyny, sexism, and queerphobia into their performance. While the acoustics of the venue made some of Lauren’s, vocals hard to catch live, their studio recordings are certainly worth checking out.

At the end of their set, Monstrosa’s lead singer plugged their recent music video for 778, which they closed with.

You can check it out below:

Goodnight Sunrise

Before the night’s show, I found myself backstage chatting with the bands. Wanting to take some photos, instead, I found the mood was sombre, with conversations about the impending U.S. tariffs and expansionist rhetoric weighing heavily on everyone’s minds. I shared a few words of encouragement with their lead singer, Vanessa, reminding her (and myself) that the human condition bends toward freedom. Fascism requires constant upkeep to force compliance and maintain fear – we have that on our side. Events like Bitchfest represent how we want to be free to express ourselves.

This exchange seemed to resonate with the band. They opened their set with a monologue track about making the world better and refusing to give in to despair. Their music carried that same uplifting energy—a nostalgic pop-punk sound with a melodious quality that stood out from the earlier acts. Featuring keytars and a powerful tenor from their male vocalist, their set was a beacon of hope. They closed with their anthem, This is Yours to Make, inviting former live band members to join them on stage for a truly communal moment.

The Filthy Radicals

I’ll admit, despite our post on threads. I was getting tired by this point – Bitchfest 2025 runs late! By the time The Filthy Radicals took the stage as the headliners(?), it was well past midnight, and my energy was flagging. But their ska-infused sound, complete with a brass section and infectious rhythms, kept me on my feet. Their music is a wonderful mix of the rhythm of ska with the sounds and content of alternative genres like punk. They had the largest ensemble of the night, and their performance was a fitting end to an evening that celebrated diversity, resilience, and the power of music.

We stayed through to the end, but I wasn’t keeping as many notes as I was for the earlier band.

Check out the bands on their Bandcamp pages, or keep up with them on their Instagrams:

Sunlust / IG: @sunlust.band

MONSTROSA / IG: @monstrosaband

Jealous (Of My Friends), by Goodnight Sunrise / IG: @goodnightsunriseband

The Fine Line Between Real & Insane, by The Filthy Radicals / IG: @thefilthyradicals