The Selfies are both psyched and humbled to be named Thunder Bay’s top cover band for 2025. “It seems so crazy to be here, still doing this and now recognized as a favourite cover band in TBay,” says bassist Jordan Lester. “Twelve years ago, we signed up to play a cover show at Black Pirates Pub doing Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, which is ironic being a cover band covering another cover band, […] but we owe a lot to Jimmy Wiggins for putting us on other shows after that first gig.”

“If we had known the longevity of it then, maybe we would have tried for a better name,” he laughs.

Lester, Andrew Edwards, Jared Schaaf, and Derek Shaffer started out mostly covering 90s rock and pop punk bands like Sum 41, Smashing Pumpkins, and The Offspring. When powerhouse singer Jessica Hayes joined the group a few years ago, The Selfies evolved into a band with range—both in vocals and repertoire.

When we brought Jess on and started doing more female pop covers, that’s when things really took off,” Lester says. “She’s been such an important addition to the band. She can literally cover any female pop artist.”