Festivals in Montreal: For a Summer of Music

Byline by Mireille Mayrand-Fiset

Known internationally for its festive and welcoming atmosphere, Montreal is a city of incomparable excitement and joie de vivre. A summer in Quebec’s bilingual metropolis offers numerous occasions to celebrate. Among them, the many music festivals are a must. From jazz to pop to experimental noise, in Montreal, there is a festival for every taste. If you are looking to make a voyage en musique, Montreal is the ultimate destination. Here’s a sneak peak at what four of the most popular music festivals in Montreal are like. Enjoy!
 

The Jazz Festival

Probably the most popular and the most prestigious music festival in Montreal, the Jazz Fest has a well-deserved international reputation. Every summer, thousands of festivalgoers, from Montreal and from around the world, gather downtown to hear some of the greatest artists of today’s jazz scene. A lot of the concerts on the program are free and are happening outdoors.
 

The FrancoFolies

From pop to rock to electronica, the FrancoFolies – affectionately called the Francos – is a great occasion to discover francophone music from around the world. For two weeks, Montreal is taken over by the contagious energy of the Francos: everywhere downtown, you can hear music play. The program combines performances from well-known popular artists as well as from up-coming new bands. Like the Jazz fest, lots of the Franco’s concerts are free and happening outdoors.
 

Nuits d’Afrique

Montreal is renowned for its open-mindedness and for its unique blend of cultures, origins and languages. In a city that celebrates differences and originality, Festival International Nuits d’Afrique (African Nights) is a landmark. The Festival has brought many of the greatest names of World music to Montreal for over 25 years now, and is unique in North America.
 

Mutek

Mutek is a must for everyone one who wishes to make unconventional, surprising, challenging, life-changing music discoveries. Underground, edgy, avant-gardiste Montreal’s Mutek is making many other North American cities green with envy. Both up-coming and well-established artists from different underground music scenes such as noise, electro-acoustic and experimental are meeting up in Montreal for this celebration of creativity in its most daring form.

Mireille Mayrand-Fiset is a theater, music and travel enthusiast. Apart from working as a freelance blogger for Merlin Assurance, she also writes for stage and television.