The Montreal Jazz Festival officially kicked off yesterday with a scheduled packed with local and international artists and events to really fill your social calendar for the next 10 days.
To make your hectic YP life a little easier, we picked a handful of concerts and events that you should seriously find time to check out – even if it’s just one of them.
Get your smartphone calendars ready and start making notes:
1. Tarantino in concert? Hell yes. Somewhere between film, music and theatre, you’ll find the electrifying spectacle featuring 15 dancers, musicians and performers, serving up the 360-degree musical version of cult scenes from Reservoir Dogs to Django Unchained. Running until June 29th.
2. Tonight, Latin-Québécois DJ Boogat, master of an explosive blend of Latin grooves and urban electronica accompanied by a percussionist, drummer and trombonist, will play a live free show at 10pm at Scene Bell.
3. Did someone say the Doggfather? It’s a first Festival appearance for the king of West Coast rap, who will be performing all the classics and new hits from his latest album, Reincarnated, laced with excellent dub, dancehall and electronica-hip-hop grooves. Respect! July 4th and tickets going, going… might be gone.
4. Who hasn’t hosted an apartment party with a Barenaked Ladies soundtrack before? Well, the boys are now arriving at the Festival for the very first time and with a 25-year career, 8 well-deserved JUNO Awards, and fans like a certain Sir Paul McCartney, this July 4th show will be kick-ass.
5. Mister smooth talker Michael Buble is returning 10 years after his Festival debut on July 4th and 5th to celebrate the 35tt anniversary of the Jazz Fest. Ladies, get ready.
6. We are certain that Buble learned the ropes from legends like Tony Bennet, and now you can too on July 1st. With 50 years in music, many millions of albums sold, and 17 Grammys to his credit, Tony Bennett returns to prove that, at 87, he remains unequaled in charming the hearts of his audience.
7. Keeping it local, darling Cœur de Pirate will perform in a formula exclusive to the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal – and for only three nights with her five musicians re-interpreting hits by Nancy Sinatra, Tom Waits and the Rolling Stones, to name a few. July 3-5th.
8. The suave, multicultural and multi-lingual orchestra Pink Martini and their guests The von Trapps will perform to a surely packed house a musical cocktail of swing, jazz, classics, pop and lounge. Two shows on June 29th.
9. The very first-ever major free outdoor show at the Festival will be performed by the magnificent lady of jazz, Diana Krall, on June 29th. The incredible pianist and singer will offer a magical evening usually reserved for the world’s most prestigious indoor venues.
10. With influences ranging from Kate Bush to PJ Harvey, St. Vincent makes her Festival debut with guitar effects and synth-y textures of her celebrated jazzy electro-rock vibe. Expect mind-blowing songs and catchy melodies on July 5th.
11. This one is for all you lovers out there. On July 6th, Maxwell, the Brooklyn native with one of the finest voices of his generation, will perform his contemporary, soulful R&B in Montreal for the very first time in his career. Warning: major PDA all around may take place.
12. Concerts aren’t the only thing taking over the jazzy festivities. How about bar-hopping in Old Montreal? This cocktail hour tour is the best way to have a great time with friends, meet people and discover three great locations in the historic and buzzing Old Port. This two-hour guide includes three drinks, three tastings, and a whole lot of fun.
13. On the other side of the tracks, the rhythm and jazz tour in Little Burgundy and St-Henri will take place. You and your friends can discover the rich history of the districts where you will learn about the origins of the neighbourhood, as well as Montreal’s first jazz bars and the birthplace of Oscar Peterson. You’ll hear about the crazy nights of Rockhead’s Paradise, which were all the rage until the early 60s. Stops are included to enjoy four tastings along the way.
Enough for you? We figured so.
#NOTABLE
Cover image from: Montreal Jazz Festival
Old Port image: From Viuex Port Facebook page
Want more updates on the most Notable things happening so you know before your colleagues do? Get our exclusive newsletter here and follow us on Twitter for all the latest.