Summer is just around the corner (hopefully!) and that means one thing: a whole lot of fun! Okay, never mind. It actually means a bunch of things, like drinks on patios, ice cream, road trips and tons more!
If you're a fan of road tripping, then you know there's no better city to visit in the summer than Montreal. It's not that long a trip - and let's be real, when the sun comes out, it does not get better than this cultural hub of art, music and amazing nightlife.
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And the closer we get to summer, the closer we also get to Montreal’s incredible Jazz Festival!
The festival, which is running from June 28th until July 7th, is one of the best - if not the BEST - music festivals in Montreal. They always have an incredible selection of music and best of all, many of their events are free! It holds the world record for the biggest Jazz festival in the world and hosts 3000 musicians and entertainers from all over the world.
@festivaljazzmtlTheir shows take place in the heart of the city, both indoors and outdoors. So it's super accessible - and about 2 million people come to enjoy it every year! DAMNNN!
You can enjoy artists like Beth Hart and Geoffroy this year. And while some shows will cost you (and are totally. worth. it.), 2/3 of their shows are actually 100% free:
Declan O’Donovan
@declanjdonovanDeclan O'Donovan is will definitely be a great show, he's even gone on tour with big names like Amy Sharp. He's from Harlow, Essex and his sweet accent will have you swooning!
LowDown Brass Band
@lowdownbrassbandIf you're into full stacked brass bands, this is the show for you. They've got a really interesting sound with multiple dynamic vocalists, and are known for their crazy body movements that will get anybody listening up and on their feet.
Jerry Granelli
Via Geoffrey Creighton Photography
Jerry Granelli is one of the most widely recognized and highly regarded musicians in Nova Scotia. If you're from anywhere in Nova Scotia, you'll know this name - and if you're from anywhere on this planet, you'll enjoy his sound!
Steve Hill
@stevehillmusicThis 2015 Juno Award winner for Blues Album of the Year always delivers an awesome performance. He's won lots of awards over the years, including Entertainer of the Year!
Hannah Williams
Via David Fugere
Hannah is a British soul singer here to change the shape of popular music for the better, and she’s backed by an awesome band filled with really talented musicians from all over the UK.
Sarah McKenzie
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Sarah is another one of the international acts and she's coming all the way from Australia for the festival! You may not immediately recognize her name but she has produced classics for stars like Norah Jones, Lizz Wright and Gregory Porter.
Lo’Jo
@lojomusicLo'jo is coming in from France with her band. They're a modern take on French music is definitely worth checking out.
Jupiter & Okwess
@jupiterokwessThis crew from Congo is maybe my favorite on the list. They have awesome music and they make every sound on their album only with their mouths. It's honestly so awesome to witness in person - another must-see!
Thornetta Davis
@sweetmamatdThis funky rockin blues Queen is like the Adele of blues/rock. She's got hella pipes and always brings the house down. She's won over 30 Detroit Music Awards and is the true definition of QUEEN!
Steve Strongman
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Steve does a modern take on blues that is super catchy. His big hit from this album is all about making the most of the moment and he is definitely making the most out of his!
Da Cruz
This is another one of my favorites! Da Cruz has such a cool sound that would be really hard not to like. She's originally from Brazil which comes through in her electro-acoustic sound. If you don't know her yet, I definitely recommend looking her up.
So, jazz lovers (and, well, music lovers in general!) you just know the artists featured this year at the 2018 Montreal Jazz Fest are more than worth checking out. And considering all of the above fantastic talents are putting on free shows at the festival... well, this just might be the excuse you needed to visit Montreal this summer!
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