Cyndi Lauper

Québec City, Wednesday, March 7, 2018 – Festival d’été de Québec is making a big splash by bringing together the biggest names in international music and unveiling a decidedly contemporary program for its 51st edition! Foo Fighters, The Weeknd, Beck, The Chainsmokers, Shawn Mendes, Future, Lorde, Cyndi Lauper, Avenged Sevenfold and Dave Matthews Band will all be meeting in Québec City from July 5 to 15th. FEQ has entrusted the carte blanche evening to Patrice Michaud for an unrivaled concept show. FEQ will also welcome the legendary Neil Young for his very first visit to the Capital: a long-awaited visit that will attract huge crowds to the only show he will present in Canada.

“The FEQ passed an important milestone with its 50th anniversary. Now we are looking to the future and continue to innovate with a modern and diversified program. This next edition is following world trends very closely: we’ll be having a lineup of top stars from many leading festivals, and we’re convinced that festival-goers from all parts of the world will be flocking here this summer,” explained the Interim General Manager, Claude Doré.

OUTDOOR STAGES

BELL STAGE ON THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM

An explosive reunion is expected for festival-goers and the Foo Fighters, who clearly intend to finish performing the show they began in 2015. That show was cut short after four songs by a severe storm. Ever since that surprise turn of events, legions of rock fans have been clamoring for a long-awaited return. The Foo Fighters will do only one show in Québec, and it will be at the Festival on July 9. Folk-rocker Frank Turner will start off the night, followed by the young and talented quartet Greta Van Fleet whose pent-up energy will plunge festival-goers into the heart of 1970s rock—with a style and voice reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and their singer Robert Plant.

Among the must-see nights this year, the FEQ is especially proud to welcome the legendary Neil Young to the Plains of Abraham, at long last. “We’ve been working on bringing him here for years, and I’m particularly delighted with this catch, all the more so because he’s only doing three dates this year. He’s a legend on a par with Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Bob Dylan. He’s still delivering high-intensity performances. A memorable show is awaiting us, that’s for sure!” says Louis Bellavance, the program director. With plenty of masterpieces like Heart of Gold, Old Man, Rockin’in the Free World, and Harvest Moon, the reputation of this elusive star speaks for itself. Keep in mind he’ll be appearing in Québec City for the very first time. Willie Nelson’s son and his group, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, will warm up the crowd and then join Neil Young on stage for the main show of the night.

The kick-off for the 51st edition on July 5 is promising to be spectacular with global star The Weeknd. This fresh face from Toronto has been in the top 5 for the last two years, smashing all records with his songs Can’t Feel My Face and Starboy. His seductive charm doesn’t wear off, thanks to his undeniable charisma and languorous R&B. Having collaborated with Drake, Daft Punk, Ariana Grande, and recently Kendrick Lamar, the new king of pop is ready to turn the Plains of Abraham into a huge dance floor. The night will begin with the hip-hop group Brockhampton, followed by the electropop duo Chromeo.

The young generation will be centre stage on July 8 with the new pop sensation Shawn Mendes. The prolific singer first made it big on social media but is now invading the radio waves and becoming the new fave of his generation. His hit songs Stitches and Treat You Better will get everyone singing on the Plains! The English electropop duo Oh Wonder will open the festivities at 7p.m.

On July 12, the gifted indie rocker Beck will be rocking the Bell Stage as part of his first visit to Québec City. With an eclectic and unique slate of musical offerings, combining experimental rock, extravagant funk, and rap, this pop genius will present his greatest hits, including his 1994 classic Loser and material from his latest opus Colors—a rainbow of pop music genres that promises to be even more festive, radiant, and dance-happy. For the first part of the night, the renowned French group Phoenix will warm up the crowd by delivering Indie pop tunes to the beat of the 70s and 80s.

As the new queen of smart pop, Lorde will start her tour in Québec City on July 13 and then fly off to Europe. With the thirty or so awards she’s won at the Grammys, the Brits, and the MTV Awards, thanks to hits like Royals, Tennis Court, and Team, the New Zealand singer has been pursuing her exceptional rise to the highest peaks of success. To start off the night, the colourful icon of the 80s Cyndi Lauper, who was responsible for the sensations Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Time after Time, and True Colors, will make a rare visit to Canada, and only to Québec. This

performance will be preceded by Montréal electropop duo Milk & Bone, who will send the crowd heavenward with their bewildering selections and entrancing vocal harmonies.

On Saturday July 7, rap will take the stage with the suave group Future. With their hypnotic, rapid-firing, and yet flexible flow of words, Future has been more impressive than ever with its two complementary albums, Future and HNDRXX, released in 2017. While the band has been having fun mixing and mingling pop, rap, and straight R&B, none of this has deterred the industry and the critics, who see a bright future ahead for this group. Its performance will be preceded by the master of old-school rap Busta Rhymes, one of the leading rappers of the 90s, and by Loud, a renowned Québec artist that is making a stunning rise in the international rap scene.

Who hasn’t heard of The Chainsmokers this year? The New York City duo, who have made a splash with their hits Don’t Let Me Down and Closer, are promising a wild performance for the Soirée ElectroFEQ! With their entire backup team of musicians, the duo is slated for the Bell Stage on the Plains of Abraham on July 11 and will get everyone dancing for this yearly get-together. The Canadian DJ Young Bombs, the English house duo Gorgon City and one of the most sought after hip-hop sensation, Tory Lanez, will ignite the ElectroFEQ with an unforgettable round of electronic music.

A highly charged ambiance is expected for the Bell Stage on July 14. The heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, which is very popular in Québec City, is back in the Capital. When they last came to Québec City in January, M. Shadows and his band made a point of telling the crowd at the end of the concert that they wanted to play again at the FEQ. Their wish, and their fans’ too, was heard! Let’s bet their show will be every bit as intense this time as in the past—an electrifying stage performance with catchy refrains sung in unison. It’s gonna be a great night!

How will these 11 music-crammed days finish off? With a superb night to the tunes of Dave Matthews Band on July 15, who will likewise be coming to Québec for the very first time. The band’s charismatic leader and his talented musicians, known for musical performances that will blow you away, will be redoing their hits ‘jam band’- style. With a real mix of rock, jazz, funk, and world music, this group from Charlotte, North Carolina, has sold over 30 million records since the mid-1990s. The opening acts will be done by the energetic Australian group John Butler Trio and the winner of the 2017 Best Country Album award at the last Grammy, Sturgill Simpson.

Carte Blanche Night

In keeping with tradition, the FEQ invites a local artist to make this night a blockbuster. This year, the honour goes to Patrice Michaud, who is given carte blanche for the night of July 10. Winner of the Félix Award for Male Artist of the Year and Song of the Year at the 2017 ADISQ Gala, he’s really hit it off with the public. Details about his concept show will be released in the coming weeks.

LOTO-QUÉBEC STAGE IN PARC DE LA FRANCOPHONIE

With a program packed with talent, the Loto-Québec Stage and its line-up of artists will have people coming in droves. Festivities will kick off on July 5 with the legendary Jethro Tull. Thanks to a progressive musical style with mixtures of rock, blues, classical, Celtic, and his own flutist style, Ian Anderson and his band will certainly be a sensation. The opening acts will be the musical and artistic collective Yamantaka Sonic Titan and the Turkish folk band Altin Gün.

On July 7, the FEQ will present an outstanding musical event: a symphonic tribute to Serge Gainsbourg, interpreted by the woman who has shared his life for many years, Jane Birkin. She will be accompanied on stage by the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, conducted by Simon Leclerc. A work arranged by the talented composer Nobuyuki Nakajima.

A heart-lifting ambiance awaits festival-goers on July 6 with English producer Bonobo Live (Simon Green), who will present his latest album Migration, accompanied by his musicians. His rhythmic nu jazz, downtempo project will be on the theme of encounters, unforeseen happenings, and the migrating cultures of our own day and age. The rising star of electropop Geoffroy, who charmed a full house at the Impérial Bell for a Nuits FEQ last November, clearly intends to win over an even larger audience when he presents his album Coastline, which the critics have praised.

With sold-out shows throughout Canada and the United States, she’s the new face on Québec’s English- language music scene. Charlotte Cardin will get festival-goers rocking, together with Aliocha and The Spencer Lee Band on July 10. On July 14, the duo 2Frères will thrill the crowd. In a short time, the group has been racking up one hit after another to critical acclaim and is now barrelling down the road to success. They’ll warm the hearts of festival-goers with sensitive lyrics and stirring melodies.

Loved by critics and no less so by audiences, the American band The War on Drugs will take the stage of Parc de la Francophonie on July 8 with folk rock tunes and profound lyrics inspired by Dylan and Springsteen. On July 13, Olivier Langevin’s band, Galaxie, will get people dancing with groovy, psychedelic stoner rock—the first show of their Super Lynx Deluxe tour. Then on July 15 it’s back to the 90s with a must-see of the punk rock scene, the Canadian group Sum 41!

Opening shows you shouldn’t miss: two of the four finalists for the musical series Apéros FEQ presented by radio station 98.9 Énergie; Lou-Adriane Cassidy and Casual Rites; the Canadian rock group PUP, which has won many awards and nominations; and the South African duo of heavy, psychedelic rock, Make-Overs.

Québec-Acadia show will be released in the coming weeks.

THE HYDRO-QUÉBEC STAGE AT PLACE D’YOUVILLE

To sway to some world music and discover international stars, head to Place d’Youville! Dance to the urban pop of Jain, the legendary ska-reggae sound of the Skatalites, the Afrobeat of the fabulous Femi Kuti or the festive soul of St. Paul and the Broken Bones. Discover the Flamenco-pop of one of Latin America’s most influential groups, Marinah/Ojos de Brujo, the soul fanfare of the Soul Rebels, the urban electro-soul of Busty and the Bass, the blues of Mississippi Heat, the Maghreb rhythms of Gabacho Maroc and world music at its best with Brazil’s Flavia Coelho. Those who love Francophone music will be happy to reconnect with Klô Pelgag, selected as the singer-song-writer-of the year at the 2017 ADISQ awards. She will be presenting a stunning show accompanied by a dozen musicians. This program is definitely worth exploring in detail to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

ESPOIR FEQ: rediscover Matt Holubowski
Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Matt Holubowski, recipient of the 2017 Prix Espoir is returning on July 6 to charm the crowd once again. Keep in mind that the day after his spectacular performance in 2017, he won a $10,000 grant from Sirius XM and the FEQ and a custom-made guitar created by Pierre-Luc Asselin. This joint prize, awarded by the Festival and presented by the government of Québec subsequently opened up further offering a big get-together of French-language cultures with artists from different backgrounds. The night will be  In conjunction with Centre de la Francophonie des Amériques and the Congrès Mondial Acadien, the FEQ will be colourful and emotionally charged, with many established artists performing together and a smaller group of young musicians. Details about theopportunities for Asselin to perform on stages in Québec and Europe. At the opening show, discover Rebecca Noelle, who put on an amazing performance at the Ottawa Bluesfest, and then watch the winner of the Espoir du Printemps de Bourges, France, whose name will be revealed in April.

THE FIBE STAGE AT CŒUR DU FEQ, PLACE DE L’ASSEMBLÉE-NATIONALE

Cœur du FEQ offers programming featuring emerging artists who are definitely worth the detour. Don’t miss the young Toronto artist, Scott Helman, who rose to the top with his song “Bungalow”, which generated over 9 million plays on Spotify. A very groovy atmosphere will reign at Cœur du FEQ, with festive music by Sax Machine, the electro-pop of Pale Grey and the old-school funk disco of The Funk Hunters. Other events you won’t want to miss are Canadian Indie-rock duo Partner, a favorite of the LGBT community, and the impressive South-African duo Make-Overs.

A popular gathering place since its creation and an essential musical destination, the layout of the Cœur du FEQ has been slightly modified to improve the comfort of festival-goers. The stage has been moved about 30 feet further back to give more room to the many curious and passionate audience members who want to take full advantage of the site’s unique ambiance.

INDOOR SHOWS, PRESENTED BY GROUPE VOYAGE QUÉBEC

IMPÉRIAL BELL

Once again this year, the headliners at the Impérial Bell will be numerous and diversified! Because of its great success, last year’s formula will remain the same: two shows in the evening, followed by a late-night performance at 11:30 p.m. The FEQ kicks off with a vocal jazz night starring Lizz Wright and her velvety soul-packed voice, and the rising European star Mélanie De Biasio. A fabulous evening awaits folk lovers on July 6 with British singer- songwriter Passenger. High-caliber Franco nights are also in store for festival-goers: Pierre Lapointe, Mononc’ Serge, the very festive Québec Redneck Bluegrass Project, Canailles, hip hop group of the year Alaclair Ensemble and the surprising return of Le Nombre’s garage rock’n’roll. It is the rising Montreal group, The Franklin Electric, who will close these 11 days of festivity at the Imperial Bell on July 15.

Expect even more thrilling moments with American indie-rock band Car Seat Headrest, and the abrasive rock of Metz and punk rockers Chixdiggit. An evening of nostalgia on July 13 will take you back in time with rock bands of the 80s, The Box and Glass Tiger, the cult band that has sold over 5 million albums to date!

NEW THIS YEAR: JAZZ AT THÉÂTRE DU PETIT CHAMPLAIN

A new stage has been added to the Festival this year! With a decidedly jazz program, festival-goers will be delighted to rediscover the intimate atmosphere of Théâtre Petit Champlain (TPC). No less than 6 shows, featuring artists from Québec, Canada, Great Britain and Israel – including Chet Doxas, Ala.Ni and Shai Maestro – are on the schedule. These concerts will be free for holders of the FEQ pass and ZAS card. Simply reserve your seat by calling the TPC box office (limit of 2 seats per night for one or several shows) and pick up your ticket at least one hour before the show. Places are limited (50). The shows will also be open to everyone who does not have a FEQ pass through purchasing a ticket.

DISTRICT SAINT-JOSEPH

The District Saint-Joseph will definitely be a favourite meeting place for lively after-show get-togethers. From 10 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., festival-goers can continue their evening and keep on partying. This year, the artists will be offering two consecutive nights of shows. The festivities start with pop-rock band Bella’s Bartok on July 5 and 6. Canadian Elise LeGrow will captivate the District on July 7 and 8 with her catchy R&B. Soul group, the Julian Taylor Band, will bring the area to life on July 12 and 13, and Canadian indie-pop trio Hey Ocean! will close the Festival on the last Saturday and Sunday of the event. The DJs who will be hosting these late evenings will be announced soon.

L’ANTI, BAR ET SPECTACLES

Local talent will be highlighted at the Anti this year, with alternative, emerging programming. New this year: the Anti will present three shows rather than two, and the concerts will start at 5 p.m. each night. Besides making many discoveries, music lovers will be delighted with the appearance of folk-punk band from Vancouver, The Dreadnoughts on July 7, and a visit from French punk band Tagada Jones, who will be burning up the boards on July 11. The general atmosphere of this venue is not likely to be dull, with its amalgam of all kinds of rock, metal, folk, rap and hip hop!

RTC: RETURN OF THE FESTI-BUS

The FestiBUS is back this year to offer festival-goers simple, safe and practical trips. Two bus packages are available to help you fully experience the FEQ:

 FestiBUSunlimited-$31
Unlimited travel on all circuits for the whole Festival d'été de Québec. Can be used by one person at a time.

 FestiBUS-10trips-$22
10 trips starting at 10 a.m. in the morning during the Festival d'été de Québec. Includes one 90-minute transfer.

FestiBUS is encoded on an OPUS card or an occasional card and will be on sale starting April 1st until the end of the event. For more information, visit rtcquebec.ca

All program details are available at infofestival.com