Jazz Takes Over Montreal 🎷 | Your Ultimate DAILY Guide to the 2025 JAZZ Festival
Your daily guide to the can’t-miss acts at the 2025 Jazz Festival, June 25 – July 6
From June 26 to July 5, the Montreal Jazz Festival lights up the city for its 45th edition, transforming the Quartier des Spectacles into a vibrant musical playground. With over 350 shows – most of them free – the festival showcases a dynamic mix of jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, electronica, world music and experimental sounds from around the globe.
To help you wade through the line-up, for each day of the festival I’ve selected my top concerts that are NOT TO BE MISSED !
JUNE 26
CLOWN CORE
8:30 PM ON THURSDAY JUNE 26 @ MTELUS
Definitely the weirdest most intense band on the bill! Imagine Grindcore beats combined with avant garde John Zorn style jazz being performed by a duo wearing serial killer clown masks! Hear them out on Spofity. Catch them at 2025 JAZZ Festival!
AROOJ AFTAB
9 PM ON THURSDAY JUNE 26 @ CLUB SODA
Arooj Aftab is a Grammy Award winning composer with a haunting voice. She fuses jazz, South Asian classical, blues, and experimental pop into what she calls “Global Soul.” Based in Brooklyn and trained at the prestigious Berklee School of Music, she’s earned acclaim and performed at major festivals worldwide. Hear her out on Spotify.
JUNE 27
BONOBO
8:30 PM ON FRIDAY JUNE 27 @ MTELUS
Bonobo, aka Simon Green, creates lush, genre-blending downtempo soundscapes that fuse electronica with global rhythms, live instrumentation, and deep grooves. His OUTLIER events, Ninja Tune releases and multiple Grammy and Brit Award nominations cemented his status as a visionary in electronic music. He performs with a full band and delivers an amazing live show. The exquisite musicianship is always complemented by a stunning light show. I’ve seen him live several times and even written reviews of his concerts —trust me, this is one show you don’t want to miss! Hear him out on Spotify.
BALKAN PARADISE ORCHESTRA
8 PM & 10PM ON FRIDAY JUNE 27 @ RIO TINTO STAGE
Balkan Paradise Orchestra is a dynamic all-female brass and percussion band from Barcelona, blending Balkan roots with Latin and electronic influences. Known for their explosive live shows and magnetic stage presence, they’ve earned international acclaim and awards for their dance-inducing performances. Hear them out on Spotify. Free at the 2025 JAZZ Festival,
GABRIELLA OLIVO
5 PM ON FRIDAY JUNE 27 @ TD STAGE
I recently discovered the stunning velvet voice of local artist Gabriella Olivo and I’m completely spellbound. Her music is both sentimental and sensual, a lush fusion of dream pop, Latin rhythms, electronica & RnB. Singing in Spanish and French, she beautifully reflects her dual Mexican and Québécois heritage. Hear her out on Spotify. Free
JUNE 28
BREKKY BOY
5PM ON SATURDAY JUNE 28 @ TD STAGE
Brekky Boy is an Australian trio blending jazz, electronica, and beat music with a dose of chaotic humor and high-energy improvisation. Known for their unpredictable live shows and polyrhythmic grooves, they’ve earned international acclaim and a Montreux Jazz Award nomination. Fully independent, they’ve also racked up millions of views online for their hilariously offbeat covers. Hear him out on Spotify. Free
BUDOS BAND & SECRET CHIEFS 3
8:30 PM ON SATURDAY JUNE 28 @ MTELUS
The concert begins with The Budos Band who fuse Turkish psych rock, heavy funk and Zambian rock into horn driven instrumental jams. The band blends raw power with hypnotic melodies.
Secret Chiefs 3 is the genre-defying project of Trey Spruance, the guitarist for the legendary Mr. Bungle. Fusing Middle Eastern melodies, cinematic textures, metal, and experimental sounds, the group also features Mr. Bungle alumni Trevor Dunn and Danny Heifetz. Check them out on Spotify. Catch them at the 2025 JAZZ Festival!
JUNE 29
KID KOALA
8 PM ON JUNE 26,27,28 @ CINQUIEME SALLE PLACE DES ARTS
Kid Koala is a Montreal-based turntablist, composer, and multimedia artist known for blending music, animation, and storytelling into immersive live experiences. His genre-defying career spans collaborations with Gorillaz, Deltron 3030, and Radiohead, as well as solo releases on Ninja Tune and Arts & Crafts. He has scored films like Baby Driver and Scott Pilgrim, created award-winning graphic novels, and produced innovative theatrical shows like Nufonia Must Fall. Check him out on Spotify.
NAS
7:30 PM ON JUNE 28 & 29 @ SALLE WILFRED LAURIER
Nas is a hip-hop icon known for his poetic socially conscious lyricism and vivid storytelling. His introspective style and timeless flow have made him a singular voice in rap. With 16 Grammy Award nominations and a legacy spanning decades, Nas remains one of rap’s most influential voices. At the Jazz Fest he will perform his classic debut album ILLMATIC accompanied by a symphony orchestra! Check him out on Spotify.
JUNE 30
NAI PALM
8:30 PM ON MONDAY JUNE 30 @ CLUB SODA
Nai Palm is a three-time Grammy Award nominated Australian singer, songwriter, and musician known for her intuitive, self-taught artistry. Blending neo-soul, jazz, R&B, and experimental textures, her music is rich with emotional depth and intricate composition. As the frontwoman of the genre-blurring band Hiatus Kaiyote and a solo artist, she has captivated global audiences with her soulful compositions and poetic vocals. Check her out on Spotify or at 2025 Jazz Festival.
ALEX BELLEGARDE LATIN JAZZ QUARTET
9:30 PM ON JUNE 30 @ DIEZ ONZE
Montreal bassist Alex Bellegarde, winner of the Grand Jazz Award at the 26th Montreal Jazz Festival, is known for his dynamic fusion of jazz, Latin, and Afro-Cuban styles. A charismatic performer, he’s joined by top Cuban musicians Diomer Gonzalez Gonzalez, Nestor Rodriguez Vilardell, and Willy Javier Soto Barreto. Together, they ignite the stage with powerful grooves, dynamic improvisation, and the infectious rhythms of son, rumba, and timba. I had the pleasure of performing with Alex at the Jazz Fest in the early 2000’s and I’ve also licensed his music for TV shows! Alex is the real deal, an incredibly talented and authentic artist who has performed at festivals on three continents! Check him out on Spotify.
JULY 1ST
THUNDERCAT
7:30 PM ON TUESDAY JULY 1 @ SALLE WILFRED PELLETIER
Thundercat, the flamboyant alter ego of bassist and singer Stephen Bruner, is known for his bold style and genre-blending sound that fuses funk, jazz, R&B, and psychedelia. A Grammy-winning artist and collaborator with Kendrick Lamar, Flying Lotus, and Tame Impala, he’s performed at major festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella. His acclaimed album It Is What It Is and his work in film, TV, and fashion cement his status as one of the most innovative voices in modern music. Check him out on Spotify or at the 2025 Jazz Festival.
RJD2
9:30 PM ON TUESDAY JULY 1 @ CLUB SODA
RJD2 is a genre-defying producer known for his rich instrumental work blending hip-hop, funk, soul, and cinematic elements. Over two decades, he’s collaborated with artists like Mos Def and MF DOOM, scored the theme for the hit TV show Mad Men, and released acclaimed albums like Deadringer. His latest release, Visions Out of Limelight, draws from vintage TV themes and classic basslines, highlighting his blend of live instrumentation and expert sampling. Check him out on Spotify.
JULY 2
EMPANADAS ILEGALES
8 PM & 10 PM ON WEDNESDAY JULY 2 @ RIO TINTO STAGE
Empanadas Illegales is a Vancouver-based ensemble serving up a wild fusion of psychedelic cumbia, salsa, and Latin surf-rock. With infectious rhythms, hypnotic guitar lines, and experimental trumpet riffs, their sound pushes the boundaries of traditional Latin music. Their latest album, Creepy Mambo, pays tribute to cumbia cult classics while blending retro vibes with modern synths, dub-infused grooves, and fiery percussion. Check them out on Spotify. Free
BEN HARPER
7:30 PM ON WEDNESDAY JULY 2 @ SALLE WILFRED PELLETIER
Ben Harper is a Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, and guitarist celebrated for his soulful fusion of blues, folk, reggae, soul, and rock. His music is defined by lyrical honesty, social awareness, and fearless genre-crossing versatility. With a raw, emotive voice that resonates deep in the soul, Harper has released 18 studio albums, sold over 16 million records worldwide, and collaborated with legends like Keith Richards, Tom Morello, Ziggy Marley, Rickie Lee Jones and Taj Mahal. Check him on Spotify.
JULY 3
ANYMA ORA’
7 PM ON THURSDAY JULY 3 @ CLUB LOTO QUEBEC – ESPLANADE PLACE DES ARTS
ANYMA ORA’ is a Canadian electro-pop artist from Wendake, Québec, blending her Wendat heritage with her background as a composer, dancer, and circus performer. She combines atmospheric synths, driving beats, and emotive vocals to create a sound that is both cinematic and deeply personal. Her debut EP Humans reached #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown and accumulated millions of streams. She continues to rise as a powerful voice in the electro-pop and Indigenous music scenes. Check her out on Spotify. Free
SUUNS
11 PM ON THURSDAY JULY 3 @ CLUB LOTO QUEBEC – ESPLANADE PLACE DES ARTS
On their sixth album The Breaks, Montreal trio SUUNS push their sound further than ever, blending pop sensibilities with experimental loops, synths, and downtempo trip-hop textures. Crafted across tours and text threads, the album moves between intimate ballads and expansive, cinematic soundscapes. The result is their most adventurous and sonically rich release to date—curious, unbound, and constantly evolving. Check them out on Spotify. Free
JULY 4
VIOLENT FEMMES
7:30 PM ON FRIDAY JULY 4 @ SALLE WILFRED PELLETIER
Formed in 1981 in Milwaukee, Violent Femmes carved out a raw, acoustic punk sound that aimed to out-rock any unplugged act. Blending folk, country, bluegrass, rockabilly, punk, and alt-rock with brutally honest lyrics and stripped-down instrumentation, their music is rebellious, infectious, and deeply relatable. Gordon Gano’s anxious vocals and sharp lyrics struck a chord with listeners, while bassist Brian Ritchie—an underrated virtuoso—powered their sound with unmatched intensity. I first heard their debut album at 13, and it instantly felt like the perfect soundtrack to chaotic teenage hormones. By the early ’90s, I’d seen them live a few times—and they always delivered epic concerts! Check them out on Spotify.
DJANGO FESTIVAL ALL STARS
9 PM ON FRIDAY JULY 4 @ THEATRE JEAN DUCEPPE
The Django Festival Allstars are a dynamic group of French virtuosos honoring Django Reinhardt—the legendary Romani-French guitarist who pioneered Gypsy Jazz. For over 20 years, they’ve headlined the Django Festival at Birdland and thrilled U.S. audiences at top venues like Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Their performances blend Django’s classics like “Nuage” with fresh originals, capturing the joyful spirit of 1930s Paris in a style that swings with passion and heart. Check them out on Spotify.
JULY 5
SUN RA ARKESTRA
7 PM ON SATURDAY JULY 5 @ SCENE ROGERS
The Sun Ra Arkestra, founded in the 1950s by visionary jazz pioneer Sun Ra, has been at the forefront of Afro-futurism, blending big-band swing, free jazz, be-bop, and cosmic pageantry into an electrifying live experience. Known for their spiritually charged performances and over 100 recordings, the Arkestra continues to spread Sun Ra’s mission of healing the universe through music. Now led by longtime members, the band remains active worldwide, with recent highlights including Grammy Award nominated albums and performances at major festivals and venues across the globe. Check them out on Spotify. Free at the 2025 Jazz Festival!
DHAFER YOUSSEF
8PM ON SATURDAY JULY 5 @ THÉÂTRE MAISONNEUVE
This is the concert I am the most excited for at the festival! His voice is mesmerizing— deeply spiritual and profoundly transcendent. Prepare for goosebumps throughout the performance.
Dhafer Youssef is a visionary composer from Tunisia, renowned for his expressive oud technique and his four-octave vocal range. His music draws from Sufism, Arabic rhythmic traditions, and jazz improvisation, creating a dynamic, meditative, and boundary-breaking sound. Collaborations with seminal figures like Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Zakir Hussain, Nils Petr Molvaer and Laurent Garnier have further solidified his reputation as a leading figure in contemporary global music. Check him out on Spotify. Tickets here.
FULU MIZIKI KOLEKTIF
8 PM & 10 PM ON SATURDAY JULY 5 @ RIO TINTO STAGE
FULU MIZIKI KOLEKTIV is an eco-futurist Afro-punk band from Kinshasa, DRC, known for creating explosive, genre-bending music using instruments made entirely from recycled materials. Their self-defined style, “Twerkanda,” blends Afro disco-house with post-soukous rhythms, delivering high-energy performances infused with a strong ecological and pan-African message. Through handcrafted instruments, costumes, and masks, they promote artistic freedom, sustainability, and a future where humanity is in harmony with the planet. Check them out on Spotify. Free at the 2025 Jazz Festival!
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