What’s ON Montreal | The 7 festival Itch for MTL Summer 2021
The 7 festival Itch for MTL Summer 2021 – Which festivals will you be able to attend this Summer?
Despite the uncertainty of future pandemic restrictions, there are several festivals that ARE planning to truck on FWD, embracing hybrid models and reducing the scale of their events to adhere to guidelines.
In some cases, timed entry has adapted well and even created urgencies for festival and travelling exhibits bookings. The show must go on. What to look forward to in Montreal and its outskirts:
1- FRINGE Festival
June 1 to 20, 2021
FRINGE, the eternal teenager, is turning 25. A quarter century of eclectic theatre, wacky shows, electrifying music, crazy drag queen races and unforgettable parties! it will be kicking off the festival season with a mix of online and in-person performances.
Amy Blackmore, executive and artistic director of MainLine Theatre and the St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival, told CBC’s Daybreak the Fringe that this year it will be scaling back, doing 30 to 35 shows in four or five venues.
Check out its event page to learn more about how to get involved in the festivities and to help achieve their goal of 30K for the 30th anniversary by donating!
2- Festival International Nuits d’Afrique
July 6-18, 2021
The festival will be celebrating its 35th year of musical adventure this Summer! Corneille, a singer-songwriter known on the Canadian and international scenes is the spokesperson for its anniversary edition.
With indoor, outdoor and webcast programming, through the highlights of this musical adventure, the festival invites you to celebrate the rhythms of music from Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.
The unveiling of its festival program will be on Tuesday June 1, 2021 – 5:00 pm on Facebook Live
3- Just for Laughs Festival
July 15-31, 2021
The festival of LOLs is moving ahead with a hybrid 2021 festival this Summer. ComedyPRO, the most elite comedy industry conference that unites the world’s biggest players will be 100% digital, running from July 28-31. We know what you’re thinking…. no! This is not a joke!
In monitoring the status of international travel and abiding by all public health and safety guidelines, JFL is ready to satiate the hunger of comedy enthusiasts and industry tastemakers, by reconnecting everyone through a unique hybrid digital and in-person festival programming with close to 200 artists participating.
All digital offerings from JFL, with the exception of ComedyPRO, will be made free to the public. More exciting programming news and details on the 2021 Festival’s star-filled roster of artists will be announced in the coming weeks!
4- Mutek
August 24 – Sept 5, 2021
MUTEK will take place in Montreal and on its online platform, virtual.mutek.org. Generous and unifying, the hybrid programming of the 22nd edition of its Festival and the 7th edition of its professional component, MUTEK Forum where 200 artists and speakers will unite from the digital creation field including nearly 100 works and activities.
The MUTEK festival has presented many of electronic music’s most established icons, while providing a platform for numerous new talents who have gone on to build sustainable careers, often as a result of their initial appearances at the festival. Join the Facebook event for all its updates here.
5- Francos de Montreal
September 9-12, 2021
Les FrancoFolies de Montréal is celebrating its 32nd edition where more than 1,000 French speaking artists from all over the world participate. Most of the events held on several stages in the city center around Place des Arts are free.
Other events taking place in various venues in the city need tickets. The festival that lasts for ten days focuses on diverse kinds of music; rock, pop, hip hop, punk, chanson, etc. Its program, lineup information can be found on its FR site only.
6- The Montreal international jazz Festival
September 15-19, 2021
Even though the current health situation is still uncertain, it is undeniable that we are all hoping to enjoy the top musical event for 2021! In order to be able to experience its festivals in a more ”normal” way, the festival organizers have announced.
They will continue to monitor the evolution of the situation closely and ensure that its festival will respect all health measures put in place by public health officials to ensure the safety of festivalgoers, artists and employees.
It will be presented at Place des Festivals. Most of the shows scheduled in venues as part of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal have been postponed to summer 2022. Full details here
7- Pop Montreal
September 22-26, 2021
Now entering its 20th year, POP’s main event is a five-day music and arts festival taking place in the early fall, featuring over 450 bands as well as films, art, fashion, crafts and special events. In addition to the main festival, POP presents over 100 multidisciplinary events locally and internationally throughout the year.
POP Montreal spokesperson Jeremy Spellanzon that its organizers are planning for POP’s 20th-anniversary edition but will “be flexible and adapt the festival to whatever restrictions and conditions we are faced with.”
The an annual not-for-profit grassroots organization that champions independence in the arts by presenting emerging and celebrated artistic talents from around the world. Get your updates here
In Quebec
Festival Santa Teresa – Sainte-Thérèse – 19-23 May
Festivoix de Trois-Rivières – Trois-Rivières – 25-4 july
Festival de la chanson de Tadoussac – Tadoussac – 25 – 4 July
Festival en chanson de Petite Vallée – 2-10 July
Festif de Baie-Saint-Paul – 21-25 July
Fête du lac des Nations – Sherbrooke – 13-18 July
ComediHa! Fest-Québec – Quebec – 28 July -28 August
Ciel en fête (International de Montgolfières) – Saint-Jean-sur-
Festival Musique du Bout du Monde – Gaspé – 5-8 August
International de la chanson de Granby – Granby – 8-28 August
Le Festival de musique émergente (FME) – Rouyn-Noranda – 2-5 September
Festival de montgolfières de Gatineau – Gatineau – First weekend of September (tbc)
Sorry try again next year!
Osheaga, îLESONIQ, Lasso, Metro Metro, Festival d’
Want a blast in the pre-Covid past? Check out THIS Festival Coverage of one of our fave music fests M For MTL.
No matter if you are ready to leave your Covid Cocoon or not, have an amazing MTL Summer 2021, it’s so damn short, fill your with sunny days and peaceful ways.
“The Limited tickets, has filtered off the ready-to-purchase group from the sort-of-interested, by creating a time constrained urgency along with a more VIP experience. We’re certain (depending on the exhibit) we will keep timed-entries, but slowly allow more people in as restrictions lift.” says Lisa Macdonald, Digital brand manager at SEE. “People seem to like the bubble entertainment experience, and we can learn from that!”
And will all these outdoor festivities in back in action protect your skin with our guide on the top sunscreen products!
