Montréal’s Jazz Fest is the high note of summer!
At 44 years and going strong, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is an indisputable peak of Montréal’s summer festival season. And the proof is in the numbers—with over 350 shows, 3,000 performers and more than 2-million guests, there’s few other music events quite so epic as Jazz Fest. Running June 27 to July 6, the 2024 edition guarantees another thrill-packed 10 days of must-see concerts—many free of charge—setting the streets and venues of the Quartier des Spectacles and the Place des Festivals abuzz.
A storied history of the world’s biggest jazz festival
Jazz Fest makes up a primary piece of any Montréal summer, and the past luminaries who’ve presided from its stages make up a distinct piece of musical history that reaches far beyond the boundaries of jazz. With past performers including Ray Charles, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Ben Harper, Don Cherry, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, John Zorn, Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson, Chet Baker, Gilberto Gil, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Diana Ross, Ôlafur Arnalds, Tanya Tagaq, Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, Anderson.Paak and the Free Nationals, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Herbie Hancock, Orville Peck, Bebel Gilberto and Nina Simone, some of whom have also officially released their performances as live albums, the Jazz Fest has steadily growth into the biggest of its kind on the globe. And not only do Montrealers come out in force for the festivities, thousands of international music lovers also regularly make the pilgrimage every year.
Expanding horizons every year
Always one to leap over boarders both geographic and genre-based, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal’s 2024 line-up guarantees a wealth of crowd-pleasing classics and brand-new discoveries. 2024 continues that proud tradition with performances from André 3000, Norah Jones, Killer Mike, Future Islands, Charlotte Day Wilson, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Elisapie, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Jeremy Dutcher, Leif Vollebekk, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Unessential Oils, Laufey, Vieux Farka Touré, Pink Martini, Elisapie, Alfa Mist, Joshua Redman Group feat. Gabrielle Cavassa, Oliver Jones at 90: a Celebration with Friends and many many more. Keep tabs on scheduling and performer bios—not to mention all of Jazz Fest’s off-festival year-round programming—at the festival’s website. But just a tip—given Jazz Fest’s global reputation, if a ticketed show catches your eye you’d best grab tickets ASAP as most sell out quickly. But should you miss them, worry not!There’s always space at the free epic outdoor shows in and around the Place des Festivals.
The Jazz Fest’s augmented reality project Wall of Legends: Jazz is Everywhere also offers an extra level of enjoyment requiring nothing more than a mobile device and headphones. Linked to the Jazz is Everywhere portal, users can experience eight tableaus on the facade of the Maison du Festival’s storied Wall of Legends, including a tribute to local great Oscar Petersen and his connections to the Saint-Henri neighbourhood (created in direct collaboration with the Petersen family), an exploration of Montréal’s long jazz history, a look at the role of improvisation and a deep dive into the ever-growing links between jazz and hip-hop.
Plotting a sustainable festival future
Since 1989, the Jazz Fest has developed and implemented sustainable initiatives to minimize their impact on the local and global environment, simultaneously promoting a positive societal influence. Indeed, these efforts have placed the Jazz Fest’s operations at the forefront of environmental responsibility.
These actions include the use of hydroelectric and solar power whenever possible, the installation of self-service water fountains and the banning of all single-use plastics (including backstage), the use of 100% recyclable dishes and cutlery for all on-site restaurants, the use of waste sorting stops for proper and efficient waste disposal (along with the Green Brigade on-hand to help out), an on-site Eco-Centre focused on sorting reusable items including construction and hazardous materials, the recycling of cigarette butts by Mégot Zéro, replacing printed programs and other materials with screens and mobile apps, setting aside hundreds of free bike parking, partnering with public transport, ensuring the site remains accessible for all audience members and donating directly back to the local community in collaboration with Renaissance and La rue des Femmes. Explore these efforts further here.
Mark Hamilton
Mark Hamilton is the community director for QueerMTL, an internationally-touring musician with his projects Woodpigeon and Frontperson and a graduate studies student of history researching LGBTQ+ activism in the city. He’s lived in Montréal since 2015, during which time he’s most often spotted atop a BIXI bike usally running a few minutes late.