World Music: The annual Quebec Summer Festival is a world music festival beloved by the Quebecois and those in the know. Visitors and locals alike come to hear music from Europe, Africa, Canada and the US, and to discover groups that are known in their country of origin but whose reputations haven’t quite extended to North America or are not quite above ground.
In 2008, the French group, Bratsch, a five man virtuoso group celebrating their 25th anniversary, wowed audiences with their repertoire including classic gypsy, Greek, Armenian and Yiddish, punctuated with le jazz hot and spiced with blues riffs.
Another world away, it seemed, Frank Zappa’s music was interpreted by his nimble-fingered son, Dweezil. Angelique Kidjo, 20008 Grammy award winner for the best world music album, prompted one critic to write during an summer rain storm that she could bring out the sun.
Quebecoise Music: There is always a sampling of Quebec music, which usually doesn’t reach the rest of Canada, much less the US; the Festival offers the chance to hear hot groups like Mes Aieux. Those lucky enough to find a space to sit on the vast lawn outside the Quebec City Parliament buildings would have been treated to one of the great Divas of Quebec, Diane Dufresne, a kind of rock version of Patty LuPone.
History of Quebec Summer Festival: Started 41 years ago, the Festival D’Ete calls itself the largest outdoor festival in Canada. Outdoor is the operative word: The festival wraps itself around the city and the settings range from the enormous to the intimate. The atmospheric backdrop is the vertical walled city, the only one in North America, with history at every turn.
Quebec Summer Festival Venues: The venues extend from the old port (newly refurbished and the center of the 400th birthday celebrations) where Jacques Cartier landed in 1608, high up to the Plains of Abraham, where the French lost the battle to the British but won the war to keep Quebec francophone. This is where in 2008, 83-year old Charles Aznavour performed and where Sir Paul McCartney will play to several hundred thousand people.
A favorite with festival-goers is the Place D’Youville, centrally located off the winding rue St. Jean. There the outdoor Scene (or stage) Molson hosts new discoveries like Motion, a three-man accordion group from Poland and old favorites such as the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Just above is a classy new theater, Palais Montcalm, with wood and stone decor and bathrooms that look like something out of Architectural Digest. Some groups play in both outdoor and indoor theaters.
Nearby is rue St- Jean, popular with the locals for its eateries and shops. Le Commensal (858 rue St.Jean) is a vegetarian restaurant with a variety of buffets on several levels. You serve yourself and they weigh your plate. Restaurant Diana (849 rue St.Jean) opened in l945 and remains in a time warp. A dinner of pea soup, baked salmon and jello for dessert comes to $15.
In the opposite direction is the Pub Saint-Alexandre (1087 rue St.Jean). A popular musical late night musical venue for the festival, it serves standard pub food.
Quebec Summer Festival Basics:The Quebec Summer Festival runs for 10 days every year starting in early July. A festival pass costs 30 dollars, which covers most events; some indoor events cost between $5 to $25 extra.
Bring your walking shoes - buses service is erratic, but the funicular goes from the old town up to the landmark hotel, The Chateau Frontenac.