From June 27 through July 6, 2024, the 44th edition of the Montreal International Jazz Fest is taking place in the Quartier des Spectacles. With performances by André 3000, Laufey, Orville Peck, Norah Jones, Hiatus Kaiyote, and Robert Glasper headlining the event, those in attendance are in for quite the treat.
Over 350 acts are listed in the event’s lineup so there is surely something for everyone, especially, with at least two-thirds being free.
10 Days Full Of Music
It would be difficult to discuss every single artist performing throughout the 10 days of the Jazz Fest (no matter how much we wish we could). Unsurprisingly, some events such as that of Andre 3000 are sold out. However, several other shows are worth taking the time to see! Trust us. This is why, we have compiled this list of some of the most sought-after performances of Jazz Fest 2024. We hope this helps you to cross every artist you’d like to see off of your list!
Artists To See
June 27th:
Funk and R&B come together in Yaya Bey’s music. Her latest album, Ten Fold, was released this past May and has received impressive ratings.
- Les Royal Pickles
6 PM, Cabaret Loto Quebec (Corner of St Catherine and Jeanne Mance)
Les Royal Pickles released their third studio album Take 3 in April 2023. It is a mixture of originals and traditional jazz.
- Hiatus Kaiyote
9:30 PM, TD Stage
This Australian band led by Nai Palm offers a mix of R&B, Soul, and Rock Fusion. With a new album coming out the day after this show, it’s an exciting time to see them live!
Other artists this day/evening include Oktopus Trio, Buffalo Nichols, LA LOM, DJ Set ICI MUSIQUE avec Alexandre Courteau, Cisco Swank, McGill Jazz Orchestra 1, Tara Kannangara, Jordan Officer, The Joy Lapps Project, Unessential Oils, Chris Potter Trio, Aneesa Strings, and dee holt.
June 28th:
- Uplift514
6 PM, Spectacle Déambulatoire on Boul. de Maisonneuve
Are you enjoying dancing along to some of the artists you’re seeing? Come dance even more with Uplift514! It is impossible not to move when listening to the music and watching them dance.
Incorporating rock, jazz and fusion influences into his music, Cory Wong is the person to go see if you want to hear the best of instrumental funk.
- Aja Monet
10 PM*, Studio TD
2024 Grammy winner for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album, Aja Monet provides jazz-based compositions based on gender, race, and spirituality.
*Times vary depending on the publication you read. Newspapers state 7PM but the official Jazz Fest website says 10P.M at the moment of this article’s publication.
Other artists performing this day include Dusty Brass Band, Sunny War, Salin, Cory Henry, Vanilla is Black, Ego Ella May, Gabi Hartmann, Simon Leoza, Valaire, LeCypherX, Wajdi Riahi Trio, and Adam O’Farrill’s Stranger Days.
June 29th:
- Little Magic Sam
7 PM, Rogers Stage
The Little Magic Sam Band won the Maple Blues Award for “New Artist or Group of the Year” in February 2024. Said to have an enormous stage presence, this Ontario-born performer performs soul music that will stay with you.
- Dominique Fils-Aimé
9:30 PM, TD Stage
Dominique Fils-Aimé is staying busy! Having just performed at the Toronto Jazz Festival and then interviewed on CBC’s Q with Tom Powers, Montreal is excited to have her return home! She is a two-time Juno winner who is inspired by the likes of soul icons such as Etta James and Billie Holiday- it’s bound to be an amazing show.
More performances by Montreal Dixie, Swing Tonique Jazz Band, Noé Lira, Naïka, Anthony Fung Quartet, GEORGE, Alicia Creti, Ekep Nkwelle, and Adi Oasis are also lined up.
June 30th:
- John Roseboro
8 PM and 10 PM, Rio Tinto Stage
Haitian-American Bossa Nova Acoustic songwriter John Roseboro moved East from California to pursue his music career and we’re so glad he did. When people say music is “smooth”, Roseboro’s sound is precisely what they mean. More about John Roseboro can be read in this interesting article by byline.
Freddie Gibbs x El Michels Affair, Keyon Harrold, Angel Bat Dawid, Butcher Brown are among other performers this day.
July 1st:
- Planet Giza
11 PM, Rogers Stage
This Montreal Hip Hop Trio’s latest album Ready When You Are was longlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize. Influenced by jazz and hip hop alike, they’ve been making their mark throughout Quebec for years.
- Robert Glasper and Guests
9:30 PM, TD Stage
Winner of 5 Grammy Awards from a total of 11 nominations, Robert Glasper’s career has been full of amazing milestones. He has worked with some of the best in the industry, including Kendrick Lamar, and produced for artists such as Mac Miller, Talib Kweli, Q-Tip, and many more.
Other artists of the day include Early Jazz Band, The Van Hornies, Rara Soley, Chief Adjuah, Yves Jarvis, Begonia, Guy Belanger, Simon Denizart, Lakecia Benjamin, and Chiquitamagic & Justin Brown. His latest album Let Go was released this year.
July 2nd:
- Jazzlab Orchestra
5 PM, Place des Festivals
Since 2004, Jazzlab Orchestra has been proud to be part of the Montreal Jazz scene. With 7 albums and more than 300 performances under their belt, they have been nominated in the best jazz album and best jazz concert numerous times.
- Lachy Doley
7 PM, 9 PM, Rogers Stage
Australian-born Lachlan Doley’s music is a mixture of Blues, Rock, Pop and Jazz. As an artist, he is best known for playing a whammy clavinet and Hammond organ. He was nominated for the Live Instrumentalist of the Year in 2016.
Other performances include Thee Sacred Souls, Saya Gray, Greenhouse Ensemble, Theo Abellard Trio, Marvin Caleb, and many others.
July 3rd:
- The Heavyweights Brass Band
6 PM, 6:50 PM, Cabaret Loto Quebec
The Heavyweights Brass Band are playing 5 sets between July 3rd and July 5th so there are multiple chances to see them! The Toronto-based band has been making music together for over ten years and knows exactly how to get a crowd to their feet.
- Jeremy Dutcher
7:30 PM, TD Stage, Place des Festivals
Currently residing in Montreal but previously living in Toronto and born in New Brunswick, to say that Jeremy Dutcher is well-acquainted with Canada is an understatement. He is trained as an operatic tenor but has expanded his singing to also include traditional styles of his community.
Notable performances by Alexandra Streliski, Ana Moura, Norah Jones, Endrick and the Sandwiches, Killer Mike, Son Rompe Pera, Dustin O’Halloran, Erik Truffaz, Bellbird, Sammy Jackson, Shaina Hayes, Patche, and others are also scheduled. (Some of these are not free events).
July 4th:
- Kroy
7:30 PM, TD Stage
We’ve encountered quite a few artists who are releasing- or have recently released- new music. Koy’s latest album Militia will be released on August 16th, which allows her to also be included in this category!
Camille Poliquin, who has gained recognition under the name Koy, has grown quite quickly since the release of her debut solo album in 2016. After praise from those from Rolling Stone and many other prestigious sources, it’s no wonder her music has been streamed over 55 million times on Spotify.
Performances by Pink Martini, Angelique Francis, La Force, Funxie Groove, Makaya McCraven, and Apashe with live orchestra are also in the lineup.
July 5th:
- Orville Peck
9:30 PM, TD Stage
This masked baritone put a twist on country music in a way that attracted the talent of Elton John, Diplo, Kylie Minogue and Willie Nelson. He has released two albums, performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live, has played at Stagecoach and Coachella, and shows no sign of slowing down. We can’t wait to see his performance at Jazz Fest and to see what else awaits his career.
11 PM, Rogers Stage
“Groove is their Mission, Music is their Vehicle”- if that doesn’t give you an idea of what this band is about, we don’t know what will. If you’re a fan of jazz, soul, hip hop, and metal, you’ll also be a fan of this 7-piece band.
July 6th:
- Papish
5 PM, TD Stage
Latin/Caribbean influence mixed with elements of electro-pop music? Yes, please! Equality and freedom are at the forefront of every song, bringing an upbeat life to important topics. Click here to go to Apple Music to listen to one of their songs to get a taste of what you’ll be lucky to see live!
Further Event Details
Hours
According to the official Jazz Fest website, the outdoor site is open to the public free of charge from 5 p.m. to midnight during the Festival. However, on June 29, June 30, July 1, and July 6, it is open from noon to midnight.
Payment Options
Payment terminals that accept cards such as credit and debit are available at all of the food kiosks and boutiques. Cash, on the other hand, is not accepted.
Site Map
In the hustle and bustle of the Jazz Fest event, it can be easy to get lost in the crowd. Here’s a map of the area so you can get to your shows on time!
Stay Up-To-Date on All Events
To be notified of any possible last-minute changes or to check times and venue locations, use the official Festival International de Jazz app, available for download here.
When you download it, you may see a review from two years ago that says the app has some issues (ex: wrong dates, must use Facebook to access information, etc). We downloaded and tested this so you don’t have to and, so far, we have not encountered this issue for the 2024 Jazz Fest experience.
Have A Jazzy Time!
As Montrealers, we are always so proud to host events such as the Jazz Fest and we hope you all have an amazing time. If you attend any of the shows, please tag us on Facebook or Instagram (@montreal_365) so we can see the event through your eyes! We can’t wait to hear all about your experiences!
If you have an event that we should know about or that you would like us to cover, please contact us at Mtl365!
