Twenty something: the start of adulthood? We shall see…
All you have to do is look at the program for this 20th edition of Les FrancoFolies
de Montréal, presented from Thursday, July 24, to Sunday, August 3,
by Ford Canada in collaboration with Molson Dry, to know that the festival
will make downtown Montreal surge with musical energy this summer!
Topped up with special events and shows featuring an endless line-up of guests
and surprises, the music festival of the French-speaking world is
poised once again to serve as the springboard for new talents on the local
music scene, and to spotlight all those who have helped enrich French-language
music and to stage these creative productions and mega concept shows whose
secrets are known only to the Francos. In short, on the eve of its 20th anniversary,
just as at Day One, the Francos will continue to be true to their mission!
Years have gone by since those modest beginnings, when, back in 1989, the
first edition staged a mere 15 shows! Even then, the festival offered revelations
such as the effable Jean Leloup, great names like Jacques Higelin
and Maxime Le Forestier. And Michel Rivard, who
hosted the very first Francos gala edition, which was broadcast throughout the
French-speaking world.
20 years of discovery
Ten years later, the 15 concerts had grown to 15 concert series, and now,
20 years down the road, we’re talking 250 shows! Today’s shining
stars include Pierre Lapointe, Karkwa,
Malajube, and Alexandre Désilets,
not to mention the incontournables Fugain, Ringer,
and Sanson….
But what has not changed is the fact that the FrancoFolies are still
synonymous with the biggest musical fiesta of the French-speaking world.
And that Michel Rivard, with his impressive array of contributions over the
years, remains the uncontested king of the Francos!
Because if we needed an icon for these 20 years of amazing folies,
our choice would inevitably be this modern poet — unquestionably one
of Québec’s favourites — whose gems have studded the history
of both the Francos and Québec music as a whole. In addition, this
anniversary edition of the FrancoFolies will encapsulate Michel’s diverse
and rich career: we’ll see him at the Club Soda opening as a guest
on Jim Corcoran’s show, when he celebrates the 20th anniversary of
his CBC radio show À propos.
The following day, Michel will be part of the Moquettes Coquettes
folie at the opening show. Then on July 28, he’ll stage a show
of his own just like a man… with the 61 members of the Orchestre
symphonique de Montréal, which will be revisiting his songs symphony-style!
No rest for the wicked, as Michel will then take part in the tribute to the great
Félix on August 3, finishing off the next day by travelling to
Diane Dufresne’s Terreplanète bleue at the
Francos’ wrap-up performance.