If you are looking for something unique for this weekend in Quebec, experience the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Some of the best artists from many different cultures will be part of the festival to make this one of the most entertaining event in the world. As I said, a unique experience...
Bengal.
The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal unveils another star-studded line-up from June 26 to July 6, 2008
Montréal, June, 2008 – This year once again, Montréal will be moving to the sounds of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, summer’s musical powerhouse, from June 26 to July 6. Hundreds of thousands of music fans from around the globe will be meeting up in the city centre to enjoy a program that features the great legends and rising stars of jazz as well as blues, bossa nova, hip hop and world music.
“Tourisme Montréal is immensely proud to support the 29th edition of the Jazz Fest, a musical extravaganza that just keeps getting better with age,” says Charles Lapointe, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal. “Over the years, the word “jazz” has become synonymous with our city, and visitors think of Montréal as an exciting and unique urban getaway. They love how our downtown transforms into a meeting place par excellence for celebrating music; in fact of the 2.5 million festivalgoers who attend this major event, 34%, are tourists and day trippers. Year after year, Montréal’s safe and festive character keeps drawing them back to the Festival, which generates major economic spin-offs for our entire tourism industry,” adds Lapointe.
True to its reputation for drawing many of the biggest names in the business to Montréal’s stages, the 2008 edition of the Jazz Fest, dedicated to late jazz legend Oscar Peterson, will welcome Woody Allen and his New Orleans Jazz Band, native Montrealer Leonard Cohen, Aretha Franklin, James Taylor, Steely Dan, Dee Dee Bridgewater and many more stars of the musical firmament. While most of the shows of the 11-day program will take place in the Quartier des spectacles, the event will be expanding with brand-new venues and exciting new concert series in the city’s other vibrant neighbourhoods.
More than 3,000 artists from 30 countries around the globe will be taking part in this highly-anticipated Montréal fest, whose program features more than 700 concerts, including 375 free outdoor performances. The millions of festivalgoers who will be in Montréal soaking up the sounds of jazz and the one-of-kind-vibe downtown are proof that this city has earned its reputation as a world-class host and that Montrealers are passionate about sharing their unique cultural offer and urban experience.
Pierre Bellerose
Vice President
Public Relations, Product Research and Development
Tourisme Montréal
(514) 844-2404
bellerose.pierre@tourisme-montreal.org
