Weekend plans | To fully enjoy summer

The Metropolitan Orchestra takes to the air

The Orchestre Métropolitain (OM) continues its summer outdoor tour in Montreal boroughs. After Saint-Léonard and Lachine, the group led by guest conductor Naomi Woo will perform in Montreal North, at Parc Pilon, on July 13, at 7:30 p.m. The evening’s musical program focuses on dance from around the world and across eras. From the Viennese court, with a Strauss waltz, to a gypsy caravan with the Hungarian dances from Brahms, to Manuel De Falla’s Spain and Bernstein’s New York, among others… It’s free.

Luc Boulanger, The Press

Check out the Orchestre Métropolitain’s summer programming

Laughing on the South Shore

The announcement that the Just for Laughs festival would be put on hold, to be replaced next July by a Montreal version of ComediHa! Fest, hid another, even sadder one for those who like to laugh on the sidelines of the great consensual laugh. Also swept away by the fall of the comedy giant, Zoofest may not take place in downtown Montreal this summer, but three of its main architects, including programming director Isabelle Desmarais, are transplanting its spirit to the South Shore, from July 11 to 21, for the first edition of Longueuil Comique Fest. Its eclectic lineup brings together stand-up, sketches, podcast recordings, theatre, musical comedy and burlesque (the burlesque of scantily clad ladies, not that of Gilles Latulippe) under the roof of the Collègue Charles-Lemoyne. Many representatives of the great new generation will be there, but also some more well-known figures, including Brick & Brack, Coco Belliveau, Andy Saint-Louis, Thomas Levav and Stéphanie Vandelac for the 200^e from the popular podcast series Open couple and a young guy with some beats named Louis-José Houde.

Dominic Tardif, The Press

Visit the festival website

Soleil Launière at the Botanical Garden

The series is back The arts come to the Gardenpresented every Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Botanical Garden. This week, the captivating and vibrant Soleil Launière, who won the Francouvertes in May, will be singing in this exceptional flowery and green environment. Other great events are coming up during the summer: Helena Deland, Matt Holubowski, Cindy Bédard and Simon Leoza, among others. What a great opportunity to combine a visit to this Montreal gem with a moment of musical discovery and beauty.

Josée Lapointe, The Press

Check the calendar for show dates

Thierry Larose in Victoriaville

All sorts of initiatives allow artists to perform in the region under lighter conditions. This is the case of the tour Stopoverwho walks through parks and public squares in Quebec all summer long. This Saturday, the owl le.Panda will perform twice in Granby, on rue Principale. The same day, the dynamic Thierry Larose, whose summer is very busy in addition to his shows with the trio Le Roy, la Rose et le Lou[p]will be solo at Curé-Larue Park in Victoriaville.

Josée Lapointe, The Press

Check the show dates

A first festival celebrating soul music

Soul, Motown, RnB, gospel, blues, disco and funk rhythms inspired the creation of the Soulfest festival, which will take place for its first year from July 11 to 14. Well-known local artists, such as Kim Richardson, Freddie James, Michelle Sweeney, Dawn Tyler Watson, Slim Williams, Sylvie DesGroseilliers and Dorian Sherwood, will have festival-goers dancing on the forecourt of Saint-James Church. Most of the shows will be offered free of charge. Louisiana-inspired cuisine will also be in the spotlight thanks to the Le Balcon cabaret. It is also the director of the establishment, Julien Robitaille, who is behind the event presented by Maison PRPLSN.

At Saint-James Square, until July 14

Pascal LeBlanc, The Press

Visit the Soulfest website

Festive event at the Grand Marché Maisonneuve

Young and old are invited next Saturday to the Maisonneuve Market for its first festive event of the summer. We go there to have a bite to eat, and the choice is varied between tacos, vermicelli bowls and paella offered by the restaurateurs and culinary artisans on site. We also take the opportunity to shop for local products. Inflatable games, mini-golf and face painting sessions are on the menu to entertain the youngest.

Saturday, July 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Florence Dancause, The Press

Check out the event page

ShazamFest, the most flamboyant of forest festivals

ShazamFest, presented for the 19^e fois, brings together music, circus, burlesque, dance and wrestling for four days in the Eastern Townships countryside. On the edge of the Barnston-Ouest woods, four stages are set up to host a variety of shows ranging from the punk of DVTR and the neo-soul of Rau_Ze to sword swallowers and eccentric clowns. Brooklynites That Handsome Devil and Kirá Chao, son of Manu, will also be performing. Several activities are also offered to children, young and old, including circus lessons, hula-hooping, inflatable costumes and foam sword fights. The possibility of camping and the nutritious food offer should also delight families.

In Barnston-Ouest, until July 14

Pascal LeBlanc, The Press

Visit the ShazamFest website

Constantinople and Corsican polyphonies

What a wonderful idea this meeting between the Constantinople ensemble, which mixes Eastern and Western music, and the excellent Corsican polyphonic ensemble A Filetta! We can immediately guess that this joint creation entitled Chiaroscuro will give the feeling of touching the sacred. Constantinople was founded in Montreal by Kiya Tabassian, originally from Iran. In more than four decades of activity and experiences, A Filetta has become one of the most important ensembles of Corsican polyphonies, a type of choral singing exclusively carried by men. Its moving album A tarra here (1994), once hailed by a magazine “Choc du” award The world of musicremains an essential milestone of the genre. In Ottawa on July 16 and in Montreal on the 17th.

Alexandre Vigneault, The Press

Check out the tour page