Rap everywhere and at all hours, a closing show with Loud Lary Ajust, a tribute to Karim Ouellet, Juliette Armanet on the main stage and the baptism of La Zarra are among the highlights of the Francos outdoor programming. unveiled on Wednesday. Overview with Laurent Saulnier, vice-president of programming.
Posted at 5:15 p.m.
Three albums were enough to impose Karim Ouellet and his songs in Quebec pop. Five months after his tragic death, his sister Sarahmée is leading a tribute concert which will be presented on the largest Francos stage with the participation of a crowd of relatives of the singer from Quebec: Ariane Moffatt, Hubert Lenoir, Claude Bégin, Alaclair Ensemble, Klô Pelgag, Sarahmée herself and several others will be there to remind us of it.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Sarahmée leads the tribute show to her brother, Karim Ouellet.
The idea for the show comes from Sarahmée herself, says Laurent Saulnier, vice-president of programming for Les Francos.
I said yes without hesitation. I knew if she wanted it done, it would be done right. It was she and the musicians who played with Karim – who are also very involved – who chose the guests. We gave them complete control of that show.
Laurent Saulnier, vice-president of Francos programming
No rehearsals have taken place yet, so he himself doesn’t know exactly what to expect. The concert should mainly highlight the songs of Karim Ouellet himself and make way for numbers where the guests, many of whom know each other, pool their talent to cover the known and lesser known songs of the author of love.
The days when Quebec rap claimed its place in Quebec music – we still remember the advocacy of 2Faces at Gémeaux and the 83 collective at the ADISQ Gala 20 years ago – are over. Everywhere on the exterior site of the Francos, fans of the genre will find what they are looking for. Koriass (June 10) and Souldia (June 11) will be treated to the big stage. There will only be rap, or almost, in the Nuits urbaines series (Connaisseur Ticasso, Taktika, Dope.gng, La fin des weakens, Samian) and other music close to hip-hop will be heard elsewhere on the site.
The closing night, June 18, will also feature Loud Lary Ajust, whose tickets for the show scheduled for June 9 at Club Soda sold out in a flash. “Loud does a lot of festivals this year, underlines the main architect of the Francos, but the only two shows of LLA are those of the Francos. »
PHOTO ARCHIVES PRESS
Loud Lary Ajust in 2014
Laurent Saulnier underlines that if rap has been present for years at the Francos, the novelty is more on the side of Quebec pop inspired by soul and R&B with the Marième and Maeva, for example. “We put them all over the place,” he says of the artists who dig these furrows.
Pop and a premiere
Juliette Armanet will be the only overseas artist to perform at the Place des Festivals next month. Obviously, according to Laurent Saulnier, who wanted people who love French pop to have access to a free “gift”. Most of the other renowned European guests – including Clara Luciani – indeed perform indoors.
Another event to highlight, the scenic baptism of La Zarra, Quebec singer launched by the French division of the multinational Universal. Laurent Saulnier himself has never seen her on the boards.
The interpreter of you will go away will perform on June 13 in the afternoon during a “showcase” concert for professionals in the field and on June 15 at the Place des Festivals.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
La Zarra will live its scenic baptism during the Francos.
Finally, note that Jacques Michel, who made an unexpected comeback on record in 2019, will give what may be his last career concert in Montreal on June 12 and that Luc De Larochellière will present his anniversary show save my soul on June 10. Émile Bilodeau will take advantage of a place in the Place des Festivals on June 13 to present his guests Scott-Pien Picard, Matten and Laura Niquay, all Innu from Mani-utenam, near Sept-Îles. Elisapie, Inuk from Salluit, in Nunavik, will also be performing.