After having already played at the Francos, the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Quebec City Summer Festival, the group Clay and Friends will achieve their grand slam of Quebec music festivals by performing for the first time, on August 4, at the Osheaga festival. “This is the one we were missing!” exclaims leader Mike Clay, who has prepared for The duty his list of five artists not to be missed next weekend, at Parc Jean-Drapeau.
“I attended the very first edition of Osheaga [en 2006]. So, for a band from Verdun, it’s important. We’re all excited to be there,” says Mike, reached somewhere in a village in France, in a converted presbytery. Clay and Friends were continuing their European tour after playing a concert at the Francofolies de Spa — “where I ran into Lumière and Charlotte [Cardin] ; it’s always a pleasure to meet compatriots from the other side!” — and before a trip to Paris, in the middle of the Olympic Games, for the Seine Canada Festival.
“This will be our first time at Osheaga, but I have to tell you: a few years ago, we agreed to be the festival’s ‘backup band’,” says Mike Clay. “So much so that we spent the weekend in the ‘Artists’ World’.” [le village en arrière-scène] to meet colleagues who would say to us: “Hey! This is the fun to see you here. When are you playing?” And we say, “If a band cancels their performance, it’s our turn!” Except that no artist has canceled their show… So, this year, it’s really our turn!”
When he’s not on stage, Mike Clay will once again be the festival-goer of the first edition. Here are the five artists he won’t want to miss.
Jyoty
August 2, 4 p.m., Island stage
Jyoty Singh, a Dutch-born DJ based in London, is a DJ Mike says he has been listening to for about seven years. “I’m a fan of her radio show [les jeudis] on Rinse FM, but during the pandemic her fame has exploded — a real Cinderella story, she who started as a doorwoman to today playing on the biggest stages in the world. She has, for me, the mark of a true DJ, that of being able to show up anywhere and win over a dance floor. To do that, you need a great deal of musical knowledge and an equally great ability to adapt. I will be ready, phone in hand, to shazamer his songs. By the way, if you allow me to plug it, I will make a DJ set to theafter party of Osheaga. I will try to channel his energy!”
Dominic Fike
August 2, 7 p.m., Rivière stage
It was curiosity, first of all, that drew Mike to the foot of the stage at La Rivière to see American musician and actor Dominic Fike. “I’m a fan of him, but not of everything he’s done. I liked the production of his latest album [Sunburn, 2023] and I’m especially looking forward to seeing him perform. Does he sing? Does he play instruments? Will he play with a band? He’s an artist in a weird position because he’s obviously full of musical talent, but he’s also a mainstream star, because of his role [celui d’Elliot] in the series Euphoria [diffusée sur HBO]. I think that deep down, there is indeed a musician, so I give the runner a chance. And if he disappoints me, I will go see Romy,” member of the trio The XX, at 7 p.m. on the Île stage.
Overmono
August 2, 8:20 p.m., Island stage
Another great choice from Mike Clay, a fan of the Russell brothers (Tom and Ed), originally from Wales, who were releasing their first album, Good Lieslast year. “If I can hear the song Good Lies on a big sound system, I’ll tell myself that I can die happy! I’ve been following this band for a while. They play with synths in live and samples live: real UK sound system ! Finally seeing Overmono on a big stage, at Osheaga, will be special; I’ve been listening to the album for so long!
Leonie Gray
August 2, 6:15 p.m., Les Sessions stage
“You asked me for five choices, but here, I hesitate between Leonie Gray and Skepta. Leonie, for me, is a local favorite. I love what she does, she sings really well and, over the last few months, even the last year, she has managed to really find her sound, and I can’t wait to see her in live. But there is also Skepta in concert, and I don’t know when I will be able to see on stage again” the veteran of the British grime scene, in concert the same day (8:40 p.m., Vallée stage), “a true icon, a larger-than-life artist, the face of a typically musical movement British. Between him and the local heroine, I don’t know who to choose!
Olivia Dean
August 3, 4:45 p.m., Green Stage
“My go-to concert is definitely Olivia Dean,” the young neo-soul singer-songwriter and recent winner of the BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year award, a sort of revelation of the year. “I write songs for a living,” Mike explains. “I know it’s an art in itself to make music that’s soulful but poppy at the same time, and it’s a real challenge — often it leans too much to the soul side or too much to the pop side. Finding the right balance is difficult, and Olivia has hit a home run in that; she’s really my musical love at first sight. If you listen to her writing, you’ll notice that she’s tackling subjects that have been covered a thousand times before, but her perspective is fresh.”
Clay and Friends will perform on August 4, at 2:40 p.m., on the Rivière stage, as part of the Osheaga festival, which takes place from August 2 to 4 at Parc Jean-Drapeau.