Osheaga Festival | Noah Kahan Madness Strikes Again

He was here a while ago, and now we’re already welcoming him back. For the second time in four months, Montreal audiences were treated to a major Noah Kahan show on Friday. For the occasion, the pop-folk superstar, with an open heart and a full throat, essentially delivered a flawless performance.

On April 13, the Vermont native performed in front of 15,000 fans at the Bell Centre. It wasn’t enough. The province wanted more.

This time, the singer-songwriter had at least three times as many spectators in front of him, closing the first day of Osheaga. The festival organizers, without providing an exact figure, assured that they had “almost filled” Jean-Drapeau Park, which can accommodate up to 55,000 people.

It wasn’t that hard: the audience gave him the approval he was looking for from the first notes, even before he appeared on stage. Anyone could have seen, in the space of a single song: everyone had moved for him.

The moment must have been quite special. Since Vermont is quite close to Montreal, the young American could afford the trip as a music lover in live – and on Friday he was able to get acquainted with another side.

The 27-year-old artist, known for his ability to unburden himself of his heavy past through music and for the energy and love he transmits to his fans, allowed himself a few interludes to exchange with them, between sustained cheers and songs whose lyrics were systematically taken up by the crowd.

When he confides in those who listen to him, Kahan is more than excellent. He has developed the art of touching people with his tracks on breakups or mourning, but also mental health.

It is his openness on these subjects, punctuated by their interpretation on stage, which has made the American the new darling of millions of people.

His long hair parted into two brown braids, the headliner visibly dug deep inside himself on Friday night to spit out words of sincere intensity.

Eyes often closed, guitar in hand, Noah Kahan displayed an authenticity that only experience gives. If singing with all one’s soul is possible, then he certainly approaches that state.

The crowd particularly praised the titles Dial Drunkfrom the outset, then All My Lovein the middle of the show, two hits from the star’s repertoire. And we can’t forget Stick Seasonwhich has exceeded one billion listens on Spotify alone.

After an hour on stage, Kahan donned the uniform of the Montreal team in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (LPHF).

Creative Melanie Martinez

Penultimate in the main lineup, Melanie Martinez delivered a performance that was completely different, but just as embodied.

Sensual, captivating, the 29-year-old New Yorker exudes mischievous confidence and, above all, awareness of what she gives off.

Supported by numerous dancers, she more than once provoked strong reactions from festival-goers, impressed and carried away by her staging, which was as creative as it was provocative.

Lying in a baby cradle and surrounded by her dancers or sporting her signature mask that combines a cat’s face and butterflies, the pop singer had fun accompanying the sunset on Saint Helena Island in her nonconformist way.

First successful day

The festival-goers were smiling. The atmosphere, despite the size of the crowd, had a friendly side. It was as if, for the space of an afternoon and an evening, everyone had agreed to have a good time.

The performance by Northern Irish trio Two Door Cinema Club, moved to 6.10pm due to Dominic Fike’s late cancellation, was wonderfully representative of the enjoyable spirit of Day 1.

Olive jacket, red moustache, slight smirk… lead singer Alex Trimble had all the makings of a gentleman whose gentle ease on stage accompanied both the festival-goers lying on the grass and those chatting on the big hill. Without leaving aside those who stood at the front on the fences.

Flanked by his acolytes Sam Halliday and Kevin Baird, Trimble displayed the quiet ease characteristic of the alternative music offered by his group.

He particularly shone with What You Knowgreat hit of training, to conclude his presence in Montreal.

From an organizational standpoint, the heat warning in effect in southern Quebec did not inconvenience festival-goers in any way. They had access to numerous water points, several shaded areas, a misting area and even water jets near the two large stages.

The site, slightly revisited with the modification of a staircase in favor of a linear path to the secondary scenes, also offered more optimal movements.

This day was not only an opportunity for music lovers of all genres to come together. It also marked the kick-off that allowed a well-oiled organization to start its three consecutive festivals on the right note.

Osheaga continues this weekend. Tickets for both days, as well as three-day passes, are all sold out. The evenko team is therefore expecting two big days this Saturday and Sunday for the 17^e editing.

After which the site will, as usual, be mobilized to host the ninth edition of ÎeSoniq (Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August), then the third edition of the Lasso festival – respectively dedicated to electro and country music.